<P> Red Velvet cake is traditionally a red , red - brown , or `` mahogany '' colored layer cake , layered with white cream cheese icing or Ermine frosting ( sometimes called `` cooked roux '' frosting ) . It has a distinctive fluffy texture owing to the gas - producing reaction of alkaline buttermilk with acidic vinegar and / or acidic non-alkalized cocoa . The cake is commonly served on Christmas or Valentine 's Day . Common modern red velvet cake is made with red dye , however the red color was originally due to non-Dutched anthocyanin - rich cocoa . </P>
<P> Red Velvet cake is traditionally a red , red - brown , or `` mahogany '' colored layer cake , layered with white cream cheese icing or Ermine frosting ( sometimes called `` cooked roux '' frosting ) . It has a distinctive fluffy texture owing to the gas - producing reaction of alkaline buttermilk with acidic vinegar and / or acidic non-alkalized cocoa . The cake is commonly served on Christmas or Valentine 's Day . Common modern red velvet cake is made with red dye , however the red color was originally due to non-Dutched anthocyanin - rich cocoa . </P>
where does the red in red velvet cake come from
where does the red in red velvet cake come from
red dye
red dye