Description
A spooky yet adorable black cat cake perfect for Halloween parties or a themed birthday. Made with rich chocolate or black velvet layers, this cake is sculpted and decorated with black frosting, candy eyes, and fondant details for whiskers, ears, and a curling tail. Fun to make and impressively festive!
Ingredients
🛒 Ingredients (for one 9-inch round or sculpted cat cake):
For the Cake:
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for black chocolate cake)
Optional: black food coloring to deepen color
For the Frosting:
16 oz (2 packages) cream cheese or buttercream frosting, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2–3 tbsp milk (to adjust consistency)
Black food coloring
For Decorations:
Candy eyes or white chocolate for eyes
Black licorice or fondant for tail and whiskers
Optional: edible glitter, sprinkles, or small candy pumpkins
Instructions
📝 Instructions:
Step 1: Bake Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder (if using), baking powder, and salt.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
Gradually mix in dry ingredients alternately with milk until smooth. Add black food coloring for a deep black hue.
Pour batter into the pan and bake 35–40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
Step 2: Shape the Cat
Level the cooled cake. Cut and sculpt into a cat shape—body, head, ears, and tail. Tail can be made from cake scraps or black fondant/rolled chocolate.
Step 3: Frost Cake
Tint frosting black. Apply a crumb coat and chill for 20 minutes.
Frost fully and smooth.
Step 4: Decorate
Add candy eyes or pipe white frosting for eyes.
Use black licorice, fondant, or piped frosting for tail, ears, and whiskers.
Optionally add edible glitter, sprinkles, or candy pumpkins for a festive Halloween touch.
Notes
- Sculpting Tip: Freeze the cake slightly before carving for easier shaping.
- Mini Version: Make cupcakes decorated as tiny black cats.
- Make Ahead: Bake cake a day ahead; frost and decorate on the day of serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Halloween Cake
- Method: Baked / Sculpted / Decorated
- Cuisine: American
