Black Velvet Cake 🍰🖤 – Rich, Decadent & Perfect for Special Occasions

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Cakes

1. Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease five 6-inch cake pans or use larger pans if desired. If using larger pans, you may need to slice the layers once baked.
2. In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and mix until combined.
5. Gradually add the hot coffee or water and stir gently until the batter is thin and smooth.
6. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let the cakes cool slightly in the pans, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.

2️⃣ Prepare the Fillings

Salted Caramel:

1. In a saucepan, melt the sugar over medium heat until it turns amber and begins to melt.
2. Add butter and stir until melted and smooth.
3. Slowly add the heavy cream, stirring continuously, and cook until smooth. Add a pinch of salt and remove from heat. Let cool slightly.

Chocolate Ganache:

1. In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream until it’s just below boiling (steaming but not boiling).
2. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Let it sit for 1–2 minutes, then stir until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Let cool slightly.

Stabilized Whipped Cream:

1. In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
2. If desired, add the instant pudding mix to help stabilize the whipped cream and maintain texture longer.

3️⃣ Assemble the Cake

1. Once the cakes have cooled, carefully level the top of each cake layer if necessary.
2. Spread a layer of salted caramel filling between each cake layer (optional). Alternatively, use chocolate ganache or whipped cream.
3. Cover the entire cake with your chosen filling (caramel, ganache, or whipped cream). Be generous and smooth out the topping to cover the top and sides.

4️⃣ Decorate & Chill

• Garnish the cake with chocolate shavings or curls and finely grated orange zest for a festive touch.
• Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to help set the fillings and ganache before serving for clean slices.
  

  🌟 Tips & Variations