Description
Black velvet cake is a dramatic, decadent dessert made with black cocoa and a rich, dark buttercream. Perfect for Halloween or any time you want to impress with flavor and style.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Cake:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup black cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot water (or coffee)
- For the Black Cocoa Buttercream:
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temp
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup black cocoa powder
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease cake pans. Line with parchment paper.
- Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and vinegar.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed.
- Pour in hot water or coffee and mix until smooth. Batter will be thin.
- Divide batter into pans and bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes completely before frosting.
- For buttercream: beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa.
- Add cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat until smooth.
- Frost cooled cakes and decorate as desired.
Notes
Add espresso powder for depth, or raspberry jam between layers for contrast. Edible gold or Halloween décor takes it to the next level.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 80mg