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Elegant Halloween Dessert – Black Velvet Cake with Berries & Skulls

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A hauntingly delicious black velvet cake made with black cocoa powder and topped with cream cheese or spooky-colored buttercream. Perfect for Halloween parties and gothic celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

  • 2 ½ cups cake flour

  • ½ cup black cocoa powder

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar

  • 2 large eggs

  • ½ cup neutral oil

  • 1 cup buttermilk

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 tsp white vinegar

  • ½–1 tsp black gel food coloring

For the Frosting:

  • 12 oz cream cheese, softened

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter

  • 4 cups powdered sugar

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

  • Food coloring (orange, purple, or black – optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8″ cake pans.

  • Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

  • In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.

  • Add eggs one at a time, then oil, buttermilk, vanilla, vinegar, and black gel.

  • Gradually mix in dry ingredients until smooth.

  • Divide into pans and bake 28–32 minutes. Cool completely.

  • Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Tint if desired.

  • Layer and frost cake. Chill before decorating.

  • Add Halloween toppings and serve.

Notes

  • Use black cocoa for deepest color and smooth flavor.

  • Color deepens as frosting rests—tint gradually.

  • Freeze unfrosted layers up to 2 months.

  • Pairs well with orange zest or marshmallow toppings.

Find it online: https://thefoodaunt.com/elegant-halloween-dessert-black-velvet-cake-with-berries-skulls/