Need a perfect Halloween treat to add to your menu? We've got you covered!

With the savory taste of rich chocolate mixed with the sweetness of meringue, this recipe will be a hit at your Halloween party!

So, throw on your cutest Fall apron and head to the kitchen!

Here's the scoop on how to create this Halloween Ghost Layered Chocolate Cake Recipe Get ready to make the best spooky masterpiece, step by step. 

What is this chocolate cake recipe?

This delicious recipe is a chocolate layer cake with a vanilla frosting layered in between.

It is topped with unique and homemade ghost meringue shapes and cocoa powder to make a spooky ghost graveyard!

Spooky Halloween Layer Cake

Let's get started with the Halloween ghost cake recipe! Make this spooky ghost cake for a Halloween party or even an Autumn birthday!

It's time to step away from the store-bought cake and show off your cake decorating skills. 

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water
• Vanilla Frosting

Meringue Ingredients

• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Mini chocolate chips or black icing gel for the ghost eyes

Chocolate Cake Layer Instructions

Preparing

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour four 9-inch round cake pans.

Baking

1. Prepare the Chocolate Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.
3. Boiling Water: Carefully stir in the boiling water until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin, but this is normal.
4. Bake: Pour the cake batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Making Meringue Ghosts

Once the cake comes out clean and is cooling, it's time to begin the meringue ghosts!

These will go on top of the cake as well as sitting on the side of the cake for extra decorating!

Preparing

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C). Line the baking sheet with Parchment paper

Making the meringue

1. In a clean, dry mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy.
2. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form
3. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form.
4. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Create Ghost Shapes

1. Fit a pastry bag with a large round tip (or simply snip off the corner of a plastic bag). Fill the bag with the meringue mixture.
2. Pipe ghost shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make them about 2-3 inches tall and slightly pointed at the top.
3. Add mini chocolate chips as eyes, or use black icing gel to create the eyes later.

Baking

1. Bake the meringue ghosts in a preheated 200°F (93°C) oven for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until they are dry to the touch.
2. Turn off the oven and let the ghosts in the oven to cool completely.

Assembling the Halloween Cake

Now that the meringue and cake have cooled completely, grab your cutest cake stand, and let's start decorating!

Get the piping bag fitted with the Vanilla frosting and start icing the cake.

Layering the Chocolate Cake

1. Place one cake layer on the cake stand and spread a layer of vanilla frosting over the top.
2. Place the second cake layer on top and cover in vanilla frosting over the top.
3. repeat this process until all four layers are stacked and topped with frosting

Adding the Meringue Ghosts

1. Sift cocoa powder of the top layer of cake.
2. Carefully place the meringue ghosts on top of the chocolate cake.
3. You can also add some crushed chocolate cookies or chocolate sprinkles around the base of the cake for a spooky graveyard effect.

Well, there you have it! Your finished Halloween Ghost Layered Chocolate Cake Recipe! 

Final thoughts

Now that your cake is finished you can see that this unique Halloween cake recipe is bound to get the "oooh's and aahh's" at your next party!

The added meringue ghosts for Halloween give it the perfect spooky touch everyone loves. 

Store it in an airtight cake container or stick it in the freezer to last longer! 

Enjoying Your Spooky Halloween Layered Cake

So, try it out, bake the cake this Halloween for all your friends and family.

Place it on a Halloween cake stand surrounded by Fall decorations and snap a picture! Leave a comment telling us out it went for you. 

FAQ's

Q: What is the recipe for the Halloween Ghost Layered Chocolate Cake?

A: The recipe includes several cake layers made of chocolate flavors, covered in white frosting and decorated with ghosts for Halloween.

Q: How long does it take to make this cake?

A: It takes approximately 1 hour to make the cake and 2 hours for the meringue.

Q: Can I use a cake mix for this recipe?

A: Yes, you can use a cake mix as one of the ingredients in this recipe. But it is recommended you make your own!

Q: What equipment do I need to make this cake?

A: You will need a mixer, a large bowl, a spatula, a cake tin, a rotating cake stand, and a cake board to make this cake.

Q: How do I make the cake layers?

A: To make the cake layers, you will need to prepare the cake mix according to the instructions, pour the batter into the cake tin, and bake it until it is cooked through.

Q: How do I make ganache frosting?

A: To make ganache frosting, you will need to melt the white chocolate and pour the cream over it.

Stir until the chocolate is fully melted and spread an even layer of the frosting on the cake.

Q: Can I make the cake layers in advance?

A: Yes, the cake layers can be made in advance and stored in the freezer until you are ready to assemble the cake.

Q: How do I frost the cake?

A: To frost the cake, you will need to place the first cake layer on a rotating cake stand, spread a layer of frosting over it, place the second cake layer on top, and repeat the process until all the layers are stacked.

Q: How do I decorate the cake with ghosts for Halloween?

A: To decorate the cake with ghosts for Halloween, you can use melted chocolate to create ghost shapes and place them on top of the cake if you don't want to use meringue.

Q: Do you have any tips for making this cake?

A: Some tips for making this cake include using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment for mixing the cake batter, ensuring the cake layers are completely cooled before frosting, and using a cake board to transport the finished cake.

Halloween Ghost Layered Chocolate Cake Recipe

Print

With the savory taste of rich chocolate mixed with the sweetness of meringue, this recipe will be a hit at your Halloween party!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 3 hours

Ingredients

Cake ingredients

Toggle ingredient group

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water
• Vanilla Frosting

Meringue Ingredients

Toggle ingredient group

• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Mini chocolate chips or black icing gel for the ghost eyes

Instructions

Cake Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees*

1. Prepare the Chocolate Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.
3. Boiling Water: Carefully stir in the boiling water until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin, but this is normal.
4. Bake: Pour the cake batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Meringue Baking Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees*

1. In a clean, dry mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy.
2. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form
3. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form.
4. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Making the Meringue ghosts

1. Fit a pastry bag with a large round tip (or simply snip off the corner of a plastic bag). Fill the bag with the meringue mixture.
2. Pipe ghost shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make them about 2-3 inches tall and slightly pointed at the top.
3. Bake in the oven for 1.5-2 hours (or until dry)
4. Add mini chocolate chips as eyes, or use black icing gel to create the eyes later.

Assembling the cake

1. Place one cake layer on the cake stand and spread a layer of vanilla frosting over the top.
2. Place the second cake layer on top and cover in vanilla frosting over the top.
3. repeat this process until all four layers are stacked and topped with frosting

Adding the toppings

1. Sift cocoa powder of the top layer of cake.
2. Carefully place the meringue ghosts on top of the chocolate cake.
3. You can also add some crushed chocolate cookies or chocolate sprinkles around the base of the cake for a spooky graveyard effect.

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