35 Best Halloween Cakes To Wow Trick-Or-Treaters

For more miniature-size cakes, go for Halloween cake pops, Mini Bundt cakes, Halloween Candy Mug Cakes, or any variation of Halloween cupcakes.

Halloween is fast approaching, and with it is the need for scary, spooky Halloween cakes. We all know that coming up with cake designs isn’t the most straightforward task in the world.

Plus, going on random internet hunts mainly yields cakes that are either too complex for a beginner or have unreachable ingredients, for lack of a better word.

Regardless, you don’t need to comb through Pinterest and Instagram alone; we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll give you 41 mind-blowing Halloween cake recipes that’ll leave all partiers and trick-or-treaters who stop by your home utterly amazed.

Quick Table: Mind-Blowing Halloween Cakes 

Recipes	Calories Per Serving	Preparation Time
Halloween Monster Bundt Cake	159	30 Mins
Hocus Pocus Cake	683	2hrs 15Mins
Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes	342	1hr 15Mins
Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake	520	2hrs 45Mins
Red Velvet Spiderweb Cake	611	2hrs 20Mins
Pumpkin Chocolate Halloween Cake	922.16	1hr 40Mins
Keto Brain Cupcakes	274	45 Mins
Spiderweb Sheet Cake	442	1hr 10Mins
Halloween Witch Cupcakes	300	1hr 50Mins
Bat Cake	320	1hr 50Mins
Candy Corn Cake	689	1hr 45Mins
Halloween Cake with Four Layers	1217	2Hrs 3Mins
Halloween Cheesecake Bars	434	1Hr
Halloween Monster Cake	380	2Hrs
Meringue Bone Cake	320	1Hr 20 Mins
Halloween Icebox Cake	500	25 Mins (excluding freezing time)
Poison Apple Cake	250	30 Mins
Ghost Swoop Halloween Cake	150	2Hrs
Monster Slime Cake	464	30 Mins
Spooky Spider Halloween Cake	193	2Hrs
Halloween Bloody Knife Cake	380	30 Mins-
Chocolate Layer Skull Cake	577	4 Hrs 30 Mins
Halloween Ghost Cake	542	30 Mins
Glowing Ghost Cake	412-	1hr 45Mins
Halloween Cauldron Cake	464-	2Hrs
Ghost in the Graveyard Halloween Cake	236	1hr 45Mins
Vegan Strawberry Ghost Cake	464	50 Mins
Chocolate Blackberry Gothic Halloween Cake	125	1Hr 25 Mins
Mini Bundt Cake Pumpkins	380	1hr 45Mins
Melting Witch Poke Cake	362	30 Mins
Chocolate Haunted Forest Cake	250	30 Mins
Halloween Cat Cake	380	2 Hrs
Coffin Cake	464	1 Hr 50 Mins
Halloween Cake Pops	242	35 Mins
Freaky Finger Red Velvet Cake	487	1 Hr 25 Mins
Jack-O-Lantern Cake	452	1Hr 18 Mins
Skeleton Pinata Cake	185	1hr 45Mins
Halloween Candy Mug Cake	562	5 Mins
Eyeball Cake Balls	422	30 Mins
Vegan Halloween Cupcakes	441	1Hr 18 Mins
Vegan Black Chocolate Halloween Cake	255	2 Hrs

Our Favorite Halloween Cakes

1. Halloween Monster Bundt Cake

Why bake the usual box or round shape when you can have a bundt cake instead? Not only does this cake have a distinctive profile on the outside, but each slice also reveals magnificent streaks of purple and green. 

To make things even spookier, squirt some more purple, green, and black food coloring over your cake. Then, artfully decorate it with as many monster eyes as you wish. Halloween can’t get more scarily fun than this cake!

Calories Per Serving: 159

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

2. Hocus Pocus Cake

We all love a layered cake, especially when it’s chocolate. Three layers of cake between neon green, orange, and purple buttercream make a delightful cake, but this cake still has more to give. 

Monster eyes, sprinkles, and skulls combine over neon green buttercream frosting for a scary, colorful effect. This cake will impress everyone at a kids’ party or an adult Halloween hangout. Make sure each slice shows off your gorgeous layers! 

Calories Per Serving: 683

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs 15 Mins

3. Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes

Don’t think too hard if you prefer mini cake sizes; you need cupcakes. Bake these dark chocolate graveyard cupcakes with white chocolate toppings and a tombstone for good measure. Don’t fret; it’s just a Graham cracker.

Guess what makes these cupcakes so incredible? Each tombstone can have a different message, so be creative and inscribe away. Moreover, don’t forget to sprinkle M&Ms over your cupcakes; they make all the difference.

