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Spider Web Halloween Cake

This cake features a moist chocolate sponge layered with rich frosting, decorated to resemble a spider web with sugar webs and intricate webbing detail. The appearance is striking and spooky, with a dark, glossy web design contrasting against the cake's deep chocolate base. It combines baking, frosting, and decorative sugar work for an eye-catching finish.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Halloween
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • 1 and 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt salt
  • 2 eggs large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 3 cups powdered sugar confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder for frosting
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk to adjust consistency
  • 200 g dark chocolate dark chocolate for web decoration
  • 1/4 cup white sugar for web design
  • 1 teaspoon black food coloring

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Cake pans
  • Electric mixer
  • Offset spatula

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar until evenly combined.
  3. Add eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Mix on medium speed until smooth and homogeneous.
  4. Slowly pour in the hot water, a little at a time, mixing constantly. The batter will be thin but glossy; continue until fully incorporated.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Smooth the tops with an offset spatula for even layers.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Prepare the frosting by beating softened butter and confectioners' sugar together until fluffy. Mix in cocoa powder and a splash of milk to reach desired consistency, adding more milk if needed. Frost the cooled cakes with a thick layer of chocolate frosting.
  8. Melt the dark chocolate gently over low heat or in short bursts in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the frosted cake to create a web-like pattern and set aside to harden slightly.
  9. Prepare the web design by mixing the white sugar with a few drops of black food coloring until dark and glossy. Use a piping bag or a fine squeeze bottle to draw web lines and intricate patterns directly on the chocolate web, creating a spider web effect.
  10. Let the web decoration set at room temperature until firm. Optionally, add small sugar spiders or other Halloween themed accents for extra flair.
  11. Slice and serve this striking Halloween cake to enjoy its rich chocolate layers and spooky web decorations, perfect for a festive gathering.

Notes

Ensure the chocolate web is cooled and set before handling to avoid smudging. Practice piping web patterns on parchment paper beforehand if needed. Use high-quality dark chocolate for a glossy finish.