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5 from 1 vote

Elegant Black Velvet Cake

A rich and moist chocolate cake with layers of decadent cream cheese frosting, perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cake, Chocolate, Velvet
Servings: 12 servings

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Cake Pans
  • Whisk
  • Electric Mixer
  • Wire Rack

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 2.5 cups All-purpose flour
  • 2.5 cups Granulated sugar
  • 1 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably dark cocoa)
  • 2 teaspoons Baking powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons Baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Buttermilk (room temperature)
  • 0.5 cup Vegetable oil
  • 2 large Eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Boiling water
  • 1 teaspoon Black gel food coloring

For the Frosting

  • 1 cup Unsalted butter (softened)
  • 8 oz Cream cheese (softened)
  • 4 cups Powdered sugar
  • 1 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 0.5 cup Heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch Salt

Optional Garnish

  • Fresh flowers
  • Edible glitter

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • Add wet ingredients to the dry: buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until smooth and combined.
  • Carefully stir in the boiling water and black gel food coloring. The batter will be thin—don’t worry, that’s the secret to its moist texture!
  • Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  • To make the frosting, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar gradually, then beat in heavy cream, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
  • Once the cakes are cool, frost the cake by spreading frosting between the layers and around the entire cake. Garnish with flowers or glitter for a stunning finish!

Notes

Use room-temperature ingredients for best results. Don’t skip the boiling water—it enhances the richness of the cocoa.