Calories Per Serving: 342

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 15 Mins

4. Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake

There’s only one word for this pumpkin spice latte cake – beautiful. Meanwhile, terror and eerieness aren’t for everyone; consequently, if you’d rather have a cute Halloween cake, here you go. 

Made with pumpkin spice and puree and coated with romantic buttercream espresso, this cake is the stuff of dreams. Additionally, making these fondant pumpkins will be so much fun! The layers in this cake make everything more fascinating.

Calories Per Serving: 520

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs 45 Mins

5. Red Velvet Spiderweb Cake

Spiderwebs never looked more delicious, considering they come from marshmallows. Here, marshmallows completely wrap a glorious red velvet number drenched in decadent chocolate buttercream.

There’s also an adorable candy spider in a matching spicy red right on top of the cake. You’ll probably want to stare at this cake all day long; it looks too good! But muster the morale to cut a slice.

The thick layers of moist, juicy red velvet and buttercream will have every guest at your Halloween party gasping in awe.

Calories Per Serving: 611

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs 20 Mins

6. Pumpkin Chocolate Halloween Cake

A multi-colored layered cake with chocolate? Sign me up! This Halloween cake has everything you’re looking for, from flavorful spices to vanilla and pumpkin puree, and is bathed in more chocolate. 

Even without all the toppings and decorations making this cake Halloween-appropriate, it looks spectacular. The marshmallows, gummy pops, Oreos, and sprinkles make things over-the-top in a yummy way.

Calories Per Serving: 922.16

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 40 Mins

7. Keto Brain Cupcakes

Brain food doesn’t have to look or taste gross all the time. Firstly, coconut flour and milk add a taste different from your standard cupcake. Then, make brain-like cream cheese squiggles over your cupcakes using a few drops of red food coloring.

These cupcakes are a delicious substitute for traditional Halloween cakes if you’re throwing a kids’ party. They’re easy to hold, you’re less likely to have a mess, plus they’re vegan.

Calories Per Serving: 274

Preparation Time: 45 Mins

8. Spider Web Cake

Here’s another alternative to round cakes – sheet cakes. This cake has three chocolate layers to sweeten the deal for you – the cocoa-flavored cake, white chocolate frosting, and a chocolate spider taking center stage.

This recipe makes cake slices so tasty and moist that they’re almost creepy! Additionally, it’s easy, and there’s a video in the post to help you out. Chocolate lovers, don’t miss this one; after all, there’s no such thing as too much chocolate. 

Calories Per Serving: 442

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 10 Mins

9. Halloween Witch Cupcakes

Want to blow your guests’ minds away? These cupcakes are a witchy work of art. They’re ideal for Halloween, and every part of them is edible and looks divine.

You’ll use surprising ingredients like candy-filled cones, melts, fondant, eyes, and even a gold leaf!

Then, of course, you’ll need purple, green, and black food coloring to paint your witches with their true colors. Finally, place your witches on the fluffy pumpkin cupcakes and serve. 

Calories Per Serving: 300

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 50 Mins

10. Bat Cake 

The beauty of this Halloween cake is nothing short of ethereal, and it tastes even more so. It’s richly packed with spiced pumpkin buttercream and Italian meringue buttercream that’ll take you places with one taste.

Indeed, each detail is stunning – the progression from dark orange to a gentle cream, all in symmetrical layers. Stick some candy bats in for a Halloween touch (although these bats are more adorable than creepy).

Everyone will be filled with wonder at your baking skills with this number. Further, you’re not working alone; there’s a step-by-step video guide for you in the post.

Calories Per Serving: 320

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 50 Mins

11. Candy Corn Cake

It’s okay if you’re not crazy about candy corn; it’s not used in this recipe. Instead, we have a chocolate cake with a slight hint of vanilla. Yet, what’s better than borrowing its cheerful yellow, orange, and white colors for your Halloween cake? 

As always, we all love double chocolate, so pour a generous coat of chocolate over candy corn-colored cream cheese frosting. You’ll marvel at the result of each slice. 

Calories Per Serving: 689

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 45 Mins

12. Halloween Cake with Four Layers

Maybe you’re not a baking pro, and the last few recipes have intimidated you. It’s okay, here’s something easy but no less Halloween-inspired.

In place of our typical three-layered cake, this one has four multi-colored layers in black, purple, orange, and green. Exquisite colors are a natural part of Halloween cakes inside and out.

So, this cake is covered in a stark black buttercream rather than the classic white frosting. The contrast between the layer colors and the black frosting is genuinely magical.

