Description
A visually striking midnight-black chocolate cake shaped like a cat and decorated with festive Halloween sprinkles. This recipe uses black cocoa for a deep color and rich flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cake flour
- 3/4 cup black cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup black cocoa powder (for frosting)
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- Black gel food coloring
- 1/2 cup Halloween sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Whisk cake flour, black cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth, but do not overbeat.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool cakes completely in the pans before removing.
- Keep one cake whole for the body. Cut the second cake in half; use one half for the head and trim two small triangles for ears.
- Beat softened butter, powdered sugar, and black cocoa powder. Add heavy cream and black gel coloring until the frosting is a deep black.
- Stack the head on the body using buttercream as glue. Insert a skewer for stability if needed.
- Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting, chill for 20 minutes, then apply a final smooth layer of buttercream.
- Press Halloween sprinkles into the base and neck of the cat for decoration.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American