ZOE, The Costco Red Velvet Cupcakes Are Here.

[kritter]

Zoe, way back in October at the Other Place we had a thread about the Costco red velvet cupcakes.

I went to Costco today and there they were, all decked out for Valentines.  I circled the table, went away, and came back again.  The second time around the table, a guy walked up and we had a short conversation about said cupcakes.  To end the deliberation, he said "If you take a box, I will take one too."

So now I have 6 huge red velvet cupcakes in my kitchen.  I took a swipe at the icing and it is very tasty.

[zoesam]

Ours has them all the time or at least it seems that way.  We've had them since before Xmas for sure.  DH got me some for my bday, so I've been eating them all week.

How nice of you & that guy to help each other out 

Glad you like them!  I was just abt to freeze the 2 that are leftover from our package.  I'll cut them in half first!

[kritter]

I ate one tonight and they are soooo rich. I am going to take your lead and freeze several of them for later.

This is the first time I have seen them ever at my Costco.

LOL Yep, I probably would have bought them anyway but the guy's offer sealed the deal.

We decided that if we were to die this weekend, we wouldn't have the one regret that we hadn't bought the cupcakes.

[zoesam]

Too funny! They have coupons for them sometimes as well. Maybe twice/year. I always say I'm going to freeze them into 3rds, but I wind up doing it in halves ;-)

[kritter]

How do you freeze them? Cut in half and all in a storage container or what?

[zoesam]

Feb 11, 2015 3:27:24 GMT kritter said:

How do you freeze them? Cut in half and all in a storage container or what?

Yup, I just cut 'em in half & put them in Tupperware type containers. They never last long enough to worry abt frost, etc.

I've even eaten them frozen LOL.

[kritter]

I have mine in the fridge now. I like them cold so frozen will work too.

Off to cut cupcakes up. 

[Deleted]

Dumb question - what is red velvet cake? I mean, is it just normal cake coloured or does it taste different? They've only just come to Australia, if you can believe that.

I remember reading a funny thing years ago about a red velvet cake shaped like an armadillo. It had grey icing and when it was cut into it looked like a butchered armadillo. No one could eat it.

[zoesam]

Do you Costco there?

I remember red velvet in the 70's, called red devil I think, back then & it seemed like it tasted different to me. This does have a very moist taste, but I don't think it has a specific flavor.

eta; No, I was close, it was called Devil's Food cake.  I looked it up.

[kritter]

Red velvet does have a different taste to me.

Let me go eat a cupcake and see if I can nail that taste down. 

I am down to two cupcakes left.  Being in the freezer has not deterred me from eating them right out of the Tupperware.

[kritter]

Just found this...

What's That Flavor?

One of the most rampant rumors is that Red Velvet cake is full of chocolate. The truth is that chocolate—in the form of cocoa—is just one ingredient. According to Marsha and Todd of New Haven, Connecticut’s The Cupcake Truck (who prefer not to use their last names to keep the focus on their product), the subtle flavor cocoa delivers is part of the cake’s magic.

“Todd calls Red Velvet Cake the ‘cousin of chocolate cake,’” explains Marsha, who does the baking. They’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Red Velvet cake because it is so popular with their customers. “That’s what makes the cake so great,” says Todd. “That hint of chocolate! There’s something smooth about it, there’s a mystique.” “And there’s that color,” says Marsha. “When it comes down to it, cake should just make you happy.”

[zoesam]

Kritter, glad you sampled some...it's the only way to know! Mine never made it to the freezer LOL, but DH did help me eat them. I'm surprised your Costco doesn't have them all the time.

It is def NOT a chocolate flavor, it is unique, as it doesn't taste like yellow or white cake either, but it's not a strong flavor. I remember devil's food being more strongly flavored.

[Deleted]

Okay, none of you can pin it down so I'll have to try some myself! My local supermarket has just started having the cupcakes, so I'll get some...purely for the sake of research!

I think we do have Costco, but in another state. They've just started up in the last few years. I DREAM of going there.

[kritter]

Feb 16, 2015 2:31:20 GMT @misspettigrew said:

Okay, none of you can pin it down so I'll have to try some myself! My local supermarket has just started having the cupcakes, so I'll get some...purely for the sake of research!

I think we do have Costco, but in another state. They've just started up in the last few years. I DREAM of going there.

I want you to now how much I appreciate your sacrifice for the sake of research. 

Its a tough assignment for sure.

