Use this cake as the base for the Stranger Things Cake. You’ll have a little bit of red velvet cake batter left over, which can be made into cupcakes if you desire. Use this American Buttercream to frost the cake, and 1 lb. white ready-made fondant to cover the cake. See blog post for complete Eleven cake tutorial.
1cup125g unsweetened dark cocoa powder, (Dutch process preferred)
2teaspoonsbaking soda
1teaspoonbaking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2eggs
1cup240 ml cold coffee
1cup240 ml buttermilk
1⁄2 cup120 ml vegetable oil
1 to 1 1/2teaspoonsblack gel food colorI used Americolor Super Black
Red velvet cake
1/2cup113g unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2cups330g granulated sugar
2large eggs
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2oz.liquid red food coloring
2tablespoonscocoa powder
2 1/2cups325g all-purpose flour, sifted
1teaspoonbaking powder
1teaspoonsalt
1cup240 ml buttermilk
1teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspoonwhite vinegar
Instructions
Black velvet cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, coffee, milk and oil. Mix in the black food color; batter will be thin. Set aside.
Red velvet cake: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
In a small condiment cup, stir together liquid food coloring and cocoa powder until smooth and then add to the butter mixture.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the cup of buttermilk. Begin and end with flour. Scrape down bowl and mix well.
In a small condiment cup, combine baking soda and vinegar. Mixture will bubble and fizz. Pour into the cake batter and mix until well incorporated.
Spray three 8x3-inch round pans with flour-based baking spray. Pour approximately 2 cups of black velvet batter into each pan. Pour 2/3 cup of red batter on top of the black batter in each pan. Use a butter knife to swirl the red batter into the black batter. (Use leftover red velvet batter for a few cupcakes.)
Bake cakes for 25-30 minutes, or until the cakes spring back when pressed in their centers. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 5 minutes before turning them out onto a wire cooling rack.
When the cakes are cool, level the tops. Frost the cake as desired.
Keyword black velvet, dark cocoa powder, red velvet