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