Black and White Cake
Black and White Cake. An all time kid favourite among our family and friends. A easy one-bowl chocolate cake covered in plenty of fluffy marshmallow frosting is sure to please kids of all ages.
Originally published on March 27, 2008
2019 UPDATE
After almost 12 years on Rock Recipes and many dozens of cake recipes later, one of our earliest recipes, this Black and White Cake still remains in the top 5 cake recipes ever.
Take a look at the link at the bottom of the page to see all of our top 25 most baked cakes of the last decade.
It's still a kid favourite at our house, even though those kids have now grown into hungry teenagers. This recipe also makes outstanding cupcakes for any celebration but are always particularly popular at school parties.
I generally bake this cake in round 8 inch pans or 9 inch Aluminum Cake Pans but the recipe can also be made as a sheet cake in a 9 x 13 baking pan
Depending on whether you use glass or not, the 9x13 size could take a few minutes longer. Just let the toothpick test be the final judge.
Get creative with your cake!
There is probably no counting the number of Black and White Cakes I have made over the years.
Most often these days, as was the case yesterday, my kids like to make them on their own with a little help from dear old dad in preparing the frosting.
This particular one was prepared for dessert at dinner last night by my daughter Olivia, 10 and her cousin Taylor, 11.
The Dice Cake version shown was an idea from the 8 year old mind of my son Noah who let me help him make it a few weeks back as a treat for the staff at his school for Teacher Appreciation Week.
As you can imagine, a chocolate scratch cake with a marshmallow type frosting is a BIG kid favourite.
It has been made for countless kid parties where even crumbs are hard to come by afterward. More than a few adults I know love it as much as the kids. When it comes to standard recipes at our house, this one is unquestionably in the top 10.
Consider yourself a cake lover?
We've put together a collection of the 25 Most Baked Cakes of the last 12 years on Rock Recipes. You are sure to find several to love.
Like this Black and White Cake recipe?
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Black and White Cake
Black and White Cake is an all time kid favorite among our family and friends. A easy one-bowl chocolate cake covered in plenty of fluffy marshmallow frosting is sure to please kids of all ages.
Ingredients
For the chocolate cake
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa
- 2 teaspoon . baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup soured milk
- 1 cup brewed black coffee, (or prepare a single cup of instant coffee)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the marshmallow frosting
- 4 egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tarter
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
To make the cake batter
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes.
- Pour into 2 greased and floured 8 or 9 inch cake pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To prepare the Marshmallow Frosting
- In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup and water.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer or when a teaspoonful of the mixture dropped into ice water forms a soft ball that holds its shape when cool.
- Whip the egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla extract to soft peaks in a large bowl.
- With the mixer on medium high speed, slowly begin to pour the sugar syrup down the side of the egg white bowl in a thin continuous stream.
- Continue to whip the frosting until it forms stiff peaks.
- Frost your cake immediately with this frosting while it is still slightly warm as it is easier to spread smoothly than if allowed to cool completely.
Notes
October 2017 update: I've updated the recipe with this note because so many people ask about the coffee in this recipe. The recipe calls for a cup of brewed coffee, meaning prepared as you would drink it. It does NOT mean a cup of ground coffee or a cup of instant coffee granules either; although I always smile when someone asks because my late friend Anne did that once, bless her soul. Let's just say her husband wasn't impressed!
A little coffee accentuates the flavour of chocolate but if you like, you can just substitute and additional cup of milk for the coffee. It's not a problem.
Recommended Products
Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.
Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
gAmount Per Serving Calories 336Saturated Fat 6gCholesterol 21mgSodium 187mgCarbohydrates 64gFiber 1gSugar 49gProtein 4g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.
I made this cake yesterday and it tuned out fabulous! It was one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever had! So moist and delicious! My friends LOVED it! Super easy to make to! This chocolate cake recipe is a keeper! Thanks!
HELP!!!!!
can you use this frosting for fondant ?
No, I definitely would not use it for fondant. It's far too soft.
Thank you Barry for answering so fast 🙂 My boyfriend was laughing at me because I was checking the site right away for a response 🙂
You got lucky. I sometimes don't get to these comments for days, I'm so busy.
I have used this recipe for years and is a favourite in the family. I have always called it "boiled icing" though. I use it with my red velvet cake recipe and they go perfect together. The one thing not the same is the syrup. I use white sugar instead and it turns out great.
Hi. Can I put the cake in the fridge after frosted? And for how long?
I have for a couple of days.
Hi. In the UK we have Treacle which has a strong distinctive flavour, similar to Molasses and we have Golden Syrup which is a pale syrup. Technically both are Treacle but I thin in this instance you would use the Golden Syrup.
Sorry, just realised something else, in the UK I believe this is called Italian Meringue and liquid glucose is used as opposed to corn syrup. May help the Brits out there.
what is the best way to keep a cake that is frosted this way and how long does it keep?
I store leftovers in a plastic airtight cake cover for 2 to 3 days.
Wonderful recipe! Just to clarify: the marshmallow frosting doesn't need to be refrigerated? You keep it in a plastic cake cover out of the fridge for 2 to 3 days? Thanks!
I do refrigerate it but have left it out for a day or two when space was an issue. It does hold up better and longer refrigerated in a sealed cake container.
These cake and frosting recipes are awesome!!! Thanks so much. I had my cake for dinner - haha 😉
My grandmother used to frost her Coconut cakes with this frosting and it was so wonderful! I know it will be so delicious on this Chocolate cake!
the cake looks stunning and the frosting sounds great!
Can you taste the coffee in the cake?
This was always the cake that my Mother made for my birthday. Just looking at the picture brings back memories and I can even taste it. My birthday is this Sat so I will be making it for myself. My husband likes white cake so he will get your best vanilla cake with this frosting. His birthday is Fri so I will be baking 2 cakes. Can't wait.
Can you tell me the baking time/oven temp for cupcakes using this recipe? I want to make cupcakes in addition to the cake.
Thanks!