Calories Per Serving: 1217

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs 3 Mins

13. Halloween Cheesecake Bars

No rule says you must celebrate Halloween with a traditional cake; cheesecakes are a great way to mix things up if you prefer. But don’t leave things plain; top your creamy cheesecake bars with mystical swirls in Halloween colors of orange and black. 

To add to the excitement, use cookie crust at the base of your cheesecake. One bite of this cake will have you swooning in ecstasy. 

Calories Per Serving: 434

Preparation Time: 1 Hr

14. Halloween Monster Cake

This recipe stamps your cake with a less monstrous version of Frankenstein that tastes as intriguing as it looks. Your art skills make no difference; you can still turn out a banging green Monster cake that’ll earn you rounds of applause! 

To recreate this, you only need green and black food coloring, strings of licorice, and white frosting that’ll melt warmly in your mouth. Plus, this can make a fun activity for you and the kids.

Calories Per Serving: 380

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs

15. Meringue Bone Cake

Again, we have a double chocolate recipe. Indulge yourself and your family with a soft, three-layered chocolate cake sheathed in chocolate buttercream. While the cake is fascinating, its real stars are the meringue bones guarding it.

You could drizzle fake blood or raspberry sauce on your bones if you want an overly squeamish cake. Nevertheless, it looks magnificent just as it is.

Calories Per Serving: 320

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 20 mins

16. Halloween Icebox Cake

If you’ve never heard of icebox cakes, they’re the new best thing! Yes, this isn’t exactly a cake. Generally, they consist of interchanging layers of cookies and whipped cream or topping. After, freeze your cake for at least 8 hours to firm it up. 

Different shades of orange make this cake Halloween-approved. Plus, it’s garnished with sprinkles and edible pearls to get partiers feeling festive.

Calories Per Serving: 500

Preparation Time: 25 Mins

17. Poison Apple Cake

Snow White’s poisoned apple has nothing on this Poison Apple cake. Black cocoa buttercream lends the vanilla cake an outer coat that’s as dark as night, but each cut reveals hidden green-colored layers.

To make the green slime, you only need candy melts, whipped cream, and additional green color. Then, make it rain slime over your apple and cake.

Calories Per Serving: 250

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

18. Ghost Swoop Halloween Cake

Halloween shouldn’t always be frightening, especially if you have little kids. So we have cute buttercream ghosts dancing across a glorious purple, gray, and black striped cake. For this recipe, you can use any cake flavoring you love; it’ll still turn out amazing. 

Although making stripes isn’t easy, you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Plus, this recipe guides you through the entire process, so you’re not alone. Finally, pipe some buttercream flowers and sprinkles in similar colors over your cake, and you’re good to go.

Calories Per Serving: 150

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs

19. Monster Slime Cake

There’s always more than one way to get anything done, and Halloween cakes are no exception. Thus, here’s a prettier version of our previous slime cake. Unlike the former, this one is sans apple and decorated with startling monster eyes to differentiate the two. 

Additionally, two magic ingredients make the cake and frosting as black as possible – food-safe activated charcoal powder and cocoa powder. Follow the video in the post for extra supervision. 

Calories Per Serving: 464

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

20. Spooky Spider Halloween Cake 

So far, most cakes have been Halloween-inspired colors and themes, but does it mean white is out? Absolutely not! This spooky spider Halloween cake comes in a clean, classy white, with purple and orange buttercream flowers and cookie spiders. 

With Baileys Irish cream and coffee mixed in the cake batter, filling, and frosting, this cake is perfect when you throw an adults’ Halloween party. You get to serve booze and show off your baking all at once.

Calories Per Serving: 464

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

21. Halloween Bloody Knife Cake

Horror movie in a cake? That’s a dream come true for all Halloween enthusiasts. Thankfully, this number works if you’re not the most skillful with your hands, as there isn’t much design to do.

This cake is nothing but your usual three-layered red velvet cake with almond cream cheese filling and frosting. The charm here is the ‘bloody’ drip over the cake. Microwave some red candy melts and heavy cream to create fake blood, then pour the ganache over your cake.

Calories Per Serving: 464

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

22. Chocolate Layer Skull Cake

Deep, dark chocolatey goodness is highly alluring, even if you don’t care for chocolate. For this cake, we have top to bottom chocolate- three layers of chocolate cake between chocolate buttercream filling coated with smooth chocolate frosting. Chocolate ganache trickling over the cake ties it all together. 

Because it’s Halloween, carefully arrange skulls in a crescent on one side of your cake. The best part is that the skulls are all chocolate. In addition, this cake is 100% vegan but retains the fluffiness and moisture of non-vegan cakes.

