Velvet Cake (1874)

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   I got a "velvet cake" request.
   A recipe for "Red Velvet Cake" is in the NEW YORK TIMES, 25 April 1977, pg. 57.   In the NEW YORK TIMES, 19 October 1948, pg. 30, is "Would you like to sample a Chinese velvet cake?"
   The American Periodical Series has a "velvet cake" recipe from the LADIES' HOME JOURNAL, June 1891, pg. 28.  The following is from Accessible Archives.


ITEM #6033
February, 1874
Godey's Lady's Book
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Vol LXXXVIII Page 180

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<< Velvet Cake>> . One pound of sugar, one pound of flour, half a pound of butter, four eggs, one teacup of cold water, one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, half a teaspoonful of soda. Beat the sugar and butter to a white cream; dissolve the soda in the water, and sift the cream of tartar into the flour, mixing thoroughly; add to the butter and sugar the one pound of flour and the water; beat it all well. Beat the eggs, the yelks first, and then the whites, to a stiff froth; beat them together for a minute and stir into the cake. Flavor with lemon, or any flavoring preferred, and beat the cake well for three minutes. Bake an hour. This will make two loaves; it may be flavored with nutmeg and spices, or with raisins and currants, or be made into delicious Chocolate Cake by being baked in layers, and filled with chocolate frosting.
Chocolate Frosting to put between layers of cake. Three cups of crushed sugar, with a little water to dissolve it, boiled to a syrup till it will hair on the spoon, whites of two eggs beaten stiff. When the sugar is boiled, pour into it the eggs, beating all the time; then put in chocolate enough to taste, and color nicely; a small pinch of tartaric acid.
Icing that will not Break. One pound of pulverized sugar, whites of three eggs; mix well together (after the eggs are beaten), and flavor with the juice of one lemon or one teaspoonful of strong cider vinegar; add one teaspoonful of corn-starch. Flour the top of the cake as soon as taken from the oven, and put on the icing with a large spoon, spreading in place by dipping a knife in cold water and smoothing over.
Measure Pound Cake. Three cups of sugar, two cups of butter, four cups of flour, half a cup of sweet milk, nine eggs, two teaspoonfuls of baking powder. (...)