Description
A spooky and delicious Haunted Chocolate Skull Cake perfect for Halloween celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot coffee (or hot water for milder flavor)
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cups chocolate frosting (store-bought or homemade)
- White buttercream swirls (for topping)
- Chocolate shavings or cookie crumbs
- Edible bat toppers or Halloween candies
- Skull cake mold or edible skull decorations (optional, for realistic look)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- Slowly stir in hot coffee (batter will be thin). Divide into pans.
- Bake 35–40 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Heat heavy cream until steaming. Pour over chocolate chips and butter. Let sit 3 minutes, then stir until smooth. Chill until slightly thickened but pourable.
- Level cake layers if needed. Spread chocolate frosting between layers.
- Pour ganache over stacked cake, letting it drip down the sides for a glossy, haunted look.
- Using a skull cake mold, edible skull decoration, or carved chocolate piece, place the “skull face” on the cake front.
- Add buttercream swirls on top, sprinkle with chocolate shavings, and finish with edible bats or Halloween candies.
Notes
- For a milder flavor, use hot water instead of coffee.
- Ensure the cake is completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- Feel free to customize decorations based on your Halloween theme.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 50mg