Spooky Graveyard Layer Cake

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cut parchment paper to line the bottoms of three 8-inch round cake pans. Spray the parchment and pan sides with nonstick spray; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
4. Stir in the vanilla yogurt and set the mixture aside.
5. In another large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
6. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.
7. Pour in the milk and mix gently until incorporated.
8. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until smooth.
9. Remove 2 cups of the batter and place it in a separate bowl.
10. To the 2-cup bowl, add the vanilla extract and black food coloring; stir until evenly colored.
11. To the remaining batter, add the cherry extract and red food coloring; mix well.
12. Pour the black batter into one prepared pan. Divide the red batter evenly between the other two pans.
13. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
14. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
15. While the cakes cool, make the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth.
16. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
17. Mix in the milk and vanilla extract until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
18. Remove 1/4 cup of frosting and tint it yellow with yellow food coloring. Tint the remaining frosting a medium-to-dark gray using black food coloring.
19. To assemble, place one red cake layer on a cake board or plate. Spread 1/2 cup of gray frosting on top. Place the black layer on top, then another 1/2 cup of gray frosting. Top with the remaining red layer.
20. Frost the entire cake with the remaining gray frosting.
21. Pour the Monster Mash sprinkles into a bowl. Gently press them onto the bottom 1/2 to 1 inch of the cake all around the base.
22. Decorate the sides: Arrange tombstone candies and candy ghosts around the cake. Use the black gel to pipe a few spooky trees. Pipe yellow frosting circles for full moons. Place pairs of candy eyeballs around the tombstones.
23. On top of the cake, you can place the gingerbread coffin (if using) and add a few eyeball pairs and ghosts.
24. If not using the coffin, pipe a large tree in the center with black gel. Place a tombstone on each side of the tree and lay candy bones below them. Add a few ghosts and eyeball pairs on top. Pipe a yellow full moon if desired.