National Devil’s Food Cake Day is on Wednesday, May 19, 2027, and it falls on May 19 every year. It celebrates the dark, moist, intensely chocolate layer cake that’s a birthday and potluck favorite. It’s usually finished with a fluffy or fudgy chocolate frosting.
When Is National Devil’s Food Cake Day?
It’s always May 19. It’s an unofficial food day.
Who Started National Devil’s Food Cake Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: an American chocolate classic
Devil’s food cake seems to have first appeared in print in 1902, in Sarah Tyson Rorer’s Mrs. Rorer’s New Cook Book, CooksInfo reports. That early recipe used unsweetened baking chocolate rather than cocoa.
Some food writers suggest a similar cake appeared in an Indiana newspaper a few years earlier, under a different name, Tasting Table notes. That claim hasn’t been confirmed.
Why is it called devil’s food?
Nobody knows for sure. There are three popular theories:
- The opposite of angel food: angel food cake is light and white; devil’s food is dark and dense.
- Its reddish color: early versions had a reddish tint, sometimes linked to the devil.
- It’s “sinfully” rich: the simplest explanation is that it tastes indulgent.
A story that New York’s Waldorf Astoria made it famous by selling the recipe is considered a myth.
What Makes Devil’s Food Different?
Devil’s food is darker and more intensely chocolatey than a basic chocolate cake. Many modern recipes use cocoa powder and a hot liquid, which helps release the cocoa’s flavor and makes a moist crumb.
Its reddish tint may have come from baking soda reacting with natural cocoa, though some food writers doubt the effect is strong. It’s often confused with red velvet cake, which is a different recipe.
The day celebrates a cake that has been a centerpiece of American celebrations for more than a century.
How to Celebrate National Devil’s Food Cake Day
- Bake a layer cake: stack two dark layers with chocolate frosting for a classic birthday look.
- Bloom the cocoa: whisk cocoa into hot coffee or water before adding it to the batter for deeper flavor.
- Try a contrast: frost it with fluffy white seven-minute icing, a vintage pairing.
- Make cupcakes: they bake faster and are easy to share at work or school.
- Bake an angel food cake too: serve both and compare.
- Add raspberries: tart fruit cuts the richness.
- Find a family recipe: many old church and community cookbooks include one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between devil’s food and chocolate cake?
Devil’s food is usually darker, richer and moister, often made with cocoa and a hot liquid. Basic chocolate cake tends to be lighter in color and flavor.
Is devil’s food the same as red velvet?
No. Red velvet uses less cocoa, buttermilk and often red coloring, and it’s usually paired with cream cheese frosting.
How do I keep the cake moist?
Don’t overbake. Start checking a few minutes early, and pull the cake when a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.