Calories Per Serving: 577

Preparation Time: 4 Hrs 30 Mins

23. Halloween Brain Cake

Halloween sometimes demands ickiness, and this recipe delivers to a T. Besides, creating the cake is as easy as ABC, so why not jump on the train?

You need just five steps to imitate this cake: bake, spread your buttercream,  make your fondant, refrigerate, and finally, paint. There’s a complete ‘blood’ recipe in the post, and it’s perfect for freaking everyone out in a fun way.

Calories Per Serving: 274

Preparation Time: 4 Hrs

24. Glowing Ghost Cake

Light up the room (literally) with this total knockout because this cake does have inner light! You’re probably wondering, ‘How am I ever going to do this?’

Truthfully, it’s a lot easier than it looks. First, cover whatever kind of cake you’d like to use in orange and black buttercream swirls. Then, stick a LED light in your cake and drape beady-eyed fondant over it. Voila, all done!

Make sure you check out the video in the post for more details.

Calories Per Serving: 274

Preparation Time: 40 Mins

25. Halloween Cauldron Cake

Mark my words; every jaw will drop to the floor when you walk in with this cauldron cake. Harry Potter fans, the cake of your fantasies just came to life. 

Although you can opt to make a vanilla cake, dare to be different with unusual ingredients like mint and lemongrass. Frost and fill your cake with black buttercream, then follow the steps to get your cauldron steaming! Watch the video guide to learn more.

Calories Per Serving: 274

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs

26. Ghost in the Graveyard Halloween Cake

Did you know your cake can tell a story too? Naturally, you’ll likely spend considerable time putting the pieces together, but the result will make your effort worth it.

Make a velvety chocolate sheet cake base with pecan and brown butter for better flavor, then build the candy melt graveyard. Don’t forget the ghost; all graveyards should have at least one!

Calories Per Serving: 374

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

27. Vegan Strawberry Ghost Cake

Isn’t this the cutest Halloween cake you’ve ever seen? It almost isn’t Halloween-appropriate, but for the ghosts floating happily into the air. 

Though it’s filled with strawberry jam and covered in vanilla buttercream, each cake layer is chocolate flavored. So essentially, you get the complete flavor trifecta with this cake – chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry covered in biscuits and sprinkles. It’s beautiful to look at, tasty, and completely vegan.

Calories Per Serving: 204

Preparation Time: 50 Mins

28. Chocolate Blackberry Gothic Halloween Cake

Is there a cake museum? Because this Halloween cake is so stately and grand that you’ll want to preserve it! Also, it has a rare ingredient that you don’t see too often in cakes – blackberry. Hence, don’t miss this chance if you’ve never had a blackberry and chocolate combo.

No one should ever say no to decorative toppings; they add so much to your cake. For this number, we have purple marbled chocolate bark shards and black fondant roses over the cake. This recipe has an insane amount of food coloring, but skip it if you prefer a natural hue.

Calories Per Serving: 240

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 25 Mins

29. Mini Bundt Cake Pumpkins

Three and four-layer cakes are good-looking, but they’re a little impractical for small families. On the other hand, cupcakes are cute, but is there something else? 

Well, yes, there’s a solid middle ground for both – mini Bundt cakes. This recipe will teach you to make these special cakes and coat them with three different colors: white icing, brown chocolate, and a special orange icing that’s excellent for Halloween.

Calories Per Serving: 374

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

30. Melting Witch Poke Cake

We’ve seen a witch dessert previously, but then, we had a full witch. Now, they’re all melted into green, delicious gunk over chocolate cake and vanilla pudding.

In reality, that gunk is whipped cream with green food coloring, but no one has to know that, do they? Add the witch hat cookies, or it’s not a melting witch cake. 

Calories Per Serving: 270

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

31. Chocolate Haunted Forest Cake

What’s Halloween without a blood-curdling forest? This haunted forest has all the terrifying animals you can think of, from hissing snakes to poisonous spiders and plants. Only, they’re more chocolate than deadly poison.

Though this cake, frosting, and ganache are mainly chocolate, there’s a whiff of vanilla in the buttercream frosting for a necessary variety. Assembling this forest will take patience, but don’t give up.

Calories Per Serving: 270

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs 15 Mins

32. Halloween Cat Cake

Cats, for some reason, are synonymous with Halloween, so try out a Halloween cat cake. Meanwhile, a skeletal cat is sure to trigger interest in children and adults. Especially with its big orange fondant eyes and cotton candy tail, this cat will be the talk of the party for weeks after.

In addition to vanilla extract, this cake also has pure almond extract, so that’s more flavor for you.

