Dreamy Ebony Delight: Velvety Black Velvet Cake Recipe

Decadent and rich chocolate cake with a luxurious cream cheese frosting has always been a crowd-pleaser, especially when it comes to the beloved black velvet cake recipe that melts hearts.

Chocolate lovers will swoon over this deep crimson dessert with its signature cocoa-infused color and smooth texture.

Every slice promises a delightful balance of moist crumb and tangy cream cheese frosting.

The recipe combines simple ingredients to create a stunning visual and flavor experience.

This show-stopping cake delivers pure indulgence with its elegant appearance and irresistible taste.

Prepare to wow your guests with this classic Southern-style dessert that turns an ordinary moment into a celebration of flavor.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 515 kcal

Servings: 12

Ingredients for Luxurious Black Velvet Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy structure and creates smooth cake texture with even crumb.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate depth and intense dark color characteristic of black velvet cake.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and creates tender, soft crumb with balanced texture.
• Baking Powder: Ensures consistent, light lift throughout the cake layers.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity and balances sweetness.

• Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, luxurious base with smooth, velvety consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and contributes to cake's delicate texture.
• Large Eggs: Bind ingredients together and add richness and structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic undertone and depth of flavor.

• Buttermilk: Tenderizes cake, adds tanginess, and ensures incredibly moist crumb.
• Hot Coffee: Intensifies chocolate flavor and creates deeper, more complex taste profile.
• Black Food Gel: Delivers striking jet-black color without affecting cake's taste.

Tools for Mixing and Baking Black Velvet Cake

• Stand Mixer or Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing cake batter smoothly.
• Large Mixing Bowls: Perfect for combining dry and wet ingredients with plenty of space.
• 9-inch Round Cake Pans: Two pans needed for creating classic layer cake design.
• Parchment Paper: Crucial for easy cake removal and preventing sticking.
• Sifter or Fine Mesh Strainer: Helps eliminate lumps in dry ingredients for smooth cake texture.
• Toothpicks: Ideal for checking cake doneness by testing center of cake.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cakes to cool evenly and prevent soggy bottoms.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient measurements for perfect results.

Instructions to Make a Rich Black Velvet Cake

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350 degrees and get your cake pans ready by giving them a light butter massage and lining them with parchment paper.

• Create the Dry

Grab a bowl and sift together the powdery ingredients, creating a smooth and uniform mixture that will be the foundation of your decadent cake.

• Whip Up the Creamy Base

Using an electric mixer, transform butter and sugar into a cloud-like mixture. Gently fold in eggs one by one, letting each settle comfortably before adding the next. A splash of vanilla will add a delightful aroma.

• Blend the Batter Symphony

Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients and buttermilk, alternating between the two. Pour in the hot coffee to add depth and richness. If you’re feeling adventurous, a drop of black food gel will elevate the cake’s dramatic appearance.

• Bake to Perfection

Pour the silky batter into prepared pans, ensuring an even distribution. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. The cake is ready when a toothpick emerges clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely before transforming them into a stunning masterpiece.

Flavor Tips for Your Black Velvet Cake Layers

• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth blending and ultra-soft cake texture.
• Dust cake layers with cocoa powder between frosting for extra richness and elegant presentation.
• Replace butter with coconut oil for dairy-free version. Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly option.
• Allow cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and ensure clean, professional layering.
• Wrap unfrosted cake layers in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze for 2 weeks to maintain peak freshness and flavor.

Elegant Ways to Serve Black Velvet Cake

• Elegant Dessert Pairing: Serve slices alongside a rich vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of mascarpone cream for a luxurious contrast.
• Beverage Companions: Complement the cake's deep flavors with a smooth espresso, dark roast coffee, or a glass of ruby port wine for sophisticated enjoyment.
• Garnish Glamour: Sprinkle edible silver dust, add fresh blackberries, or create delicate chocolate shavings to elevate the cake's visual and taste experience.
• Textural Delight: Layer the cake with a silky black cherry compote or dark chocolate ganache to enhance its decadent black velvet character.

Keeping Black Velvet Cake Fresh and Moist

• Keep cake layers wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate for extended freshness up to 5 days.
• Wrap unfrosted cake layers in double aluminum foil, then place in freezer-safe bags. Freeze flat for maximum 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before frosting.
• Store cream cheese frosting in sealed container in refrigerator for 7 days. Always bring to room temperature and re-whip before applying to cake layers.
• Prepare cake layers and frosting separately up to 3 days in advance. Assemble cake 4-6 hours before serving for optimal texture and flavor integration.

FAQs

• What gives this Black Velvet Cake its unique dark color?

The rich black color comes from combining black cocoa powder and black food gel, which creates a deep, intense hue that makes the cake visually striking compared to traditional red velvet cake.

• Is black cocoa powder different from regular cocoa powder?

Black cocoa powder is more intensely processed, resulting in a darker color and slightly different flavor profile. It’s more alkaline and provides a deeper, more dramatic color and slightly less sweet taste compared to regular cocoa powder.

• Why does the recipe use hot coffee in the batter?

Hot coffee enhances the chocolate flavor and helps activate the cocoa powder’s rich taste. It also creates a more tender cake texture by helping to bloom the cocoa and creating a smoother, more complex flavor profile.

• Can I make this cake without food coloring?

Yes, you can omit the black food gel. The cake will still have a deep, dark brown color from the black cocoa powder, though it won’t be as intensely black as the recipe suggests.

Velvety Black Velvet Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Luxurious black velvet cake delivers a rich, dark chocolate experience that elevates dessert expectations. Silky layers with deep cocoa notes promise indulgence for chocolate enthusiasts seeking sophisticated sweetness.

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Ingredients

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• 1 tbsp black food gel
• 1.75 cups (350 g) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tsps vanilla extract (for cake)
• 2 tsps vanilla extract (for frosting)
• 0.5 cup (30 g) unsweetened black cocoa powder
• 0.5 cup (120 ml) hot coffee
• 0.5 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2.5 cups (310 g) all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Position rack centrally and preheat to 350F. Generously butter two round cake pans and line with parchment paper for effortless cake removal.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Meticulously sift all dry ingredients in a medium bowl, eliminating potential lumps to ensure a flawless cake texture.
3. Butter and Sugar Transformation: Utilize electric mixer to cream butter and sugar until achieving a cloud-like consistency. Integrate eggs methodically, creating a seamless emulsion that guarantees structural integrity.
4. Batter Composition: Delicately fold dry ingredients into butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk to maintain cake’s delicate structure. Incorporate hot coffee and black food coloring, stirring until batter reaches a luxurious, uniform midnight-like appearance.
5. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans, using spatula for smooth surface. Bake 30-35 minutes, monitoring for golden-brown coloration and confirming doneness through precise toothpick test.
6. Cooling and Finishing: Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then gracefully transfer to wire cooling rack. Permit layers to reach ambient temperature before proceeding with frosting or final assembly.

Notes

• Prevent Color Bleeding: Use gel-based black food coloring instead of liquid to maintain vibrant color and prevent unwanted color seepage into frosting.
• Moisture Control: When adding hot coffee, ensure it’s not boiling to prevent accidentally cooking egg components and disrupting cake’s delicate texture.
• Precision in Mixing: Fold ingredients gently and minimally to avoid developing tough gluten strands, which can make cake dense and chewy.
• Temperature Matters: Allow eggs and butter to reach room temperature before mixing to create smoother, more evenly incorporated batter with better rising potential.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 525
• Sugar: 47 g
• Sodium: 399 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 57 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 93 mg