Black Halloween Cake

sugar

vegtable oil

flour

sour cream

baking soda, baking powder, salt

eggs

milk

hot coffee

black cocoa

butter

semi-sweet chocolate

sour cream

butter

powdered sugar

corn syrup

black cocoa

Whisk together the dry ingredients and sugar.

Whisk together the wet ingredients.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

Carefully stir and fold with a rubber spatula until the batter is combined.

Pour in the hot coffee (or water), then very carefully stir again.

Divide the batter evenly between the three prepared cake pans.

Cream the butter until fluffy, scrape down the sides, then add whisked powdered sugar and black cocoa powder and combine.

Fold together melted chocolate and sour cream.

Add the chocolate mixture to the creamed frosting and mix.

Add drops of black food coloring and mix until the desired color is reached.

Add a cake layer, then spread with a generous amount of frosting.

Repeat with the remaining layers, adding a lot of frosting to the very top.

Use an offset spatula to work the frosting around the top and down the sides.

Smooth out the frosting with a cake scraper, or use the tip of an offset spatula and a turn table to create the ribbon effect. Pipe swirls or your preferred decoration onto the very top with the leftover frosting.