Red Velvet Cake rose in popularity using artificial food dyes in the 1950’s and 1960’s especially in the southern United States. But health concerns arose in the early 1970’s over the effects of food dyes and red food coloring which was linked to cancer.

Red Velvet Cake made a comeback in popularity when it was featured in the 1989 movie “Steel Magnolias” where it was shaped in the form of an armadillo with gray icing. Red Velvet was also the wedding cake of choice by singer Jessica Simpson for her marriage to Nick Lachey, and Oprah Winfrey featured Red Velvet Cake in 2006 on her television show and magazine drawing more attention to this cake.