This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Red Velvet Cake: The Unofficial Dessert of Bed-Stuy

Top 5 Red Velvets In Bed-Stuy

Red velvet cake, one of my favorite desserts, also seems to be an all-time favorite in Bed-Stuy.

Almost every restaurant in the neighborhood either proudly features a version of this rich, bright-red chocolate cake (many people do not realize it is chocolate, but it is!), or if not, they promise to incorporate it into their menu soon. 

The history of red velvet cake is vague. But legend has it that the Waldorf Astoria, an elegant restaurant located in Manhattan, was the first to sell the delicious dessert in the 1950’s. A customer asked for the recipe and was billed a whopping $100. Outraged by the price, the customer made the recipe free to the public.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Many doubt there is any truth in this story, as the actual origins of the cake seem based on speculation. Needless to say, this delicious and rich cake, made with cocoa and buttermilk, is a classic in Bed-Stuy, especially in the innumerable soul food restaurants, diners, and bakeries.

I was only able to taste a fraction of the red velvets in the area, but here are a few of my favorites:

5. Bert’s Soul Food
198 Lewis Ave.
This red velvet cake is extremely rich and extremely dense. The piece of cake, at only 2.50 a slice, is gigantic, and the intense flavor and texture makes room for only a few delectable bites. I recommend this cake when you’re sharing with others who also crave sweets.

4. Kennedy Fried Chicken
1151 Fulton St.
Surprisingly enough, this fast food joint makes great red velvet cake. The cake itself is light and fluffy, and the frosting tastes like marshmallows, rather than the overly sweet frosting that often weighs the cake down.

3. Everything On a Bagel
561 Gates Ave.
This place recently opened up on Gates Avenue, and sells a delicious, and very pretty, red velvet cake. The frosting is thick and gooey, but not too sweet, and the harder crumbs sprinkled on the top add a crunch to each bite.  

2. Bread Stuy
403 Lewis Ave.
Although a little overpriced, this red velvet cake is probably worth the extra dollar. It is made with cream cheese frosting, which I absolutely adore, and has the perfect combination of a rich flavor without being too heavy. They also put walnuts on top, adding salty relief.

1. Heavenly Crumbs
355 Franklin Ave.
The red velvet cupcakes here are to die for (hence the store’s name?). They are moist and dense, caked with cream cheese frosting. The portions are small, but done to absolute perfection, making each bite a glorious one.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?