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History and Legend of the Red Velvet Cake
The Legend
The exact history of red velvet cake is unknown. There is, however, a well known story of how the recipe came to be. The legend claims a woman was staying at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. She ordered the cake for dessert and fell in love with it! She loved the cake so much she wrote to the hotel, asking for the baker's name and a copy of the recipe. The recipe arrived in the mail alongside a rather large bill. According to legend woman was so furious, she copied the recipe and sent it to everyone she knew.
History of the Red Velvet Cake
Red Velvet Cake is known as a southern specialty dessert. The signature red coloring dates back to World War II, where some bakers who refused to forgo the cake's signature color despite food rations. Some bakers used boiled red beets instead of food coloring. The second part of the brilliant color is the chemical reaction between cocoa power, butter milk and white vinegar. This velvety rich cake is most often paired with a mouth watering creamy cream cheese frosting. The contract of the red cake paired with the elegant white cream cheese frosting makes for a beautiful presentation for any occasion.
