Description
A rich and moist chocolate cake featuring a spooky spiderweb design on top, perfect for Halloween parties or any occasion that calls for a touch of gothic elegance. This cake is surprisingly easy to make and delivers a deep chocolate flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Cake:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups strong hot coffee
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 2/3 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- For the Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 lb confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1/3 cup fudge
- 1/3 cup white chocolate, melted
- For the Spider:
- 1 brown peanut M&M
- 1 brown M&M
- 2 tbsp semi-sweet chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a parchment-lined sheet cake pan.
- Sift together all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream, buttermilk, hot coffee, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Whisk until combined, then beat on medium speed for two minutes.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely on wire racks.
- To make the frosting, beat the unsalted butter until smooth. Add cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, salt, and fudge. Whip until smooth and creamy.
- Once the cake is completely cool, scoop the frosting onto the cake and spread it evenly.
- Pipe a spiral of melted white chocolate onto the frosting, starting from the center and working your way out.
- Use a toothpick to drag lines from the center of the spiral outwards, creating the spiderweb effect.
- To create the spider, pipe chocolate “L”-shaped legs. Chill them until firm. Arrange the chilled legs around a peanut M&M body, using a small M&M for the head. Place the spider on the cake.
Notes
- For a richer chocolate flavor, use espresso instead of hot coffee.
- Consider adding food-safe glitter for an elegant Halloween cake finish.
- Chill the frosting slightly before spreading for a smoother surface.
- Let children help drag the toothpick to create the spiderweb designs for extra fun.
- For a gothic cake vibe, lightly dust the finished cake with cocoa powder.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 65mg