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Easy Halloween Cake — Black Velvet decorated with black chocolate buttercream

Easy Halloween Cake - Black Velvet

This rich and dramatic Black Velvet cake is the perfect spooky dessert for Halloween without the hassle of extensive baking. With a soft crumb and deep chocolate flavor, it's sure to impress.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Halloween
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake Ingredients
  • 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup black cocoa powder For a deep black color and rich flavor.
  • 2 tablespoons regular cocoa powder Optional, for a slightly stronger chocolate taste.
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs Room temperature if possible.
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup neutral oil Canola or vegetable oil.
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup hot coffee or hot water Coffee deepens the chocolate flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round pans and line the bottoms with parchment.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, black cocoa, regular cocoa (if using), baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until no dry flour is visible.
  4. Gradually add the hot coffee or water into the batter and stir gently until smooth.
Baking
  1. Divide the batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  2. Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a rack to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting and Serving
  1. Frost with your choice of creamy vanilla buttercream or cream cheese frosting.
  2. For spooky decorations, consider a black drip look with chocolate ganache or a graveyard vibe with cookie crumbs and candy bones.

Notes

To keep the cake moist, balance the black cocoa with enough moisture from oil and buttermilk. Other frosting options include adding purple gel color to the vanilla buttercream for a spooky effect.