Duck Duck Goes "red velvet cake recipe" First three, including one with "real" in the title of the recipe, all call for food coloring. Wikipedia says the actu

Duck Duck Goes "red velvet cake recipe" First three, including one with "real" in the title of the recipe, all call for food coloring. Wikipedia says the actually-real version achieves its color by using non-Dutch-process cocoa powder, but basically no-one makes it that way, especially not home bakers (nor cheap grocery store bakeries, which is where probably 80+% of non-homemade red velvet comes from). Wikipedia further notes that it didn't become a popular dessert to make at home until the arrival of red food coloring. I've had red velvet cake or cupcakes probably 30+ times in my life, and I doubt a single one was made the "real" way. Food coloring, in every case, I'd bet.