Easy Red Velvet Cake Mix Hack for a Professional-Looking Dessert


Red Velvet Cake Mix

Today, red velvet cake is a delicious part of any celebration. But pulling off red velvet cake can be a nightmare for many, especially those new to baking. But fortunately, you will get a packet of red velvet cake mix out there.

So, what is a red velvet cake mix? The necessary ingredients for a red velvet cake are mixed in the right proportion and packed in different quantities. You can take a cake mix and add wet ingredients like water, oil, and egg to the mix. It will give you a ready-to-bake cake batter in minutes.

Let’s get into more details to know what is usually in a cake mix and how they taste in contrast with traditional recipes.

Easy Red Velvet Cake Hack

A Bit History of Red Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake dates back to 1800 when bakers used to make browny-like cakes with no cocoa powder. When they started adding raw cocoa powder to the batter in the Victorian era, the result was a fluffier and more moist cake.1 G. Daniela Galarza (2011, June 11). Red velvet cake is ‘the color of joy’. Here’s how it rose into America’s dessert canon. The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/06/11/red-velvet-cake-history/  

It got popular as velvet cake. And the red color came from the reaction between the cocoa powder and other acidic ingredients. Till then, the recipe has been personalized by many, and the red velvet cake is still the name of choice when you crave some cake.

What Is a Red Velvet Cake Mix?

Red velvet cake mixes usually contain wheat flour enriched with Niacin, Riboflavin, Iron, Folic Acid, etc. Sugar and leavening agents like baking soda or monocalcium phosphate are also added to the mix. And processed cocoa powder is added to give the red velvet cake its characteristic taste.

A small amount of cornstarch, palm oil, salt, and cellulose gum are also added to it. There are usually artificial flavors in the red velvet cake mix. After you buy the mix, you can add the necessary water, oil, and eggs to turn the mix into a cake batter.

It makes the whole process a lot easier and lets you bake red velvet cakes anytime.

What Red Velvet Cake Mix Tastes Better?

Among the red velvet cake mixes available out there, the Betty Crocker Super Moist Red Velvet Cake Mix is very popular. This mix produces a very spongy and moist cake. It is possible due to the addition of soft wheat flour and the proportions of its components.2 Hanee M. Al-Dmoor (2013, January). Cake Flour: Functionality and Quality. European Science Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/236407607.pdf

You can even prepare cupcakes with this mix. There is room for additional ingredients to bring variation to the taste. If the baking is done properly, this cake mix is expected to come out with great texture and flavor.

Though the sweetness is on the lower side, you have the option to adjust that according to your palette. Besides, it comes with instructions. So anyone can easily make red velvet cakes without the hassle of collecting and measuring ingredients separately.

Can Red Velvet Cake Mix Have Other Flours?

A study shows that carob flour can be a good alternative to wheat flour and cocoa powder for red velvet cake mix. That is because it delivers a chocolaty color and flavor when roasted.3Maria Papageorgiou, Adamantini Paraskevopoulou, Foteini Pantazi, & Adriana Skendi (2020, November 2). Cake Perception, Texture and Aroma Profile as Affected by Wheat Flour and Cocoa Replacement with Carob Flour. MDPI Journals. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/11/1586. The texture and aroma profile were also tested after incorporating carob flour into the cake mix.

How to Make Red Velvet Cake Without the Cake Mix?

Although red velvet cake mixes make it much easier and faster to bake a cake at home, you can use traditional recipes to make the cake taste better. Here is a recipe for making a red velvet cake that serves up to eight people in one hour. We will keep it as simple as possible. Follow the steps.

Making Red Velvet Cake WITHOUT MIXER
  • Step 1. Sift dry ingredients, like flour, salt, baking soda, sugar, and cocoa powder, in a bowl.
  • Step 2. Take the wet ingredients, like oil, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, vinegar, and red food color.
  • Step 3. Mix them well before adding dry ingredients.
  • Step 4. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and start mixing them.
  • Step 5. Mix the ingredients until the batter is smooth. Don’t go the other way around, or you will create lumps.
  • Step 6. Take three baking pans and place baking sheets on them.
  • Step 7. Pour the batter into the pans and tap the pans lightly.
  • Step 8. Put them into a preheated oven at 350 degrees and bake them for about 30 minutes.
  • Step 9. After the cakes come out, let them rest for 10 minutes.
  • Step 10. Then, cool them down until they are at room temperature.
  • Step 11. Use cream cheese frosting as layers between the cakes.
  • Sep 12. Decorate the top and the sides with frosting. That’s it.

Conclusion

Red velvet cake is a very delicious dessert that almost everyone loves. But not everyone might bake a red velvet cake to perfection. This is why red velvet cake mix is there, which allows you to avoid the hassle and prepare tasty cakes every time.

Most of the ingredients are combined in these pre-mixed packages, so you can add a few simple ingredients to make the batter. Then you can bake the cake to enjoy lushness at home.

FAQs

If you have more questions about the red velvet cake mix, check the following answers.

Can I add cocoa powder to the red velvet cake mix?

Yes, but cake mixes usually have the right amount of cocoa powder. So, adding more will overpower the flavor.

How can I improve the taste of red velvet cake mix?

You can add butter instead of oil to make the cake taste better. And eggs increase the density of the cake.

Should I keep the red velvet cake in the refrigerator?

Yes. You can refrigerate red velvet cake for a short period. But don’t forget to bring it to room temperature before serving.

More Related Articles:

 
  • 1
    G. Daniela Galarza (2011, June 11). Red velvet cake is ‘the color of joy’. Here’s how it rose into America’s dessert canon. The Washington Post. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/06/11/red-velvet-cake-history/
  • 2
    Hanee M. Al-Dmoor (2013, January). Cake Flour: Functionality and Quality. European Science Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/236407607.pdf
  • 3
    Maria Papageorgiou, Adamantini Paraskevopoulou, Foteini Pantazi, & Adriana Skendi (2020, November 2). Cake Perception, Texture and Aroma Profile as Affected by Wheat Flour and Cocoa Replacement with Carob Flour. MDPI Journals. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/11/1586.

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