Description
This Jack-O’-Lantern Halloween Cake is a fun and spooky dessert that looks impressive but is easy enough for beginners. Perfect for Halloween parties, it's made from two chocolate Bundt cakes stacked and decorated to look like a pumpkin—no fondant or special tools required.
Ingredients
Scale
- 125 g unsalted butter, melted (for greasing)
- Cocoa powder (for dusting)
- 350 g all-purpose flour
- 450 g caster sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 50 g cocoa powder, sifted
- 350 g unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 350 g milk (whole, soy, or almond)
- 3 batches buttercream frosting
- 8 drops orange food gel
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
- 100 g dark chocolate, melted
- 3 drops green food gel
- 5 drops black food gel
Instructions
- Butter the insides of your Bundt pans and dust with cocoa powder.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
- Mix in softened butter gradually, then add eggs one at a time.
- Slowly pour in milk until batter is smooth.
- Divide batter into two Bundt pans and bake at 285°F (fan) or 320°F (regular) for 45–50 minutes.
- Cool completely, then trim bottoms to sit flat.
- Spread orange frosting on one cake, stack the second on top to form a pumpkin shape.
- Crumb coat with orange frosting, chill, then apply a smooth final coat.
- Use a skewer to outline a face, carve away frosting, and fill in with black frosting.
- Pipe chocolate frosting to create a stalk, and use green frosting for leaves and vines.
Notes
Use gel food coloring for vibrant results without watering down your frosting. Cakes can be made ahead and stored wrapped until ready to decorate.