Description
This striking Black and Gold Cake features moist, dark chocolate layers and a dazzling metallic gold drip that hides a playful treasure trove of gold candies. It is the perfect centerpiece for milestone celebrations, offering a sophisticated look with a simple one-bowl preparation method.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter, room temperature
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Dark cocoa powder
- Vanilla extract
- Warm water
- Milk
- Black gel food coloring
- Vegetable shortening
- Powdered sugar
- White chocolate chips
- Heavy cream
- Gold luster dust
- Clear extract or vodka
- Gold candies (Rolos, Ferrero Rocher, gold chocolate coins)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and grease four 8-inch cake pans, lining the bottoms with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Cream the room-temperature butter and sugar in a large bowl for 3 to 4 minutes until light and fluffy, then beat in eggs one at a time.
- Mix the dark cocoa, vanilla extract, and warm water, then stir this mixture into the batter.
- Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the batter, starting and ending with the dry ingredients, and mix until smooth.
- Stir in the black gel food coloring, then divide the batter between the four pans and bake for 20 minutes.
- Prepare the frosting by beating butter, shortening, and salt until smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and cocoa until creamy.
- Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to remove the center from two of the cooled cake layers.
- Stack the cake starting with a solid layer, then the two ‘holey’ layers with frosting in between, and fill the center cavity with gold candies.
- Place the final solid layer on top, frost the entire cake, and smooth the sides with a bench scraper.
- Melt white chocolate chips with hot heavy cream to create a ganache and drizzle it around the top edges of the cake.
- Once the drip has set, mix gold luster dust with a drop of clear extract and paint the drips to create a shiny gold finish.
Notes
For the deepest black color, allow the frosting to rest for a few hours before decorating, as the pigment will intensify over time. When filling the surprise center, ensure the candies are level with the cake layer so the top remains perfectly flat. Using a high-quality dark cocoa powder like ‘Special Dark’ is essential for achieving the rich, dark base without needing excessive food coloring.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American