Last Updated on by
This Halloween Spiderweb Cake is a perfectly spiced and moist pumpkin cake with black chocolate buttercream frosting and covered with marshmallow spiderweb topping. The perfect spooky Halloween cake to celebrate the season.
If you truly want to celebrate the Halloween season, forget all about trick or treating, scary costumes, spooky decoration and haunted houses and start with this Halloween Spiderweb Cake instead.
As I’ve mentioned in my Halloween Monster Eye Cookies and my Monster Mash Halloween Candy Bark, Halloween truly is my favorite holiday and this rich and tender pumpkin cake is the perfect dessert to satisfy your pumpkin craving this time of year while serving up some scary-good pumpkin dessert.
WHY THIS IS THE BEST HALLOWEEN SPIDERWEB CAKE
When it comes to moist pumpkin cake, this is the hands down winner every time. Marshmallow spiderwebs and black buttercream frosting make this Halloween cake the perfect way to celebrate the spooky season!
- Super flavorful with all of your favorite fall spices
- Soft, rich and super-moist… like stick to you ribs moist!
- Show stopping Halloween vibe with marshmallow spiderweb topping
- The perfect chocolate buttercream.. ahem, BLACK chocolate buttercream frosting
To make this Halloween Spiderweb Cake, you will need:
- All purpose flour – This batter is pretty thick so all purpose flour is a better choice than cake flour
- Baking soda – This helps the cake rise
- Butter – we need this for flavor in the cake and also for the buttercream frosting
- Sugar – this is what sweetens the cake without making it too sweet
- Eggs – necessary for moisture and to help give the cake structure
- Pumpkin puree – you can’t have a pumpkin cake without the pumpkin puree
- Milk – helps tenderize your cake and makes for a strong cake batter
- Vegetable oil – this is what really makes your pumpkin cake moist
- Vanilla extract, salt and fall spices – FLAVOR
- Powdered sugar – this is the foundation of your homemade buttercream frosting
- Cocoa powder – this creates a rich, dark chocolate buttercream
- Mini-marshmallows – perfect for stretching into spooky spiderwebs to top your cake
- Black food coloring – nothing says “Halloween cake” like black frosting
HOW TO TOP A HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN CAKE
Looking for a show-stopping cake to bring to your next Halloween party, potluck or family event? Show up to the party with this spiderweb cake and get ready to hand out this recipe about a gazillion times before you head for home.
Black buttercream frosting and marshmallow spiderwebs not your thing? Frost this Halloween cake with this creamy dark chocolate buttercream, this cinnamon cream cheese frosting or this vanilla buttercream frosting.
HOW TO MAKE THIS SPIDERWEB CAKE
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by lining with parchment paper and spraying with non-stick spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs one at a time and then add in vanilla, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and vegetable oil.
Slowly stir in the milk and the flour mixture until all has been incorporated. Divide batter evenly into your prepared cake pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing from pan and moving to cooling rack. Let cake cool completely.
When cooled, gently trim the top of the cakes to make your cake even on top (my cakes always ’round up’).
Next, to make your Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, cream together softened butter until light and fluffy. Add sifted powdered sugar, dark cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract and milk then mix slowly until all has been incorporated … once mixed well, add in the black food coloring and mix on high for 1 minute.
Assemble the 3 cake layers with a layer of frosting in between each layer and a thin layer of chocolate frosting on the top and sides.
Once your cake is frosted, add mini-marshmallows to a microwave safe bowl and heat on High for 20-40 seconds, stirring midway through to remove any lumps.
Let marshmallows cool for 1-2 minutes before grabbing a large dollop and stretching it between you hands to create the spiderweb effect you are looking for.
Place your marshmallow spiderwebs all around the sides and top of the cake.
Store cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
TIPS FOR THE PERFECT HALLOWEEN SPIDERWEB CAKE
- Take the few extra minutes to trace out your parchment paper to line the bottom of your cake pans. This is a life saver and you will be rewarded with cake that tip right out of your pan without ever getting stuck.
- For cake liners, simply place your pans on your parchment paper, trace around the bottom of your pan, cut out the circles out and then spray a bit of non-stick spray in your pan and place your circle. Then spray the entire inside of your cake pan with non-stick spray.
- Don’t over-mix your cake batter. Too much wear and tear on a cake batter leads to a tough cake.
