Red velvet cupcakes There is something really elegant about red velvet cupcakes. They just look so cool and they taste awesome, especially when covered with a nice homemade cream cheese frosting. Velvet cake is thought to have originated in USA in the early 20th century. During WWII, soldiers and civilians had to ration off food and supplies. Baking products like sugar and butter were a part of the rations. As a result, some bakers chose to use beet juice in their cakes. Beet was and is used in some recipes as a filler or to retain moisture. The red color of the beets makes the cake have a more delicious appeal. However, not only do the beets make the cake pretty, but they also make the cake soft. These days, most have steered away from beets in their red velvet cake recipe, and instead opt for red food coloring to give the cake vibrancy. In recent years, red velvet cake and red velvet cupcakes have become increasingly popular in the US and many countries, especially around Christma