Milk & Cookies Bakery

  Milk & Cookies Bakery in New York

http://www.milkandcookiesbakery.com/

• Cake: The cake was kind of dry and a real discernible taste was hard to make out but it did seem to have a slight hint of cocoa to it. It had a very artificial taste overall.
  
• Frosting: The icing had a bit of a cream cheese taste to it but we think it was actually supposed to be vanilla.
  
• Coloring: Dark red.
• Consistency: Fairly dry but slightly springy as a sponge cake should be.

~We give this cake loaf 2.5 out of 5 stars~

McTavish Shortbread

McTavish Shortbread in Various US Locations

http://www.mctavishshortbread.com/

• Cake: The cookie just tasted like a butter cookie. There may have been a very slight hint of cocoa but I think that's only because we wanted it to. It's listed on the ingredients, but isn't displayed in the taste.
  
• Frosting: N/A
  
• Coloring: Dark red but dyes your mouth and tongue red IMMEDIATELY.
  
• Consistency: Very hard, crumbly and dry.
• Additional Comments: Once again, it's a product that's red velvet only in name.

~We give this cookie 1 out of 5 stars~

Ella's Bakehouse

Ella's Bakehouse in London

http://ellasbakehouse.co.uk/

• Cake: The cake was ridiculously sweet to the unpleasant point. The cake had enough cocoa that it was almost to the point of calling it a chocolate cupcake, but there was also a buttery undertone too.
  
• Frosting: The bakery claims that this is cream cheese frosting, but we really doubt it. It was SO unbelievably sugary that it was hard to tell what flavor it was. We actually had to stop eating the frosting after just a couple of bites because it was so sugary.
  
• Coloring: Dark red, nice.
  
• Consistency: Crumbly and dry.
• Additional Comments: This cupcake was too sweet to eat, especially the frosting. After just a few bites we ditched the frosting, and a couple bites later, the whole cupcake. Upon reviewing their website, it appears that the cake is brushed with a light vanilla sugar syrup which could explain the whole "too sweet" flavor. Perhaps for a British palate this cupcake is a better fit, but for Americans, we wouldn't recommend this red velvet cupcake.

~We give this cupcake 1 out of 5 stars~

Sweet Couture Cake Boutique

  *photo credit to Meem A.*

Sweet Couture Cake Boutique in London

http://www.sweetcouture.co.uk/sweetcouture/home.html

• Cake: Really artificial tasting, not a lot of cocoa flavor, very sweet.
  
• Frosting: Buttercream, sadly.
  
• Coloring: Medium Red
  
• Consistency: Very doughy cake.
• Additional Comments: Disappointing red velvet, but cute bake shop.

~We give this cupcake 2 out of 5 stars~

Harrods Food Bar

Harrods Food Bar in London

http://www.harrods.com/

• Cake: Nice subtle cocoa flavor.
  
• Frosting:Good cream cheese flavor, very nice.
  
• Coloring: Medium Red
  
• Consistency: The cake was a little too crumbly but it was very moist.
• Additional Comments: This was a very nice cupcake, and by far the best we experienced in London. The price was perfect at just €2.50! Very delicious and tasty, and we would recommend it.

~We give this cupcake 4 out of 5 stars~

Sweet Revenge

 The "Crimson & Creme" Cupcake

Sweet Revenge in New York

http://www.sweetrevengenyc.com/

• Cake: This cake was fantastic. Not only was there the slight cocoa taste but it had actual raspberry bits in the cupcake! The raspberry taste was very subtle and basically seemed perfect for a red velvet cupcake, though we would never have guessed! It could have been a bit more moist but it was still very good.
  
• Frosting: Absolutely excellent cream cheese frosting with a delightful, non-overbearing raspberry drizzle and cinnamon sprinkled on top. Extremely cream cheesy. Second only to the incomparable Two Little Red Hens. Also, the presentation was beautiful! See the photo above.
  
• Coloring: Deep red cake that didn't stain the tongue too much. A win!
  
• Consistency: The cake was fairly crumbly and could have been a bit more moist. It had a slight crunch due to the raspberry seeds baked inside but we actually found this intriguing and delightful! The frosting was a perfect consistency.
• Additional Comments: There is just not enough that can be said to express how good this cake is. You begin with a surprising first scent of cinnamon only to bite into one of the most intriguing red velvets we have encountered. It's just the right hint of raspberry, cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla and cream cheese gathered into a delectable bounty of red velvet goodness. The only reason this cupcake is not receiving a perfect 5 star review is that it isn't a "traditional" red velvet and that's what this blog is all about finding. However, you would be absolutely crazy to pass up an opportunity to try this cupcake (and then indulge again and again and again). Sweet Revenge is a cupcake and wine bar, so what's not to love about it right there?! They'll help you decide the perfect cupcake and wine pairing for you. They also serve food and we hear that they serve a red velvet waffle for breakfast! Needless to say, you can expect a review soon! RUN to Sweet Revenge!

~We give this cupcake 4.5 out of 5 stars~

Red Velvet Waffles

Sweet Revenge in New York

http://www.sweetrevengenyc.com/

• Cake: A fair amount of cocoa creates a waffle goodness.Very nice.
• Frosting: No frosting on these waffles but they were dusted with powdered sugar and served with a salted carmel syrup that was warm and delicious and a dusted cinnamon whipped cream cheese, so you can't really go wrong. 
  
• Coloring: Medium to dark red.
  
• Consistency: Moist and slightly crisp - just what you'd hope for in a good waffle.
• Additional Comments: This waffle had a lot to live up to after we discovered the waffles at Society Coffee (since-closed, but allegedly now served at their sister establishment 67 Orange Street) and sadly it wasn't quite what we had hoped. It lacked the heavenly cocoa smell and distinctive taste that we know can be reached. These were not disappointing waffles, however, and the fresh fruit on the side was a nice touch. All of the food at Sweet Revenge is quite good so be sure to give them a try.

~We give this waffle 3.5 out of 5 stars~

Sweet Maria's Red Velvet Biscotti

 

Sweet Maria's in Various US Locations

http://www.sweet-marias.com/wholesale-biscotti

• Cake: The biscotti was extremely hard and just tasted like a light chocolate biscotti, not really red velvet. It's actually too cocoa to call red velvet. This is a first for us!
  
• Frosting: The vanilla icing drizzled on top was very hard and very sweet.
  
• Coloring: Dark red biscotti with white icing drizzle on top.
  
• Consistency: Very, very hard and slightly crumbly biscotti and very hard vanilla icing.
• Additional Comments: Renee is embarrassed to report that somewhere along the line she lost the actual photograph of the biscotti. This photo is a stock photo from the Sweet Maria's website. Our apologies.

~We give this biscotti 3 out of 5 stars~

Blue Bunny Red Carpet Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream

Blue Bunny in Various US Locations

http://www.bluebunny.com

• Cake: Not only were there actual delectable cake pieces, but the cake batter flavored ice cream was delicious as well. The cocoa flavoring was near perfection and the cake pieces were satisfying.
  
• Frosting: The cream cheese swirls were frosty, cream cheese deliciousness.
  
• Coloring: Deep red with white swirls.
  
• Consistency: Small cake chunks blended with creamy cake batter and cream cheese ice cream.
• Additional Comments: Blue Bunny Red Velvet was tricky to find in the New York City area, but a quick trip to Connecticut and later Chicago found us face to face with what turned out to be a nearly perfect red velvet ice cream. We would highly recommend this one.

~We give this ice cream 5 out of 5 stars~