17+ Spooky Cake Recipes

Imagine a cake that looks like it crawled out of a haunted bakery, yet tastes utterly delightful. These recipes promise not just to please your taste buds but also to add a touch of mystery and fun to your spooky celebrations.

Ghostly Vanilla Bean Cake

Vanilla Bean Funfetti Cake

Vanilla Bean Funfetti Cake from Joy + Oliver

Ghost Cake

Ghost Cake from Chelsweets

Rating: 5. Total Time: 1 h 50 min.

Vanilla Bean Cake Recipe

Vanilla Bean Cake Recipe from My Cake School

Rating: 4.5.

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This cake is a hauntingly delicious blend of vanilla bean and buttercream frosting. Its soft, fluffy texture is highlighted with the rich, aromatic flavor of real vanilla beans. The ghostly appearance is achieved with a simple yet captivating white frosting and marshmallow ghost toppings.

What makes this cake a crowd favorite is its simplicity combined with a classic flavor that everyone loves. The marshmallow ghosts are easy to make, using just melted marshmallows piped into spooky shapes. Kids and adults alike will enjoy creating these little specters, making it a fun family baking project. The pure vanilla flavor paired with the light, airy cake base makes it a delightful treat perfect for any ghoulish gathering.

Wicked Witch Chocolate Cake

Wicked Chocolate Cake from Food.com

Total Time: 30 min.

Wicked Witch Cupcakes from Your Cup of Cake

Rating: 4.4.

Wicked Witch Icebox Cake from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

Rating: 4.5. Total Time: 3 hr 2 min.

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This cake is rich, dark, and utterly decadent, just like a witch’s brew. Made with premium cocoa powder and dark chocolate chunks, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream come true. The surprise twist? A hint of cayenne pepper to add a wicked kick that’s sure to enchant the taste buds.

The special element of this cake is its topping—a green-tinted chocolate ganache that drips over the sides, resembling a witch’s bubbling cauldron. A sprinkle of edible glitter and a few candy witch hats make it both eerie and enchanting. This cake is perfect for those who love a little adventure in their sweets, offering a bold flavor profile with a touch of spice and sweetness.

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or just want to surprise your friends with something special, this cake is sure to leave a lasting impression. The balance of heat from the cayenne and the richness of the chocolate creates a unique experience that’s both spooky and delicious.

Monster Mash Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake Bars from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt

Rating: 4.6.

Easy Gluten Free Carrot Cake Muffins from This Mess is Ours

Total Time: 45 min.

Cheesecake Swirl Carrot Bundt Cake from Sally's Baking Addiction

Rating: 4.9.

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Carrot cake is always a hit, but this version takes it to a monstrous level with the addition of crushed pineapple and shredded coconut, adding moisture and flavor. The cream cheese frosting is colored with vibrant shades of green and purple, turning this classic cake into a monstrous masterpiece.

What sets this cake apart is its decoration—fondant monster eyes and candy corn teeth transform it into a creature ready to be devoured. It’s a fun and festive twist on a traditional favorite, blending the earthiness of carrots with the tropical notes of pineapple and coconut.

It’s not just the taste that makes this cake special; it’s the creativity involved in its presentation. Kids will love helping to create the monster’s face, and the colorful frosting adds a playful touch that makes it a standout at any spooky celebration.

Black Cat Velvet Cake

Black Cocoa Cake with a Spooky Cat Design from Susan Brings Dessert

Total Time: 2 hr.

Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake from My Incredible Recipes

Total Time: 1 hr 40 min.

Black Cat Halloween Cake from My Cake School

Rating: 5.

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This isn’t your average red velvet cake. With its deep, midnight-black hue, thanks to black food coloring and cocoa, it’s a mysterious take on a classic favorite. The smooth, creamy cream cheese frosting contrasts beautifully with the dark cake layers, creating a striking visual and taste experience.

The highlight of this recipe is the black cat decoration made with chocolate fondant and candy eyes. The sleek, shiny fondant gives the cake an elegant yet eerie appearance, perfect for any Halloween-themed event. The cake’s rich, velvety texture is complemented by the tangy frosting, making it a perfectly balanced dessert.

Blood Orange Drizzle Cake

Blood Orange Drizzle Cake Recipe

Blood Orange Drizzle Cake Recipe from Hummingbird High

Rating: 5. Total Time: 1 hr 30 min.

Easy Blood Orange Drizzle Cake

Easy Blood Orange Drizzle Cake from Jo's Kitchen Larder

Rating: 5. Total Time: 1 hr 5 min.

Blood Orange Loaf Cake

Blood Orange Loaf Cake from Matt Adlard

Rating: 5.

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For those who prefer a citrusy twist, this cake is an irresistible blend of blood orange zest and juice, paired with a light, fluffy sponge. The cake is infused with the tangy, sweet flavor of blood oranges, offering a refreshing contrast to the usual dark, chocolatey Halloween treats.

What makes this cake truly spooky is the blood-red glaze made from blood orange juice and confectioner’s sugar, drizzled artistically over the top. The vivid red hue of the glaze looks striking against the pale sponge, creating a dramatic effect that’s sure to catch the eye.

This cake is not only a visual masterpiece but also a delight for the palate, combining the sweet and tart flavors of blood oranges in every bite. It’s a sophisticated choice for those looking to impress their guests with something both unique and delicious.

Zombie Graveyard Cake

Zombie Graveyard Mini Cakes

Zombie Graveyard Mini Cakes from Gather Lemons

Total Time: zombie graveyard mini cakes.

Super Spooky Graveyard Cake

Super Spooky Graveyard Cake from I am a Honey Bee

Total Time: 1 h 10 min.

Graveyard Mini Dirt Loaf Cakes

Graveyard Mini Dirt Loaf Cakes from The Baking ChocolaTess

Rating: 4.5. Total Time: 35 min.

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This cake is a spooky scene come to life, made with rich chocolate cake layers and a dark chocolate ganache. The graveyard theme is created with crushed cookie crumbs as dirt, tombstone cookies, and gummy worms that peek out from the top.

The fun part about this cake is getting creative with the decorations. You can add candy skeletons, edible grass, and even marshmallow zombies to complete the scene. It’s a great way to get the kids involved, allowing them to design their own edible graveyard masterpiece.

Not only is this cake visually exciting, but the combination of moist chocolate cake and creamy ganache makes it a taste sensation. The added crunch of the cookie crumbs and the chewiness of the gummies give it an interesting texture that’s sure to be a hit at any Halloween gathering.

Pro Tricks for Amazing Spooky Cakes

Jack-O'Lantern Halloween Cake

Jack-O'Lantern Halloween Cake from The Scran Line

Rating: 4.7. Total Time: 4 hr 10 min.

Spooky Halloween Marble Cake

Spooky Halloween Marble Cake from Life Love and Sugar

Rating: 5. Total Time: 2 hr 5 min.

Black Cocoa Halloween Layer Cake

Black Cocoa Halloween Layer Cake from Barley & Sage

Rating: 5. Total Time: 1 hr 30 min.

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Get Creative with Colors

Don’t shy away from using vibrant food coloring to make your cakes pop. Whether it’s a deep black for a spooky effect or bright purples and greens, colors can bring your cake to life.

Embrace Edible Decorations

Using edible decorations like candy eyes, fondant shapes, and colored sprinkles can add fun and personality to your cakes. They’re perfect for creating spooky characters or eerie scenes.

Layer for Flavor

Don’t just stop at one flavor. Consider adding layers of different flavors, like a citrus glaze on a chocolate cake or a spicy kick in a classic vanilla. It adds depth and surprise to every bite.