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thread: Red velvet and rainbow cake experts I need your advice.

  1. #1

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    Red velvet and rainbow cake experts I need your advice.

    Next week it is DS's birthday. We're going to the IL's so I doubt I will be baking a cake but I will be doing cupcakes on the Friday before his birthday for his class.
    Since I'm not doing a cake I may as well go all out with the cupcakes.

    Sooo...... I'm thinking zebra cupcakes. With a red velvet and another colour. Is it possible? Is there another batter that will take the same time to cook as the red velvet? A white mud maybe if I went a little lighter on the chocolate? I could add yellow dye to that and a red and yellow would make his day because they are the Gryffindor colours.

    Or maybe a marble effect - would a quick stir with a skewer do the trick?

    Any trick, tips and suggestions would be welcomed.

    I'm not wed to the idea of the red velvet cupcakes - if I need to use a different batter I will.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    In my own private paradise
    15,272

    i would do a simple cake that you can split and color, rather than trying to mix two different textures - no guarantee it will cook at the same rate, and you don't want to end up with a weird texture (IMO)!

    we make a simple vanilla cupcake the other day - just split it in two and add color. just keep in mind the red and yellow, if you swirl, will give lots of orange. maybe look at layers in the patty pan instead...

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Atop the lookout...
    2,777

    You could just halve the red cake mix (as in same quantity, into two bowls), and add a half quantity of cocoa and red colour to one for the red velvet portion, and a touch extra flour and vanilla into the other bowl. Then spoon small amounts into patty pans.

  4. #4
    Administrator
    Add Rouge on Facebook

    Jun 2003
    Ubiquity
    9,922

    Yes it's possible but they will have to be horizontal stripes rather than vertical.

    I've done it before it's easy as pie. I don't have time atm... but red velvet essentially is chocolate cake with red food colouring. It was originally made with really red cocoa, then alternatively beetroot juice. Now most people use food colouring. My favourite chocolate cupcake recipe is AWESOME just without the cocoa (I add more flour to compensate).

    You could definitely colour white chocolate mudcake. Colouring batter is easy as pie. And layering is just as easy!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    5,235

    I would also just go for a vanilla cake mix and colour it. Yes a skewer swirled through would give you the effect you wanted.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jan 2012
    WA
    420

    I would just be aware if its for the class some kids may miss out because of the colours.. I hate seeing my big girl sad after she misses out on cakes.
    Last edited by Ambersky; March 15th, 2012 at 06:28 PM.

  7. #7
    Administrator
    Add Rouge on Facebook

    Jun 2003
    Ubiquity
    9,922

    I just realised how derp I am. Vertical vs. Horizontal. Derp.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    Onyx, I've made loads of zebra and rainbow cakes and you can use any type of cake you want, but they have to be the same consistency otherwise when you pour them into the pan, they wont spread properly and the layers/stripes wont look right. The way I do the rainbow zebra cakes is to make a couble quantity of batter, then split it evenly into however many colours I want to have - usually 6. Then I add the colouring to it and then alternatively pour it into the pan. Have you seen the FB pics I have of when I've done them? If you do cupcakes, you will literally only need a teaspoon of mix for each layer if you want a few layers/stripes, otherwise you can have less layers/stripes by using bigger spoonfuls of batter.

  9. #9

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    I was hoping you'd see this thread Trillian. I consider you the guru of rainbow cake.

    Since I want Gryfinndor cupcakes I could use a vanilla cupcake mix and add red and yellow colouring? I wonder if my local cake supplies store has a dark red? I guess I could use my bright red with a drop of black?

    Now I just need to figure out how to ice/top them....

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    LOL, thanks! Yep, basic packet buttercake is ideal - I use it all the time because the consistency is perfect. I wasn't sure if you'd use a packet one or make it from scratch. The colours you buy at the supermarket are no good - you need to buy some Wiltons Gel Colours - they are da bomb for getting vivid colours. The supermarket ones need a tonne of colouring added to get them as rich as you want them. I've used some pretty dark and light colours together and they don't relly run together that much, but you may want to use slightly more yellow batter so you have a thicker band of yellow between the red so you can tell that it's yellow kwim? Otherwise if you have a thin band of yellow it will be overwhelmed by the red. You've inspired me to make some up myself as a test for you LOL.

  11. #11

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    I have the wilton's red gel so I guess i need to track down some yellow.

    Now I just need to figure out what icing to use...

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    Onyx, I've uploaded them to FB for you.

  13. #13

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    That must be some kind of record.
    I can't see them. Can you tag me?

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    In Bankworld with Barbara
    14,222

    I posted them on your wall - for some reason it wouldn't let me share the album with you.

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    7,197

    Me is bumping because I need to make a 6 layered rainbow cake for DD's party on Saturday and just wondering which packet mix you use Trill and Onyx?? I need to colour each of the 6 layers a different colour and then work out what icing to use in-between each layer and on top! TIA chicks!

  16. #16

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    I ended up using the Magnolia bakery vanilla cupcake recipe instead of a packet cake mix. It is quite thick and not at all runny so the cupcakes ended up more patchy/marbled than layered.

    Utterly delicious cupcakes. It's a great recipe.

    In a layered rainbow cake I expect to see purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.

    ETA - I saw an awesome purple cake that was layers of different shades of purple - light on the bottom and dark on the top.

    A cream cheese frosting with a bit of lemon zest would be yummy.
    Last edited by Phteven; May 17th, 2012 at 08:01 PM.

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    7,197

    That is exactly what Im doing hun!! Could I use that recipe for a cake do you think? I"ve done it before for cupcakes but this will essentially be 6 cakes (planning on 2 batters divided by 3 if it's big enough or else 3 x2)

  18. #18

    Mar 2004
    Sparta
    12,662

    I think it would make delicious cakes.

    Not sure how long you would have to bake them - probably not long since they would be thin.

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