Calories Per Serving: 150

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs

33. Coffin Cake

I firmly believe in the ‘less is more’ principle; hence, here’s a minimalist Halloween cake for you to try. Although it’s cleverly disguised as a wrapped mummy with cream cheese frosting, the pumpkin cake underneath is enticing. Meanwhile, the vanilla extract and nutmeg will fill your kitchen with an inviting aroma.

Monster eyes bring life to any Halloween dessert, especially one as low-key as this, so don’t leave them out.

Calories Per Serving: 464

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 50 Mins

34. Halloween Cake Pops

Cake on a portable, convenient stick? The inventor was simply a genius! It’s easier to hold, eat, and even make when compared to its older counterpart. 

Buckle up, melt some white chocolate over a ball of Madeira cake, and pipe bulging red veins over your eyes. With lots of kids around, this is the way to go.

Calories Per Serving: 242

Preparation Time: 35 Mins

35. Freaky Finger Red Velvet Cake

Cream cheese frosting and red velvet cake most likely got married somewhere, because together, they never miss! Your red velvet cake is red enough without coloring, but you can add it here to make your color pop.

Because it’s Halloween, dip your chocolate fingers into cream cheese and surround your cake with these bloody fingers. What’s more, it’s freezable too, so you can bake ahead of time.

Calories Per Serving: 487

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 25 Mins

36. Jack-O-Lantern Cake

Imagine Halloween without a Jack-o-lantern. You probably can’t; he embodies Halloween. So, this orange buttercream cake topped with a candy Jack-o-lantern is undoubtedly the most Halloween-appropriate cake you can bake. 

It’s not exactly original, but it works, irrespective of the age group at your Halloween party. The good thing is anyone can do this with no experience decorating or creating cakes. 

Calories Per Serving: 242

Preparation Time: 35 Mins

37. Skeleton Pinata Cake

You know how pinatas work, right, the excitement you feel when all those goodies rush out? That’s how your family or guests will feel about your cake when they cut a slice and candy bones come rushing out! 

On the outside, the skull encompassing the entire top of this cake makes it Halloween-ready. Frost your cake and make pretty swirls on its body, and it’s ready! The contrast between the red velvet and white frosting when the cake is sliced is show-stopping.

Calories Per Serving: 242

Preparation Time: 35 Mins

38. Halloween Candy Mug Cake

Leftover cake and candy? Buy a Halloween mug and turn them into an unusual treat. Melt chocolate and milk in your microwave, then mix your batter and candy. 

In less than five minutes, you’ll have a mix of candy and cake all in one big cup. After, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Calories Per Serving: 242

Preparation Time: 54 Mins

39. Eyeball Cake Balls 

The goal is to make your Halloween different and unforgettable for all your family and guests. Thus, ball up your red velvet cake rather than use a rusty cake style, then work decorating.

This recipe mimics your eyes to a fault, so well that you’ll probably be terrified initially. So, gather your kids, make your fake blood, and start working! But, before you start, watch this video, then get your hands busy.

Calories Per Serving: 242

Preparation Time: 54 Mins

40. Vegan Halloween Cupcakes

Rather than candy, here’s something you can give to trick-or-treaters to stand out. Chocolate cupcakes are a dime a dozen, and vanilla buttercream frosting is everywhere. But, the monster eyes lend a magical touch to otherwise plain cupcakes.

To further credit this recipe, your cupcakes won’t have to look the same. So freely play around with the faces; don’t be too shy to be goofy.

Calories Per Serving: 441

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 18 Mins

41. Vegan Black Chocolate Halloween Cake 

Imagine sinking your teeth into a juicy cake with a light, airy texture. That image can come true with this dark chocolate cake recipe, equally glazed and covered in chocolate. Adding flax seeds and coconut oil into your cake mix transforms the batter best.

Chocolate is delicious, but a continuous brown streak can be dull. Notwithstanding, using purple, orange, and green buttercream filling gives a cheerful kick to the cake. Monster eyes will always be a must. Check out this video for visual help. 

Calories Per Serving: 152

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is A Halloween Cake?

A Halloween cake is a cake decorated with common Halloween-inspired symbols, colors, and themes. For example, it could have images of Jack-O-Lantern, mystical or scary objects and characters, or traditional Halloween colors like black and orange.

What Can I Serve With A Halloween Cake?

Depending on your guest list, you can serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Some drinks include martinis and Halloween-inspired cocktails, beers, and even coffee. For children, go for a punch or fruit juices.

How Long Will My Halloween Cake Last?

Truthfully, you probably won’t have this issue because the recipes here are so finger-licking good that they won’t remain! But in case you decide to leave some out, then refrigerate. It’ll stay in good condition for up to 7 days, although you shouldn’t leave your leftover cake for that long.