Midnight Bloom Cake Sophisticated Black Cake with Royal Blue

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour the cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
6. Stir in the hot coffee and black gel food coloring until well combined. The batter will be thin.
7. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
9. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until light and fluffy.
10. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined.
11. Beat in the heavy cream and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
12. Add royal blue gel food coloring, a little at a time, until you achieve the desired shade.
13. Level the cake layers if necessary. Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand and spread with a generous layer of buttercream. Top with the second cake layer and frost the entire cake with a thin crumb coat of buttercream. Chill for 30 minutes.
14. Frost the cake with the remaining buttercream. Use piping bags and assorted flower tips to create a royal blue floral arrangement on top of the cake, as inspired by the reference image.