Edit in JSFiddle

  .animate_background{
  	transition-property:background-color; /* see background-color here */
	transition-duration:1s;	
  }

  .animate_background:hover {
	background-color: #F6F5F1;
	color: #0079FF;
  }


/*** following is just box styling ***/
.box {
	height: 50px;
	width: 200px;	
	padding: 5px;
	border-radius:10px;
	margin: 10px;
	cursor:pointer;
	border:2px solid #0079FF;
	letter-spacing: -0.5;
	font: 20px/50px 'PT Sans', sans-serif;
	text-align: center;
    background-color: #0079FF;
    color:#fff;
    -webkit-box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #aaa, 1px 1px 1px #6cf inset;
		box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #aaa, 1px 1px 1px #6cf inset;
  }
 

<div class="box animate_background">
  Background Demo
  </div>