- To trim the tops of your cakes, use a sharp serrated bread knife or a cake leveler. I just (finally!) purchased a leveler from Amazon for under ten dollars and I already don’t know how I ever lived without it.
- When you get to your top layer of cake, flip it upside down. This will give you a perfectly even top to your cake and perfect edges.
- I know it’s a pain but be sure to sift your cocoa and powdered sugar before making your buttercream frosting… anytime I haven’t, I’ve ended up with lumps every time. Every. Time.
- Black food coloring comes in liquid, gel and concentrated paste. Pass on the liquid but the gel and paste are perfect to add some scary-awesome color to your frosting.
- If you are like me (hello? brand new black photo backdrop!) and get marshmallow on a surface and it won’t come off, try spraying it with an all purpose cleaner. That worked for me!
- Marshmallow spiderwebs are super sticky. Once you stretch them over your cake, if anything else touches them, the marshmallows will stick. …. trust me …. !
MORE HALLOWEEN RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE
- Chocolate Voodoo Doll Cookies
- Halloween Cheesecake Bars
- Halloween Pumpkin Cake
- Monster Eye Cookies
- Witch Cauldron Halloween Cupcakes
Want to see all my Halloween recipes? Check them out HERE!
Enjoy and go be scary!
If you’ve tried this Halloween Spiderweb Cake or any other recipe on this website, please don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment. I love hearing from you!
You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST so you never miss a new recipe!
Halloween Spiderweb Cake
Ingredients
Pumpkin Cake
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup milk
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder sifted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- black food coloring paste
Marshmallow Spiderwebs
- 2 cups mini-marshmallows
Instructions
Pumpkin Cake
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by lining with parchment paper and spraying with non-stick spray. Set aside
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. - In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time and then add in vanilla, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and vegetable oil. Slowly stir in the milk and the flour mixture until all has been incorporated
- Divide batter evenly into your prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing from pan and moving to cooling rack. Let cake cool completely. When cooled, gently trim the top of the cakes to make your cake even on top.
Black Buttercream Frosting
- Next, to make your Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, cream together softened butter until light and fluffy. Add sifted powdered sugar, dark cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract and milk then mix slowly until all has been incorporated ... once mixed well, add in the black food coloring and mix on high for 1 minute. Assemble the 3 cake layers with a layer of frosting in between each layer and a thin layer of chocolate frosting on the top and sides.
Marshmallow Spiderwebs
- Once your cake is frosted, add mini-marshmallows to a microwave safe bowl and heat on High for 20-40 seconds, stirring midway through to remove any lumps. Let marshmallows cool for 1-2 minutes before grabbing a large dollop and stretching it between you hands to create the spiderweb effect you are looking for. Place your marshmallow spiderwebs all around the sides and top of the cake. Store cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
TIPS FOR THE PERFECT PUMPKIN SPIDERWEB CAKE
- Take the few extra minutes to trace out your parchment paper to line the bottom of your cake pans. This is a life saver and you will be rewarded with cake that tip right out of your pan without ever getting stuck.
- For cake liners, simply place your pans on your parchment paper, trace around the bottom of your pan, cut out the circles out and then spray a bit of non-stick spray in your pan and place your circle. Then spray the entire inside of your cake pan with non-stick spray.
- Don't over-mix your cake batter. Too much wear and tear on a cake batter leads to a tough cake.
- To trim the tops of your cakes, use a sharp serrated bread knife or a cake leveler. I just (finally!) purchased a leveler from Amazon for under ten dollars and I already don't know how I ever lived without it.
- When you get to your top layer of cake, flip it upside down. This will give you a perfectly even top to your cake and perfect edges.
- I know it's a pain but be sure to sift your cocoa and powdered sugar before making your buttercream frosting... anytime I haven't, I've ended up with lumps every time. Every. Time.
- Black food coloring comes in liquid, gel and concentrated paste. Pass on the liquid but the gel and paste are perfect to add some scary-awesome color to your frosting.
- Marshmallow spiderwebs are super sticky. Once you stretch them over your cake, if anything else touches them, the marshmallows will stick. .... trust me .... !
NEVER MISS A WICKED WHISK RECIPE FACEBOOK / PINTEREST / INSTAGRAM Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in September of 2017 but was republished with an updated recipe, new photos, step by step instructions and tips in October of 2019.
Perfect for Halloween