Although the custom of “trick-or-treating” never quite reached my own childhood, I have always found an affinity toward things mysterious and creepy. Whether it was through making imaginative concoctions and potions with soil and seawater or watching my all-time favorite Tim Burton film, “Corpse Bride” – the spooky themes of Halloween somehow trickled into my young years. I may not be an expert in spooky cakes, but I do take pride in being an amateur baker. So, merging these two specialties seems like a fun way to explore the flavors and customs of Halloween!
Equal parts spooky and delicious, let’s take a closer look at the scary scrumptious world of spooky cakes! With autumn flavors like spiced apple, cinnamon, sweet pumpkin pie, nutmeg, and death-by-chocolate (pun intended), there is no way these desserts won’t knock your socks off. Featuring ghosts, mummies, witches, and creepy crawlies, these festive cakes might bring more goblins to your doorstep. And, don’t let these freaky designs fool you; we’ve also included easy, no-bake treats for the Halloween mummies, I mean mommies, who don’t have all the extra hours to spare!
The History of Halloween
Amidst all the festivities, do you ever wonder about the origin of Halloween? Well, we’ve got a bit of a history lesson for you. This holiday was born many years ago, with its origins rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would wear costumes and burn bonfires to ward off ghosts and spirits.
Today, the tradition of Halloween always falls on the last Saturday of October. Before it had that name, it went by All Hallows’ Eve, which paid homage to “hallows”, also known as saints. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory named November 1 “All Saints Day.” Eventually, the traditions of Hallows Eve trickled into All Saint’s Day, which later became Halloween. Today, the tradition of Halloween has somewhat evolved from ghosts and religious saints to a day of activities filled with candy, costumes, and festive gatherings.
Deliciously Spooky Cakes to Bake for Halloween
Be afraid – be very afraid of these creepy Halloween cakes: they’re scary-delicious! Show-stopping treats like Frankenstein cakes, and haunted desserts make for the perfect centerpiece at Halloween celebrations. The best part? These cakes are shareable and perfect for satisfying both big and small crowds.
No tricks involved: you can whip up these spooky cakes in no time. You’re simply in for a treat with these Halloween recipes.
Black Chocolate Cake
Dark black cocoa icing is the star of this spooky Halloween dessert. The time for chocolate cake lovers to shine – this decadent, death-by-chocolate bundt cake is filled with black cocoa buttercream, which gives it an oozingly-rich flavor and texture. Super chocolatey and delicious – this black chocolate cake is 10x more decadent than regular chocolate cake. If you’re intrigued, follow this Black Chocolate Halloween Cake recipe for an easy-to-do dessert!
Frankenstein Cake
Let these monstrous Frankenstein cinnamon swirl cakes come to life with food coloring and vanilla cream cheese frosting. A simple cake recipe that requires an extra few creative skills and piping bag experience, this cake is a show-stopping centerpiece that is both Instagram-able and delicious! Follow this Frankenstein Cake Recipe for the best Halloween results!
Pumpkin Patch Cakes
Bring on the flavors of fall and Starbucks lattes! These Pumpkin Patch Cakes are a sure way to emphasize Halloween nostalgia. Spiced with warm scents of cinnamon and nutmeg and stuffed with whipped cream cheese, this Pumpkin Patch recipe will spice up your Halloween festivities!
Easy-To-Bake Spooky Cakes
When it comes to the realm of baking and maneuvering temperamental kitchen equipment, not all of us have hopes and dreams of competing in the Next British Bake Off (guilty). We all enjoy delighting in these delicious treats. But, still, not everyone can spend hours in the kitchen conjuring up an edible masterpiece. So, we have created a list of easy-to-make Halloween desserts that won’t be tricky!
Coffin Cake
Easy and festive, this cake becomes a graveyard coffin when a red velvet cake has been baked and stuffed with a gooey center. Baked in a loaf pan, this spooky cake is complete when the top is chopped off and the cake is filled with chunky blood-red caramel. Pour over some black fondant and decorate with skull-shape chocolates for the finishing touches! Discover the recipe here.
Make Spooky Cakes From Left-Over Candy
Children consider their hard-earned stash of Halloween treats sacred. So, the concept of leftover candy may seem like a daydream for many parents. Just a heads up! Before making these desserts, you may need to hit the post-Halloween candy sale aisle.
Easy Spooky Cakes Recipe: Halloween Cake Pops
Cake pops are fast becoming the most popular baking accessory on the table, mostly because they’re easy to make and can be decorated in various themes. Store-bought cake, frosting, and leftover candy can be used as timesavers, or if you’d like, you can make your own. With this easy-to-follow recipe, we’ll show you the best way to make Halloween cake pops:
You’ll need:
- 2 cups of cake crumbs
- ½ cup of buttercream or pre-made frosting
- 1 cup of white candy melts or dark chocolate, finely chopped
- Coconut oil
- Silicone cake pop molds
- Wooden ice-cream sticks
- Colored gel food coloring, fondant, sprinkles, and decorations
1. In a large bowl, combine the cake and frosting.
2. To decorate: In a medium-sized bowl, melt the candy chocolate melts with 1 tbsp of coconut oil in the microwave for 30-second increments until melted and smooth. Add remaining chocolate and stir until melted.
3. Working one at a time, spoon 1 tbsp melted chocolate or candy melts into each pop mold and use the back of a spoon to evenly coat the sides.
4. Add the cake mixture into the molds one at a time with a tablespoon or ice cream scoop.
5. Refrigerate for 5 minutes and until firm. Push wooden craft sticks partially into the cake pop molds and let them set in the refrigerator.
6. Once the cake pops are set, you can pop them out of the molds and decorate them however you wish! Play around with colors, and don’t forget to get the kids involved for some extra mummy brownie points!
We hope you’ll get a jumpstart to this spooky season with this list of Halloween cakes for your next festive celebration! Here’s hoping your cakes turn out scary on the eye but delicious on the tongue! And remember, like our baking icon Mary Berry says, “ There’s no such thing as a slice of cake that’s too big. Not in my world.”
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