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The Best Black Velvet Birthday Cake for a Crowd

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A dramatic, deeply chocolate black velvet cake with cream cheese frosting that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. This foolproof recipe yields an incredibly moist, tender crumb and a show-stopping dark color, ideal for birthdays and special gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (75g) black cocoa powder (e.g., Hershey’s Special Dark or Rodelle Gourmet Black Cocoa)
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil (or canola or melted coconut oil)
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (240g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) hot water or hot coffee
  • 16 oz (450g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4–5 cups (480-600g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round cake pans, line bottoms with parchment paper, and grease the parchment.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, black cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until no lumps remain.
  3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, eggs, sour cream, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix on low speed or by hand until just combined (a few lumps are okay). Do not overmix.
  5. Slowly pour in hot water or coffee while mixing on low speed. Batter will be very thin.
  6. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
  7. For frosting: Beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low. Add vanilla and salt, then beat on medium-high for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
  8. Assemble cake: Place one layer on serving plate, spread about ¾ cup frosting on top. Repeat with remaining layers. Apply a thin crumb coat over entire cake, refrigerate 15-20 minutes, then apply final thick layer of frosting.

Notes

Room temperature ingredients are crucial for proper emulsification. Do not overmix the batter. The hot water/coffee blooms the cocoa for deeper flavor. Chill the cake before slicing for cleaner pieces. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; cake layers can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: black velvet cake, birthday cake, chocolate cake, cream cheese frosting, crowd-pleasing, black cocoa, moist cake

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/the-best-black-velvet-birthday-cake-for-a-crowd/