Cakes & CupcakesNo. 1134 · The 2026 edition
34 Halloween Cakes and Cake Decorating Ideas
Get ready to spook up your next gathering with a lineup of 34 Halloween cake recipes that range from delightfully creepy to adorably crafty. Whether you're looking for something that'll make your gues
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at foodnetwork.com.
This collection features 34 unique Halloween cake recipes and decorating concepts designed to transform your party into a memorable event. The ideas span a wide spectrum, from eerie and spine-chilling designs to charming and playful creations. Each recipe offers creative ways to incorporate spooky elements, ensuring there's something for every taste and skill level. From intricate decorations to simple yet effective themes, these cakes are sure to be the highlight of your Halloween celebration.
About this
A Food Network Kitchen roundup of 34 Halloween cake recipes and decorating ideas, ranging from creepy and crawly to cute and crafty. Each entry pairs a themed cake with a brief description of its look and construction, from a beginner-friendly jack o' lantern cake to brains, eyeballs, graveyards and cauldrons. Updated on September 20, 2025.
The list
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01
Easy Jack O' Lantern Cake
Recommended starting point: boxed yellow cake mix, pumpkin spice instant pudding, marshmallow cream frosting, chocolate eyes and toothy grin.
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02
Cake Pop Brains
Red velvet cake pops coated in ruby chocolate; any color candy melting wafers for a sillier vibe.
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03
Pumpkin Cake Graveyard
Moist pumpkin spice cake with graveyard scene, cookie tombstones and candy decorations; party centerpiece.
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04
Dead Velvet Cake
Chilling twist on classic red velvet: rich crimson layers with eerie decorations.
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05
Black Magic Cake
Deep dark chocolate cake styled as a mummy; stretched marshmallow bandages and candy eyes.
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06
Puffed Rice Paper Ghost Cake
Creepy-cute layer cake; rice paper wrappers cut into ghost shapes and puffed in hot oil.
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07
Easy Ghost Cake
One square cake plus one round cake, a few knife cuts, vanilla frosting, piped eyes and mouth.
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08
Matcha Monster Bundt Cake
Molly Yeh's Bundt: melted white chocolate, matcha powder and coconut cake glaze with Halloween candies.
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09
Marshmallow Web Ghost Cake
Melted marshmallows stretched into webs; finished with piped buttercream ghosts.
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10
Cake Eyeballs
Ree Drummond's bite-size cake balls; chill until firm before coating in melted chocolate.
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11
Stuffed Candy Corn Cake
Bull's-eye cake slices into giant candy corns and hides a cache of candy inside.
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12
Chocolate-Pumpkin Crepe Cake
Elegant and stylish rather than scary: paper-thin crepe layers, pumpkin filling, chocolate ganache.
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13
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brain
No-bake strawberry cheesecake set in a plastic mold, topped with fruit syrup "blood."
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14
Eyeball Lava Cake
Slice in and a gush of raspberry jam flows out.
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15
Cauldron Cake
Chocolate cake trimmed into a pot, frosted black, doughnut handles, gummy-candy flames, lime gelatin.
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16
Halloween Cake Pops
Four festive decoration styles shown; mix and match whatever combination you like.
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17
Halloween Strawberry Shortcake Skull Cake
Strawberry shortcake topped with a white chocolate skull; hot strawberry sauce poured over.
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18
Pull-Apart Graveyard Cupcake Cake
Looks like a cake but is individual cupcakes; self-serve, no knives necessary.
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19
Candy Bucket Cake
Trim a one-inch circle from the cake top, fill with candy, add licorice handles.
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20
Hidden Horror Black Widow Cake
Twisted dessert that is also delicious.
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21
Black Chocolate Cake
A layer cake that's black as night.
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22
Frankenstein Cheesecakes
Scary-cute individual jar cheesecakes; no need to dole up dessert during the Monster Mash.
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23
Eyeball Cheesecake
No-bake cheesecake with canned lychees and blueberries for bloodshot eyes in cranberry gelatin.
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24
Spider Cake Pops
Legs made from black licorice cut into short pieces and stuck on with melted chocolate.
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25
Spiced Caramel Roulade with Ginger Cream
Seasonal spice cake rolled around sweet, zingy filling; Halloween cookie cutter stencil for sugar design.
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26
Bloody Cheesecake Bars with Broken Glass Caramel
Tip for crystal-clear caramel: don't stir sugar once it starts to boil.
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27
Chocolate Cake in a Pumpkin
Strange but true: bake a chocolate cake right inside a pumpkin.
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28
Blood Orange Curd
Idea from baker Karl Fong, who won Halloween Baking Championship with a bleeding zombie cake; spoon over store-bought cake.
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29
Mini Pumpkin Spice Cakes with Orange Glaze
Sandra Lee starts with boxed spice cake mix, then melts white chocolate and food coloring for glaze.
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30
Chocolate-Orange Cake Pops
Giada's portioned cake pops; serve at the party or wrap in decorative cellophane as favors.
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31
Blood Red Velvet Armadillo Cake
Nancy's roadkill armadillo cake; a little messy and a lot of fun to make with kids.
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32
Milk Chocolate Graveyard Cake
Crushed wafer "dirt," cookie tombstones, candy bones and a sweet chocolate tree.
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33
Eyeball Mini Cakes
Duff Goldman turns a pumpkin cupcake into a bloodshot eyeball with French buttercream and food coloring.
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34
Creepy Cookie Cake
Sandra Lee's semi-homemade cake filled with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, more used as decoration.
The plan
- Pick a cake that fits your theme (ghosts, brains, eyeballs, graveyards) and your skill level.
- If you're unsure where to start, begin with the Easy Jack O' Lantern Cake.
- For a self-serve party dessert, choose the Pull-Apart Graveyard Cupcake Cake so guests can grab a cupcake, no knives necessary.
- Prepare desserts in individual jars, like Frankenstein Cheesecakes, so you don't have to dole out portions during the party.
- Wrap cake pops in decorative cellophane to hand out as party favors.
- Include a centerpiece cake such as the Pumpkin Cake Graveyard for the Halloween table.
Food & drink
- Easy Jack O' Lantern Cake
- Cake Pop Brains
- Pumpkin Cake Graveyard
- Dead Velvet Cake
- Black Magic Cake
- Puffed Rice Paper Ghost Cake
- Easy Ghost Cake
- Matcha Monster Bundt Cake
- Marshmallow Web Ghost Cake
- Cake Eyeballs
- Stuffed Candy Corn Cake
- Chocolate-Pumpkin Crepe Cake
- No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brain
- Eyeball Lava Cake
- Cauldron Cake
- Halloween Cake Pops
- Halloween Strawberry Shortcake Skull Cake
- Pull-Apart Graveyard Cupcake Cake
- Candy Bucket Cake
- Hidden Horror Black Widow Cake
- Black Chocolate Cake
- Frankenstein Cheesecakes
- Eyeball Cheesecake
- Spider Cake Pops
- Spiced Caramel Roulade with Ginger Cream
- Bloody Cheesecake Bars with Broken Glass Caramel
- Chocolate Cake in a Pumpkin
- Blood Orange Curd
- Mini Pumpkin Spice Cakes with Orange Glaze
- Chocolate-Orange Cake Pops
- Blood Red Velvet Armadillo Cake
- Milk Chocolate Graveyard Cake
- Eyeball Mini Cakes
- Creepy Cookie Cake
More photos
Photos hosted by foodnetwork.com.