[Deleted]

Oh maaaaaaaaan. And I have to go to CostCo tomorrow or Tuesday to get a new car battery. Think my uncle will mind if I run to the bakery section real quick to grab a pack to sample?

This place is a b-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-d influence.

[Shirley U Geste]

I remember reading a funny thing years ago about a red velvet cake shaped like an armadillo. It had grey icing and when it was cut into it looked like a butchered armadillo. No one could eat it.

 It's a Western thing.   And yes, we do eat them. 

At weddings they have 'grooms' cakes, and in places like Texas, NM, etc they will sometimes be shaped like an armadillo since we have them here. They use the red velvet cake to make it look like the inside of a real armadillo. 

[Deleted]

How bizarre, but I'm glad to know it's true. I think it was Erma Bombeck talking about it...

[val2525]

Feb 16, 2015 4:08:52 GMT Shirley U Geste said:

I remember reading a funny thing years ago about a red velvet cake shaped like an armadillo. It had grey icing and when it was cut into it looked like a butchered armadillo. No one could eat it.

 It's a Western thing.   And yes, we do eat them. 

At weddings they have 'grooms' cakes, and in places like Texas, NM, etc they will sometimes be shaped like an armadillo since we have them here. They use the red velvet cake to make it look like the inside of a real armadillo. 

Girl I used to work with in Dallas had a really cool silver armadillo pin (broach). She'd wear it upside down. It was always amusing to see how many people didn't get the joke.

[Shirley U Geste]

Grooms cakes can be pretty weird things.

Depending on the grooms hobbies I have seen them shaped like deer heads, giant fish, jeeps, horses, cowboy hats, etc.


And if you get any Red Velvet cake or cupcakes make sure they have cream cheese frosting on them, that is traditional and really makes them special. 

[Shirley U Geste]

Girl I used to work with in Dallas had a really cool silver armadillo pin (broach). She'd wear it upside down. It was always amusing to see how many people didn't get the joke.

  Oh I love it, what a great sense of humor. 

I'm amazed more people didn't get it since that is how you see most of them.  

[Deleted]

The odd flavor most remember from traditional red velvet cakes actually comes from the red food coloring. Red coloring has a much stronger taste than other colors. You can now buy a flavorless (or close) red and that is why the current red velvet cakes have a milder flavor than the ones we had growing up. You also use buttermilk and vinegar in traditional red velvet which gives it a big of a tang that most other cakes don't have.

[zoesam]

Feb 16, 2015 16:31:01 GMT peek said:

The odd flavor most remember from traditional red velvet cakes actually comes from the red food coloring. Red coloring has a much stronger taste than other colors. You can now buy a flavorless (or close) red and that is why the current red velvet cakes have a milder flavor than the ones we had growing up. You also use buttermilk and vinegar in traditional red velvet which gives it a big of a tang that most other cakes don't have.

Ah, interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[Deleted]

I might have to join Costco.

[Deleted]

They have them at Sams here (we don't have Costco), not sure if they are the ones everyone likes though. I'm not a red velvet fan overall. Although the new recipe isn't as icky as the old one to me. I do prefer traditional cooked icing to the cream cheese they all use now. Most of the cream cheese is too sweet for me unless I make it myself and can adjust the sweetness level.

[Deleted]

The first time I ever heard of a Groom's Cake (and it was an armadillo) was in Steel Magnolia's:

Here's a clip...

Mild PROFANITY warning:

[kritter]

Feb 16, 2015 17:41:11 GMT @highendbuys said:

I might have to join Costco.

You definitely need to join Costco. 

The Costco cream cheese frosting is really good, I think.

I first had it when my niece had a birthday party for her 3 year old and bought the Costco red velvet cake. 

Not a usual choice for a kids' party maybe but the theory in our family is "Whoever pays for something gets to choose".   She made an excellent choice.

[val2525]

I don't know about anywhere else, but red velvet in the south always has creme cheese frosting. I've never had it with 'cooked' frosting. And you do need the bit of cocoa in it.

And I now I feel an overwhelming need to purchase a Costco membership. Dammit.

[kritter]

I think the membership is around $60 or a little less which is $5 a month. I go at least once a month and definitely save the $5 plus more just with the gas savings alone.

I got mine with a Groupon or Living Social so it was cheaper but I would definite renew for the membership amount.

[val2525]

You are no help, Kritter. Shirley put you up to this, didn't she? In revenge for the Beanitos post I bet.

[Shirley U Geste]