When I created my black velvet cake, I wanted to create a shiny black glaze that would not just look beautiful but taste incredible, too! I knew it had to be rich, creamy, and full of flavor without overpowering the cake. After experimenting with a few ideas, I landed on this Black & Gold Cream Cheese Glaze—a blend of black cocoa powder, cream cheese, and just a hint of gold luster dust for an elegant touch. It pairs perfectly with the deep chocolate flavor of the cake and adds a stunning, sophisticated shine that turns any dessert into a show-stopping centerpiece.
What You’ll Need
To make this Black Cream Cheese Glaze, you only need a handful of ingredients, most of which you likely have in your pantry. Each ingredient plays a vital role, so it’s worth choosing quality options. Ingredients List:
Cream Cheese: Opt for full-fat, softened cream cheese. It creates a rich, smooth base for the glaze. Powdered Sugar: Sifted powdered sugar helps create a silky texture. Any brand will work, but make sure it’s lump-free. Black Cocoa Powder: Black cocoa powder is less bitter and has a deeper color than regular cocoa powder. If you can’t find it, you can substitute it with Dutch-processed cocoa, but the color won’t be as dark. Luster Dust: I used Black and Gold Luster Dust to create a sparkle throughout the glaze, but leaving it out will not affect the final result. Vanilla: Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste are great options for this recipe. Butter: Use melted, unsalted butter to add a creamy richness. Corn Syrup: This ingredient is key to achieving that shiny finish. Hot Water: Just a small amount to adjust the consistency. Pinch of Salt: Optional but helps balance the sweetness. Black Food Coloring Gel: I find black food coloring gel works best. You can use liquid food coloring, but it will take a lot more to get an intense color which can affect the flavor of the glaze.
How To Make
You can find the full, printable recipe at the bottom of this post (click the button above), but you can read a summary with step-by-step instructions and photos for each step below. The deep black color and unique flavor profile make black cocoa powder popular for creating visually impressive desserts like black velvet cake and intensely colored glazes. Its flavor is similar to Oreo cookies, offering a rich, slightly bittersweet taste without overwhelming sweetness. Prepare Ingredients: Start by softening your cream cheese and melting the butter. This makes blending smoother and quicker. Mix Cream Cheese, Butter, and Corn Syrup: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, warm melted butter, and corn syrup. The corn syrup is essential for maintaining a shiny finish. Incorporate Powdered Sugar and Cocoa: Sift the powdered sugar, luster dust, salt, and black cocoa to avoid lumps, then slowly mix them into the cream cheese mixture. Stir gently to keep the glaze smooth. Adjust Consistency: Add 2-3 teaspoons of hot water, a little at a time, to reach your desired consistency. Less water results in a thicker glaze, while more makes it thinner and easier to drizzle. Drizzel over your favorite cakes, donuts or more!
Try a Different Cocoa Powder: If you want a slightly different taste, you can experiment with regular cocoa or Dutch-processed cocoa for a lighter color and flavor. .Citrus Twist: Adding a small amount of lemon or orange zest can give the glaze a fresh, bright flavor without overpowering the chocolate. For freezing, place the glaze in a freezer-safe container, and it will keep for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and stir before using. Erren’s Kitchen is written and produced for informational intentions only. We are not certified nutritionists, and the nutritional information found on this site has not been assessed or authorized by a nutritionist or the FDA. The nutritional information found in our recipes is offered as an estimate and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. The estimated data is provided as a courtesy and calculated through a third-party online nutritional calculator, spoonacular API. Although we do our best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered rough estimates. Many factors, such as brands or products purchased and the nutritional fluctuations that naturally occur in fresh produce, can alter the effectiveness of the nutritional information in any recipe. Furthermore, various online calculators provide different results depending on their particular algorithms and nutrition fact sources. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
