red velvet cake

slimjen1 · #1 12-22-2006, 10:15 AM

I am trying not to repeat past mistakes when making red velvet cake this Christmas. I printed out several receipes. I have a few questions. Some receipes call for shortening and some call for oil. In the past, my cakes have been dry and unflavorful. Should I use the oil rather than shortening to get the moist cake? Also, I've come across a receipe that calls for whole milk and not buttermilk or vinergar. I often wondered about the significance of buttermilk and vinergar in the receipe. One last question; does it make a difference if you fold the vinergar mixture in the cake last?
Thanks in advance

Free Rider · #2 12-22-2006, 10:37 AM

Buttermilk makes for a softer cake. Shortening is bad for you... far worse than a natural fat.

slimjen1 · #3 12-22-2006, 10:45 AM

So I should use oil? What's with the vinergar?

Z~BESTUS · #4 12-22-2006, 01:26 PM

SLIMJEN1:
Good afternoon to you. Thank-you for the easy question. Jen, all you need to do is remove up to 25% of the granulated sugar from the recipe & replace it with honey oz for oz. Mix it in after the eggs. Reduce the temp. by 15 degrees because honey carmelizes easy.
Good luck & enjoy the rest of the day young lady.

~Z~BESTUS.

shaloop · #5 12-23-2006, 11:11 AM

on "Cake Man Raven's" recipe. I cut down the oil and made some other changes though. I use

2 1/2 c flour
1/4 c cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vinegar
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 eggs
1 oz red food coloring

I think that the vinegar was originally supposed to react with the cocoa powder and cause a reddish hue. But, since most recipes now call for red dye, I'm not sure if it's still necessary. But, red velvet cake is supposed to have a slight tang so I add it anyway. It may also help the baking soda react more than to just the buttermilk. Not sure. Also, the oil does help keep the cake moist and soft, even straight out of the fridge.

slimjen1 · #6 12-23-2006, 06:16 PM

Thanks to all for your advice. I will be trying again to bake this great cake for Christmas.
Happy Holidays to you all.

Anivair · #7 01-02-2007, 11:04 AM

I always thought the vinegar was there to make the batter wort of gum up, creading a denser cake. Could be wrong, but the vinegar always seems to be what makes my batter go from a normal batter texture to a mush (which I generally think is indicative of red velvet cake). I can't think of any really good science to back that up, but that's how it seems when I make them.

Leslie · #8 01-05-2007, 12:31 PM

i'm not sure if this would help any, but i had made a red velvet cake for FCCLA competitions and it was complete murder. anyways, my lab instructor told me to add the vinegar last. she said that adding the vinegar with the baking soda would cause bubbling and wouldn't mix correctly. i hope this helps a little.

Rene · #9 10-15-2007, 07:34 AM

I have a chocolate cake recipie that calls for vinegar... however you have to add the vinegar last! .... don't know why but that is what the recipie says

this choc cake recipie uses no eggs!!!.......

qahtan · #10 10-15-2007, 11:14 AM

I have never tasted, made or seen a red velvet cake....
But do have a recipe for a wonderful chocolate cake, posted in here some where but I can post again if you are interested. :-))) qahtan

Z~BESTUS · #11 10-15-2007, 12:45 PM

RENE:
Good morning. Generally Rene, when vinegar is employed in a baking recipe it is to inhibit the gluten from forming . That is why it is used in pie pastry. In chocolate cake recipes it will do that as well & as a added feature it makes the chocolate much darker or redder in it's appearance.
Rene I hope this info helps you.
Good luck in your baking & have a nice day.

~ZEE.

Rene · #12 10-16-2007, 06:56 AM

Hi!! ok thankyou for the information

This particular chocolate cake is supposedly the Starbucks black bottom cupcake recipie, Only I omit the filling and make a 4 layer cake from it...... also it uses cocoa and not melted chocolate..... it is always moist never dry and the texture is perfect

Harpua · #13 10-16-2007, 12:30 PM

I had an old vegan chocolate cake standyby recipe (that people loved btw) and it was eggless. It called for coffee, oil, and vinegar which was stirred in last to react with the baking soda. It aided in leavening since there was no egg.

I also had a vegan red velvet recipe, and it called for sour soymilk. It does add a bit of tartness but the buttermilk keeps it moist and helps it rise.

Maybe there is some other scientific reason for it, but I dunno.