Am I missing the point of red velvet cake? isn't it just chocolate cake with a shed-load of red food colouring in it? Wtf?

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Why do people go potty for it? Is it because they are stupid duped by the nice sounding name?

I love it. Light and fluffy. Hummingbird Bakery do a really good one.

See this is why you should never ever deviate from the four Gods of sponge cake. Chocolate, Coffee, Lemon and erm Victoria.

Stick with them and ye canni go wrong.

The thing is, actual red velvet cake wouldnt be that red. Just ruddy as kickass says. But who would buy that? Bit of a let down if its not bright red. So they use colours instead.

I like a well made red velvet cupcake. The problem is with people putting too much expectation on something as simple as a cupcake!

The hummingbird bakery recipe is good, but you have to follow it to the letter.

I thought they had beetroot in?

Agree with BouncingFerret all bases covered there. (Mmmm coffee cake)

I've thought the same about Red Velvet cake but have never tried it. It's the excess of food colouring that's put me off making it tbh. Why not make a blue one and be different?

I think I have perhaps never had actual red velvet cake. I have had disappointing red dyed chocolate cakes masquerading as red velvet cake.

It should also have buttermilk in it, which gives it an amazing flavour and texture. If a recipe jsut looks like choc cake with red food colouring or beetroot , it's not proper red velvet cake. The Hummingbird recipe really does work and is delicious.

Mie make 1 big batch of vanilla sponge, split into 6 diff (equal) portions. Colour each (well). Then you can either dab spoonfuls into the tin, or pour from a height, in turn, into the middle of the tin (it levels out). YouTube it.

This is the hummingbird one. It is the only red velvet I'll eat, the others are just an insult to cake!!!

www.redonline.co.uk/food/recipes/hummingbird-bakery-s-red-velvet-cupcakes

You could also try their carrot cake, it is the best one I've ever made

helengraves.co.uk/tag/hummingbird-bakery-carrot-cake-recipe/

Blue velvet cake is a thing.

As is purple velvet.

But they are just coloured cakes.

Use paste or gel colours, liquid will make the cake taste awful.

Yeah I made the Hummingbird bakery recipe. Buttermilk is sour and combining that with vinegar....gross.

or a cheats rainbow cake (was in a rush and could not waste the time) put a tub of sugar strands into the mix and bake, white buttercream and cover in more sugar stands it is a fed hit with smallies, If you are doing a layered one try and borrow some twins the same size and you should get 5 tins into the oven at a time so will save a load of time. When icing use disposable bags for the different colours so you can ice the rainbows without to mush faff.

time not twins

Here's the beetroot version of red velvet cake again:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1912636/

I think I'd make it in half quantities.

Rainbow Cake.

I use the Hummingbird bakery recipe, never let me down. I also do cheats buttermilk by adding lemon juice to milk, shaking it and letting it stand.
I've done green colouring for DS's birthday cakes instead of red.

If you use sugarflair food colouring, you don't need much and it doesn't leave a horrible taste behind.

I'm seriously thinking of making this for a church do on Sunday - do you think I'll wow all the old ladies with it?

Red velvet cupcakes are vile. Dd makes them and thinks they are lovely. They are revolting. Her lemon ones on the other hand are to die for.