It's funny talking to people about red velvet cake. They either simply adore it or seriously cannot figure it out. Is it vanilla cake with red food coloring? Is it a weird chocolate cake? What they heck is it?
I had an epic conversation with a woman once who professed that red velvet was crap because it didn't taste like anything. She kept going on about how stupid it was. I said..um excuse me...no, it tastes like red velvet, you are hoping that it will taste like chocolate....pretty sure you're stupid. She didn't like that answer very much! (I don't think I really called her stupid, but I wanted to for reals). I did however let her know she was being crazy ridiculous.
This cake does contain cocoa powder but not much in relativity to the rest of the ingredients. I don't think it makes the cake taste chocolaty by any means but if you omitted it you would for sure know something was not right! Buttermilk and vinegar make a prevalent appearance lending it to be a little tangy.
This is where I'm going to get all nerdy on you. Hold on...I'm putting my nerd glasses on before I type this. Okay..go! The reaction of acidic vinegar and buttermilk tends to enhance and reveal the red anthocyanin (anthocyanin are water soluble vacuolar pigments that may appear red, purple, or blue according to ph) in the cocoa powder. Back in the day before Dutch Processed cocoa was readily available, the red color would have been way more pronounced. Which could in fact be why it's named "red" velvet. :) Dutch processed cocoa has been treated with alkali to neutralize its natural acidity. Which means we now need to use A LOT of food coloring because there isn't much of a chemical reaction going on. Too much for you? Well at least you know a little more about the food you eat or may eat and that maybe I'm not as dumb as I look. Haha
So now when you see red velvet cakes, cupcakes, whoopie pies, whatever....you can be a super annoying smarty pants and know all of the scientific things about a random dessert and tell whoever you are with and they can stare at you uncomfortably. Your welcome!
I honesty think these are one of my favorite cupcakes. Lovely :)
P.s. Emily thanks for the order. I hope they met TJ's standards!!
XOX
Heidi
