MetaChat - Red Velvet Revolution

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14 October 2012

Red Velvet Revolution It's crazy! →[More:]I'm a Texan, I grew up with Red Velvet cake. We had it every Christmas, for some reason - it was a favorite of my Dad's and I quite like it too.

We moved North when I was a kid but continued to practice our cultural traditions, and for most of my life the neighbors we served it to were all, "What is THAT?" when they saw the color.

"Not to worry!" we said. "It's just a little old chocolate cake! With an en-tire bottle of red food dye in it! Go ahead, it won't hurt you a bit! It's a Texas specialty!"

Flash forward to food trendland 2012, and it surrounds me everywhere. A brief search has pulled up dozens of red velvet concoctions available as recipes or for sale. I have found all of the below, both logical and improbable applications of the red velvet concept:

-whoopie pies
-pancakes
-cupcakes
-cinnamon rolls
-brownies
-fudge
-cheesecake
-crepes
-cookies
-cake pops
-wedding cake
-Rice Krispy treats
-trifle
-chocolate covered cake balls
-cheese ball
-shortcake
-Twinkie
-funnel cake
-petit fours
-jelly roll
-ice cream
-martini
-doughnut
-parfait
-milkshake
-truffles
-crullers
-waffles
-dip
-cafe latte

and the inevitable
-red velvet bacon cupcakes. Sprinkle that with candy corn and I think you'd create center of gravity of 2012 food trends sufficient to sink a black hole.

post by: Miko at: 23:09 | 14 comments

I feel a bit sick...

posted by arse_hat 14 October | 23:12

"... buttermilk buttercream icing..."

Oh, yeah! I am not a chocolate lover at all, but with that icing, I would love it.

posted by Ardiril 14 October | 23:48

I want it. all of it. in my mouth.

posted by The Whelk 15 October | 00:09

Red velvet cake is the food of the gods. (Some of the variations... err, probably not so much.) I grew up eating it, too, and it's still my favorite kind of cake.

posted by BoringPostcards 15 October | 05:22

Did you have it with Big Red soda?

The Texas psyche yearns for shockingly red and sickening sweet.

posted by fleacircus 15 October | 07:24

I've been making red velvet cake at home for a few years -- it's so visually striking people can't help being won over. Still remember when I found a box of red velvet cake mix at the store -- it was like STRIKING GOLD.

Hee, from the article: "When it comes down to a wedding cake, the couple usually decides on a true vanilla or chocolate, or both." Wonder what it says about us that we went with three types of cake -- red velvet, tiramisu, and pineapple upside-down.

posted by trunk muffins 15 October | 07:42

I love it, but only with cream cheese icing.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 15 October | 07:58

I haven't yet had a red velvet cake that wasn't too dry, or weirdly steely-tasting or too vegetable oil-y. Just the thought of it now makes the inside of my mouth sad. Why so pretty, but so bland?

Possible also that I have so far always been AHHH THE CALORIES GET IT OUT OF MY MOUTH* so there is a mental block against its deliciousness? That's probably, on balance, a good thing.

*More to The Whelk then I guess!

posted by undue influence 15 October | 08:02

(that sounds great, trunk muffins. Especially the pineapple upside down cake -- yum. We had lemon pound cake and devil's food cake for our wedding.)

I guess the revolution started a while ago? I certainly was well exposed to it from when I moved to the US, and I actually was not aware it was a regional thing.

posted by gaspode 15 October | 08:21

Y'ALL FORGOT ABOUT FROSTING

posted by mullacc 15 October | 09:21

Yeah, for me it's all about the cream cheese frosting. I also like a minimum of food coloring, but it's kind of like a what the hell thing. It's not like I'm going to eat acres of it, and the three or four bites of cream cheesey/cakey goodness is all I'm in for with a single cupcake. Usually with sweet stuff, that's all I really want, a few bites.

posted by ethylene 15 October | 12:34

My Mom would make red velvet cake for my brother to take back to university. Sharing with dorm-mates meant he didn't get but a few slices before it was gone.

Mom solved that by making it with green coloring instead of red; resulting in some of it moulding before he could eat it all.

posted by mightshould 15 October | 16:50

Did you have it with Big Red soda?

Sometimes, but I actually prefer the subtler, more strawberry-like and less bubble-gum-y flavor and delicate nuance of Shasta Red Pop.

However, I am at heart a Pepper.

posted by Miko 16 October | 00:03

I made a red velvet cake once from a recipe MeFites were trumpeting, and wasn't impressed with the taste.

posted by Orange Swan 16 October | 14:42

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