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Black velvet cake on a cake platter
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4.17 from 6 reviews

Black Velvet Cake with Marshmallow Spiderweb

Wickedly decadent Spiderweb Black Velvet Cake with black cocoa buttercream and marshmallow spiderweb topped with eerie candy spider eggs.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Black velvet cake, Black velvet cake recipe, Black velvet spiderweb cake
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 servings
Calories 546kcal

Ingredients

Frosting:

Marshmallow Web

  • 10-12 jumbo marshmallows

Decorations:

  • Any round candy that resembles spider's eggs I used sixlets

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

Mix the Cake:

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
    flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large white bowl
  • In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
    eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla in a mixing bowl
  • Slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix to combine. The batter will be thin. Add the black food color gel and mix well until well blended.
    black velvet cake batter in a large mixing bowl
  • Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake the cakes for about 25 minutes or until a cake tester or wooden skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
    two round pans with cake batter
  • Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 15 minutes. To remove the cakes from the pans, run a knife around the edges of the cake and invert. Place the cakes on a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before assembling.
    two round pans with black velvet cake on a cooling rack

Make the Frosting:

  • In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter and black cocoa powder. Alternately, add powdered sugar and milk and mix until the mixture reaches a frosting consistency. Stir in the vanilla and food coloring. Mix well.
    close up of black frosting

Assemble, Make Marshmallow Web and Decorate:

  • To assemble the cake, with the help of a serrated knife or cake leveler, remove the domes from the top of the cool cakes so that they’re flat. Place one layer on a plate or cake stand and cover the top with some of the frosting. Spread evenly with an offset spatula.
Add the second layer of cake and top with frosting. Spread evenly on the top and sides of the cake. Prepare the marshmallow web.
    black velvet cake covered with black frosting
  • Place the marshmallows in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. Melt the marshmallows in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until they start to lose their shape. Stir with a spatula. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
    melted marshmallow in a white bowl
  • Using gloves for easy clean up, dip your fingers into the warm melted marshmallow mixture and stretch until thin and web-like. Wrap the marshmallow around the cake. Let stand until firm, about 10 minutes.
    spreading the melted marshmallow over the black velvet cake
  • Decorate the cake by placing a pile of candy (sixlets or malt balls) on the top. You can add more marshmallow web if desired. Decorate with a few spiders.
    black velvet cake with marshmallow spiderweb

Video

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients. They mix better and bake more evenly.
  • Allow the cakes to cool completely before assembling, frosting or decorating.
  • Making the marshmallow web is as much fun as it is messy. Cover your counter with some parchment paper if you have some handy and if possible wear gloves. The melted marshmallow cream will be warm and super sticky.
  • I purchased white sixlets online; however, you can top your Halloween cake with yogurt covered blueberries, raisins or nuts, white chocolate covered almonds, white chocolate covered raisins, yogurt malt balls or malted milk balls.
  • The Spiderweb recipe used in this cake was inspired by this cake from The Cake Blog.

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcal | Carbohydrates: 96g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 75g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg