Description
This Spooky Black Velvet Halloween Cake is a show-stopping dessert layered with rich black cocoa cake, tangy blackberry compote, and luscious black cocoa cream cheese frosting. Topped with spooky garnishes like chocolate skulls, berries, and rose petals, it’s the ultimate Halloween centerpiece.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Black Velvet Cake:
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 3/4 cup black cocoa powder (sifted)
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- 1 cup hot coffee
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Blackberry Compote:
- 2 cups fresh blackberries
- 2 tbsp white granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (mixed with 1 tbsp water)
For the Black Cocoa Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 cup black cocoa powder (sifted)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional Garnishes:
- Chocolate skulls
- Fresh blackberries
- Dried rose petals
Instructions
- Prepare the cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. In one bowl, sift together flour, black cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another, beat sugar and oil, then add eggs. Mix in buttermilk and vanilla, then carefully stir in hot coffee. Combine wet and dry ingredients gently. Divide into pans and bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Make the blackberry compote: In a saucepan, combine blackberries, sugar, lemon juice, zest, cinnamon stick, and water. Simmer 5–7 minutes until berries release juices. Stir in cornstarch slurry, cooking until thickened. Remove cinnamon stick and cool.
- Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and black cocoa, mixing until fluffy. Add salt and vanilla, adjusting consistency with a little milk if needed.
- Assemble the cake: Place one cake layer on a stand. Spread with blackberry compote and a layer of frosting. Add second cake layer, then frost top and sides. Decorate with chocolate skulls, fresh berries, and rose petals.
Notes
- Don’t skip the hot coffee — it intensifies the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee.
- Cakes must be fully cooled before frosting to avoid melting.
- Compote can be made a day in advance and chilled.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Halloween Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Halloween cake, black velvet cake, spooky desserts, gothic cake, blackberry chocolate cake