Spooky Black Velvet Halloween Cake
A hauntingly beautiful and delicious cake featuring rich black cocoa, buttermilk, and topped with creamy frosting, perfect for Halloween festivities.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 cups White granulated sugar
- 2 cups All purpose flour (sifted)
- ¾ cup Black cocoa powder (sifted)
- 2 tsp Baking soda
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 units Eggs (room temperature)
- 1 cup Buttermilk (room temperature)
- 1 cup Coffee (hot)
- ½ cup Canola oil
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
For the Blackberry Compote
- 2 cups Fresh blackberries
- 2 tbsp White granulated sugar (for compote)
- 1 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- 1 stick Cinnamon stick
- ¼ cup Water
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
For the Frosting
- 8 oz Cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup Unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 cups Powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 cup Black cocoa powder (sifted)
- ¼ tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
For Decoration
- Chocolate skulls For decoration
- Fresh blackberries For garnish
- Dried rose petals For ambiance
Instructions
Preparation
- Start by gathering all your ingredients.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, black cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Mixing
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, hot coffee, canola oil, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, stirring just until combined.
Baking
- Divide the batter equally between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cooling
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Making the Blackberry Compote
- While the cakes cool, combine blackberries, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, a cinnamon stick, water, and cornstarch in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
Frosting Preparation
- Beat together softened cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, black cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla extract until fluffy.
Assembling the Cake
- Place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread frosting on top, and add blackberry compote.
- Add the second cake layer and frost the top and sides.
Decorating
- Garnish with chocolate skulls, fresh blackberries, and dried rose petals.
Notes
For dietary adjustments, consider using plant-based milk instead of buttermilk for a dairy-free option and gluten-free flour for those with wheat allergies. Baking together is a great family activity!