Ingredients:
For the Black Velvet Cake:
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup cocoa powder (preferably dark cocoa powder for color)
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon black gel food coloring
1 cup hot water
For the Dark Chocolate Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
¾ cup dark cocoa powder
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
For Decoration:
Halloween-themed sprinkles or edible glitter
Optional: black fondant bats or edible eyeballs for an extra spooky touch
Directions:
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy release.
Prepare the Cake Batter:
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and white vinegar. Stir in the black gel food coloring until the mixture reaches a deep black color.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Add the hot water last, stirring gently until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin, but that’s perfect!
Bake the Cakes:
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare the Frosting:
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and dark cocoa powder, mixing on low speed until incorporated. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
Assemble the Cake:
Once the cakes are completely cool, spread a layer of frosting on top of one cake layer. Place the second cake layer on top, then frost the entire outside of the cake. For an extra-spooky effect, create smooth sides with your frosting spatula or use the back of a spoon for textured waves.
Decorate and Serve:
Decorate the cake with Halloween-themed sprinkles or edible glitter. Add black fondant bats, edible eyeballs, or other spooky decorations as desired. Slice and serve at your Halloween gathering!
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 35 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes (plus cooling time)
Kcal: 450 kcal per slice | Servings: 12 servings