Haunted Mansion Bloody Wedding Cake

Directions

1. Set your oven to 350°F to preheat.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, 1 cup of water, 3 egg whites, and ½ cup of vegetable oil. Whisk everything together until the batter is smooth.
3. Pour the batter into a prepared 8-inch round cake pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool completely.
4. You may keep the cake as a single layer, or slice it horizontally into 3 layers for a taller cake.
5. For the frosting, place 1 cup of softened butter and 1 cup of shortening into the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand mixer). Beat them together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
6. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and the entire 2-pound bag of powdered sugar. Mix on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, then increase to medium and beat until smooth.
7. Pour in ¼ cup of water and whip the frosting on high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until it becomes light and fluffy. If the frosting seems too thick, add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
8. Spread a thin layer of the white frosting over the cooled cake to create a crumb coat.
9. Fit a piping bag with a large star tip and fill it with the remaining frosting. Pipe decorative swirls all over the cake, covering it completely.
10. For the blood splatter effect, decide whether you want to splatter the whole cake or each slice after cutting. Dip a clean hand or a new toothbrush into red liquid food coloring, then flick the coloring onto the cake to create a spattered look.