How Does Pink Velvet Cake Differ From The Red Variety?

Red velvet cake is a beautiful, delicious, and downright iconic dessert. Its deep crimson color, especially when contrasted with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting, makes the result a real showstopper. But why stop at just one color? A similar cake known as pink velvet also delivers on flavor and color, but there are a few key details that make these two treats distinct from one another.

True to the name, the color of pink velvet is much paler than that of red velvet, but the differences don't stop there. Red velvet cake gets its chocolatey flavor and part of its rich color from a touch of cocoa added to the batter. Meanwhile, pink velvet skips the cocoa and lets the taste of vanilla shine. Both varieties also often rely on artificial food dye in varying color and quantity to boost the final hue. You can attempt to use natural dyes, but be aware that these can impart an unwanted flavor or interfere with the baking process, besides not bringing quite the same color intensity to the final baked good.

If you try to avoid excessive use of food dye — especially considering the FDA ban on red dye no. 3 — pink velvet may be a better option. Red velvet cakes require a lot of food coloring to achieve their signature dark red color, in part because of the presence of cocoa in the batter. Of course, lighter-hued pink velvet cakes require far less, as it's much easier to add just a tint of color to white batter.

Just because you may not wish to use natural food dye in the cake doesn't mean you can't add color in the icing with natural ingredients. To keep with the pink theme, add a bit of strawberry juice or perhaps some dragon fruit powder to the traditional cream cheese frosting. A pretty pink piping along the edges of the cake could be eye-catching, too, without overwhelming your vision. While red velvet is a classic, pink velvet will take the cake for a sweetly-themed party or perhaps a gender reveal. Whatever version you choose, the flavor and the color make both varieties a memorable way to celebrate.