Description
A spooky Halloween Red Velvet Cake featuring a deep crimson hue, rich cocoa flavor, tangy cream cheese frosting, and dramatic red drip effects. This cake is perfect for Halloween parties and is surprisingly easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp red food coloring (gel preferred)
- 2 batches cream cheese frosting
- Optional: Red candy melts for “blood” drips, edible eyeballs, black sprinkles, Halloween cupcake toppers
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch round pans with parchment paper.
- Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, Dutch-process cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix.
- Pour in the buttermilk, white vinegar, and red food coloring. Stir until the batter is smooth and a vivid red color.
- Add the remaining dry ingredients to the batter and combine until just mixed.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 15 minutes before inverting them onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Once cooled, level the cake layers using a serrated knife.
- Spread cream cheese frosting between the layers, then frost the top and sides of the cake.
- For blood drips, melt red candy melts or mix corn syrup with red gel food coloring. Drizzle over the edges of the cake.
- Decorate with optional edible eyeballs, black sprinkles, or Halloween cupcake toppers for a spooky Halloween red velvet cake presentation.
Notes
- Using gel food coloring provides the most intense red color without altering the cake’s texture.
- Chill the cake layers before frosting for cleaner lines and easier handling.
- Add sour cream to the batter for extra moisture if desired.
- Consider freezing cake layers for neater frosting and stacking.
- Get creative with decorations like skull molds, spiderweb patterns, or a bloody bundt cake variation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 90mg