Sachertorte Sachertorte Sachertorte () is a specific type of chocolate cake, or torte, invented by Austrian Franz Sacher in 1832 for Prince Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties. December 5th is National Sachertorte Day in the United States. Recipes similar to that of the Sachertorte appeared as early as the 18th century, one instance being in the 1718 cookbook of Conrad Hagger, another individual represented in Gartler-Hickmann's 1749 "Tried and True Viennese Cookbook" ("Wienerisches bewährtes Kochbuch"). In 1832, Prince Wenzel von Metternich charged his personal chef with creating a special dessert
Red velvet cake was a description used to let consumers know the dessert was a soft and velvety crumb cake. During that same time devil's food cake was introduced, which is how some believe that red velvet cake came about. The difference between the two cakes is that devil's food cake uses chocolate and red velvet cake uses cocoa. When foods were rationed during World War II, bakers used boiled beet juices to enhance the color of their cakes. Beets are found in some red velvet cake recipes. Beets were and are in some recipes used as a filler or to retain moisture.Adams