Black Velvet Cake

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Cakes

1. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease five 6-inch cake pans or adjust for larger pans (you can slice larger layers).
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.
4. Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
5. Slowly add the hot coffee (or hot water) and stir until the batter is smooth and thin. It should be pourable.
6. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Let the cakes cool slightly in the pans before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

2️⃣ Prepare the Fillings

Salted Caramel

1. In a medium saucepan, melt the sugar over medium heat, stirring until it turns amber in color.
2. Add the butter and stir until melted and smooth.
3. Pour in the heavy cream and stir until well combined. Add a pinch of salt and mix until smooth. Set aside to cool.

Chocolate Ganache

1. In a heatproof bowl, heat the heavy cream until it’s just about to boil (do not let it boil).
2. Pour the hot cream over the chopped dark chocolate and let sit for 1–2 minutes. Stir until smooth and glossy. Let cool slightly.

Stabilized Whipped Cream (Optional)

1. In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
2. If using, add a tablespoon of instant pudding mix to stabilize the whipped cream and whip until stiff peaks form.

3️⃣ Assemble the Cake

1. Flatten each cake layer slightly, if necessary, to make them even.
2. Spread a layer of caramel filling between each layer of cake or use the ganache or whipped cream as filling, depending on your choice.
3. Cover the entire cake with a layer of your preferred filling or ganache and smooth it out evenly on top and the sides.

4️⃣ Finish & Decorate

1. Decorate the cake with chocolate shavings or curls for a beautiful finish.
2. Optionally, sprinkle finely grated chocolate or orange zest on top for extra flavor and decoration.
3. Chill the cake for about 30 minutes before slicing for cleaner layers.

🌟 Tips & Variations