FOOD NEWS
Red Velvet Vs. Blue Velvet: The Actual Difference Between The Two Cakes
By Jessica Fleming-Montoya
Red velvet cake is a classic and beloved treat, but some people might not be as familiar with blue velvet cake. While these desserts have a lot in common, they are still different.
Both blue velvet and red velvet cakes have cream cheese frosting and a yellow cake base with a few tablespoons of cocoa powder in the batter for a slight chocolatey flavor.
One of the most obvious differences between the two is the food coloring used. Red velvet cake is bright red, while blue velvet cake has a blue Cookie Monster hue.
Red velvet typically adds buttermilk and vinegar, while blue velvet calls for a small amount of white vinegar and sometimes a bit of almond extract to enhance the flavor.
Around the 1930s, red velvet cake became popular when the Adams Extract Co. began bottling a large amount of red food coloring and selling it with a recipe for the cake.
Blue velvet cake seems to be a much more modern invention, drawing inspiration from red velvet cake and serving as a twist on the original recipe.