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Spooky Black Velvet Halloween Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 97 reviews

Celebrate Halloween with this spooky Black Velvet Cake featuring a rich black cocoa base, luscious blackberry compote filling, and decadent black cocoa cream cheese frosting. Decorated with chocolate skulls, fresh blackberries, and dried rose petals, this cake is both visually stunning and delightfully delicious, perfect for your festive gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Black Velvet Cake

  • 2 cups White granulated sugar
  • 2 cups All purpose flour, sifted
  • ¾ cup Black cocoa powder, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons Baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup Buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1 cup Coffee, hot
  • ½ cup Canola oil
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

Blackberry Compote Filling

  • 2 cups Fresh blackberries
  • 2 tablespoons White granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon zest
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • ¼ cup Water
  • 1 tablespoon Cornstarch

Black Cocoa Frosting

  • 8 oz Cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups Powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 cup Black cocoa powder, sifted
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Decorations

  • Chocolate skulls
  • Fresh blackberries
  • Dried rose petals

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cake batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, sifted all-purpose flour, sifted black cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, hot coffee, canola oil, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until smooth and uniform.
  2. Bake the cake layers: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely on wire racks.
  3. Make the blackberry compote filling: In a medium saucepan, combine fresh blackberries, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, cinnamon stick, and water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until berries are soft and mixture slightly thickened. Remove cinnamon stick. Mix cornstarch with a little cold water to make a slurry and stir into the compote. Cook an additional 2 minutes until thickened. Cool completely before using.
  4. Prepare the black cocoa frosting: In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese and unsalted butter together until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, black cocoa powder, and salt, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract and beat until smooth and fluffy.
  5. Assemble the cake: Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread an even layer of the blackberry compote filling over the top. Carefully place the second cake layer on top. Apply a crumb coat of frosting to seal in crumbs and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
  6. Frost and decorate the cake: Apply the remaining frosting evenly over the cake layers. Decorate with chocolate skulls, fresh blackberries, and dried rose petals to enhance the spooky Halloween appearance.

Notes

  • For best results, use room temperature eggs and buttermilk to create a smooth batter.
  • Black cocoa powder delivers a richer chocolate flavor and darker color compared to regular cocoa powder.
  • The hot coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee.
  • The blackberry compote can be made a day ahead and refrigerated to save time.
  • Ensure the compote is completely cooled before spreading to avoid melting the frosting.
  • If black cocoa powder is hard to find, substitute with Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a similar effect.
  • Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: Halloween cake, black velvet cake, black cocoa cake, blackberry compote, cream cheese frosting, spooky dessert, chocolate skulls decoration

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/spooky-black-velvet-halloween-cake-recipe/