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Halloween Birthday Cake

Black Velvet Halloween Birthday Cake Recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 530
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup black cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot black coffee
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tbsp orange zest
  • 1 tbsp orange juice
  • pinch salt
  • candy eyes and black sanding sugar, for decorating

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment. Whisk flour, black cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla until smooth, then whisk in hot coffee.
  2. Divide batter between pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
  3. Beat butter and cream cheese until very smooth. Mix in orange zest, orange juice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Slowly add powdered sugar, then whip on medium-high for 2 minutes until fluffy.
  4. Place one cooled layer on a plate, spread 1 cup frosting on top, then add the second layer. Crumb coat the whole cake and chill 20 minutes. Spread remaining frosting over the cake, decorate with black sanding sugar and candy eyes, and serve.

Notes

Black cocoa is sold online and in specialty baking shops. The cooling time for the layers is not included in the total time above. You can bake and cool the layers a day ahead, then frost the cake the morning of the party.