A creative and spooky brain cake decorated with red icing for Halloween.

Brain Cake

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why make this recipe

Brain Cake is a fun and eye-catching dessert, perfect for Halloween parties, themed events, or simply to spark joy. Its vibrant colors and unique design make it a standout treat that surprises and delights everyone. This cake is not just about looks; it’s also delicious, featuring moist red velvet and creamy buttercream.

how to make Brain Cake

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour (300g)
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (10g)
  • 1 tsp baking soda (6g)
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (350g)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature (112g)
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, room temperature (300g)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil (120g)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (8g)
  • 1 tsp white vinegar (4g)
  • 1 tsp red gel food coloring (or 1 Tbsp liquid food coloring)
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature (339g)
  • 1 cup (8 oz) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature (226g)
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (12g)
  • 1 tsp fine salt (6g)
  • 7 cups powdered sugar (904g or a 2lb. bag)
  • 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream, room temperature (45g)
  • small squirt of red gel food coloring (or 1 tsp liquid food coloring)
  • 1/2 cup seedless raspberry or strawberry jam
  • 3 Tbsp water (45g)
  • [1/4 tsp red gel food coloring or 1 tsp liquid food coloring – optional]

Directions:

Red Velvet Cake:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, mix cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
  4. Stir in buttermilk, oil, vanilla, vinegar, and food coloring.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  6. Pour the batter into greased cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool.

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting:

  1. Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth.
  2. Add vanilla and salt, then mix in powdered sugar slowly.
  3. Add heavy cream and a small amount of food coloring for the right texture and color.

Edible Blood Recipe:

  1. In a bowl, mix raspberry or strawberry jam with water. Add food coloring if desired.

Decorating this Brain Cake:

  1. Once the cake layers are cool, cut them to form a brain shape.
  2. Frost the cake with cream cheese buttercream, making it smooth and covering the sides.
  3. Drizzle the edible blood over the top for a spooky effect.

how to serve Brain Cake

Slice the Brain Cake into pieces and serve on a decorative plate. It pairs well with ice cream or a glass of milk. This cake is perfect for sharing, so make sure to have enough for everyone at your gathering!

how to store Brain Cake

Store any leftover Brain Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep it in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze individual slices wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil for up to a month.

tips to make Brain Cake

  • Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature for better mixing.
  • Use a toothpick to check the cakes for doneness; it should come out clean when inserted into the center.
  • Don’t skip the cooling time! This prevents the cake from becoming too crumbly when frosting.
  • To achieve the brain shape, use a mold or shape the cake by hand for a more realistic effect.

variation

For a different flavor, try using chocolate cake instead of red velvet. You can also experiment with different frosting flavors, like vanilla or chocolate, to mix it up!

FAQs

1. Can I use a different type of frosting?
Yes, you can use vanilla buttercream or chocolate ganache if you prefer a different flavor.

2. Is the red food coloring necessary?
While it’s not absolutely necessary, the red food coloring gives the cake that classic red velvet look. You can omit it if you like, but your cake will be less vibrant.

3. How can I make the cake gluten-free?
You can substitute regular flour with a gluten-free cake flour blend. Make sure to check the other ingredients for gluten content as well.

Print
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brain cake 2025 11 03 195335 150x150 1

Brain Cake

  • Author: nonnasdishes_admin
  • Total Time: 60
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

A fun and eye-catching dessert perfect for Halloween parties, featuring moist red velvet cake and creamy buttercream frosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour (300g)
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (10g)
  • 1 tsp baking soda (6g)
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
  • 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (350g)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature (112g)
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, room temperature (300g)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil (120g)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract (8g)
  • 1 tsp white vinegar (4g)
  • 1 tsp red gel food coloring (or 1 Tbsp liquid food coloring)
  • 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature (339g)
  • 1 cup (8 oz) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature (226g)
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract (12g)
  • 1 tsp fine salt (6g)
  • 7 cups powdered sugar (904g)
  • 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream, room temperature (45g)
  • Small squirt of red gel food coloring (optional)
  • 1/2 cup seedless raspberry or strawberry jam
  • 3 Tbsp water (45g)
  • 1/4 tsp red gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a bowl, mix cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
  4. Stir in buttermilk, oil, vanilla, vinegar, and food coloring.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  6. Pour the batter into greased cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool.
  7. For the frosting, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla and salt, then mix in powdered sugar slowly. Add heavy cream and a small amount of food coloring for the right texture and color.
  8. For the edible blood, mix raspberry or strawberry jam with water and add food coloring if desired.
  9. Once the cake layers are cool, cut them to form a brain shape. Frost the cake with cream cheese buttercream, making it smooth and covering the sides.
  10. Drizzle the edible blood over the top for a spooky effect.

Notes

Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature for better mixing. Use a toothpick to check the cakes for doneness.

  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 400
  • Sugar: 60g
  • Sodium: 350mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 60g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 50mg

Keywords: Brain Cake, Halloween Dessert, Red Velvet Cake, Spooky Cake, Themed Cake

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Teresa Conti
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