Description
A truly classic Spooky Black Velvet Halloween Cake rich, strikingly dark from black cocoa and finished with creamy orange-tinted buttercream for eerie elegance.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened black cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
Orange Buttercream Frosting:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2–4 tablespoons milk or cream
Orange gel food coloring
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, black cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
5. Add the dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry; mix just to combine.
6. Divide batter evenly between pans and bake 30–35 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
7. Cool in pans 10 minutes; turn out to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. For the orange buttercream: beat butter until creamy.
9. Gradually beat in powdered sugar; add salt and vanilla.
10. Add milk or cream 1 tbsp at a time until spreadable.
11. Tint with orange gel coloring to desired shade.
12. Assemble: level layers if needed; fill and frost with orange buttercream. Decorate with Halloween sprinkles or candies, if desired.
Notes
For an even darker crumb, blend black cocoa with regular unsweetened cocoa.
Use room-temperature buttermilk for a smoother batter.
Best served at room temperature. Store airtight up to 3 days at room temp or up to 1 week refrigerated.
Try green or purple frosting for a different spooky vibe!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 55g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg