A velvet cake is a type of cake that is soft and delicate in texture. There are different types of velvet cakes, including red velvet cake and white velvet cake. Here is what we know about each:
-
Red Velvet Cake: This is a cocoa-based cake that is traditionally a red, crimson, or scarlet-colored layer cake, layered with ermine icing. The red color is due to non-Dutched, anthocyanin-rich cocoa, and traditional recipes do not use food coloring. Common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, cocoa, vinegar, and flour. Beet juice or red food coloring may be used for the color. The cake is believed to have originated in the late 1800s in the United States, and it is widely considered a Southern recipe. Red velvet cake is typically garnished with either boiled milk or Ermine frosting or cream cheese frosting.
-
White Velvet Cake: This is a buttermilk cake base that results in a very soft, fluffy, and moist cake. It is basically red velvet without the red. The buttermilk gives this southern-inspired cake its rich and velvety texture. The crumb is super fine, and it is definitely a great cake for flavor to just bake up for a special occasion. The traditional frosting that goes with velvet cake is ermine frosting, which is made by cooking sugar with a bit of flour and then whipping it into softened butter.
In summary, velvet cake is a type of cake that is soft and delicate in texture. Red velvet cake is a cocoa-based cake that is traditionally red in color, while white velvet cake is basically red velvet without the red. Both cakes are typically garnished with ermine frosting.