Description
This rich, moist chocolate cake is layered with silky frosting and topped with a striking spiderweb design made from melted white chocolate or icing. It’s festive, fun, and perfect for Halloween parties — spooky elegance meets delicious indulgence!
Ingredients
🛒 Ingredients (for one 9-inch two-layer cake):
For the Chocolate Cake:
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup hot coffee (or hot water for milder flavor)
For the Frosting:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup heavy cream or milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
For the Spiderweb Decoration:
½ cup white chocolate chips or white candy melts
Optional: plastic spider ring or edible sugar spiders for garnish
Instructions
📝 Instructions:
Step 1: Make the Cake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
In a large bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, beat sugar, eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
Gradually mix in dry ingredients. Add hot coffee last and stir until smooth (batter will be thin).
Pour evenly into pans and bake 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely on wire racks.
Step 2: Make the Frosting
Beat butter until creamy.
Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and cream. Beat until fluffy.
Mix in vanilla and adjust consistency with more cream if needed.
Step 3: Assemble
Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread frosting evenly.
Top with the second cake layer and frost the top and sides smoothly.
Step 4: Create the Spiderweb
Melt white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
Transfer to a piping bag (or zip-top bag with the corner snipped).
Pipe concentric circles on top of the cake.
Using a toothpick, drag lines from the center outward to create a spiderweb effect.
Add plastic or edible spiders for decoration.
Notes
- Shortcut: Use boxed chocolate cake mix if you’re short on time — just focus on the spiderweb design.
- Flavor Twist: Add 1 teaspoon espresso powder for a rich mocha note.
- Storage: Keep covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Cake
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American / Halloween