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Welcome the new year with a cake as alluring as midnight itself. This Black Velvet Cake celebrates all the timeless festivities with a moody hue, moist crumb, and delightfully rich flavor. It’s perfect for impressing guests or for treating yourself when the clock strikes 12.
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup hot coffee (or hot water)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Black gel food coloring (optional)
- Frosting of your choice (such as cream cheese or chocolate ganache)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, dark cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
In another bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until well blended. Stir in the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. If you’d like a deeper midnight color, incorporate a small amount of black gel food coloring at this point. Gently stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture until just combined. Carefully pour in the hot coffee (or hot water), stirring until a smooth batter forms.
Divide the batter between your prepared cake pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes before transferring them onto a wire rack to completely cool. Finally, frost and decorate them with your favorite icing—cream cheese frosting or silky chocolate ganache are both excellent choices.
This cake is a showstopper for any celebration, but its midnight hue makes it especially fitting for the countdown to the new year. It’s moist, indulgent, and easily adaptable—swap out dairy ingredients for non-dairy alternatives to make it vegan-friendly or use gluten-free flour for those with dietary sensitivities. With its striking color and sumptuous taste, everyone will love this cake’s dramatic flair and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Here’s to a sweet and stylish start to your new year!
