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Perfect Halloween Black Velvet Cake Recipe with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Halloween black velvet cake - featured image
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A rich, moist black velvet cake with a striking deep black crumb paired with a bright, tangy orange cream cheese frosting. Perfect for Halloween and fall gatherings, this cake balances cocoa depth with fresh citrus notes for a delicious seasonal treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (315 g)
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (35 g)
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar (400 g)
  • 1 cup vegetable oil (240 ml)
  • 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature (240 ml)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp black gel food coloring
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (225 g)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (115 g)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted (360 g)
  • 1 tbsp fresh orange zest
  • 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch cake pans and dust with cocoa powder. Line bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk sugar and vegetable oil until slightly combined. Add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and black gel food coloring. Mix until smooth.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Divide batter evenly between pans, tap to release air bubbles. Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
  7. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well. Stir in orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract until creamy.
  8. Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread frosting over top. Add second layer and frost top and sides evenly. Optionally, decorate with extra orange zest or edible glitter.
  9. Refrigerate cake for at least 1 hour to set frosting. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Notes

Use black gel food coloring for a deep black color without thinning the batter. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender. Chill cream cheese and butter to soft but not melted for best frosting texture. Weigh batter to ensure even layers. Chill cake after frosting for clean slicing. For gluten-free, substitute almond or gluten-free flour. For dairy-free, use coconut-based cream cheese and butter alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween cake, black velvet cake, orange cream cheese frosting, fall dessert, cocoa cake, seasonal baking, spooky dessert

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