Graveyard cake
This Halloween graveyard cake is a show-stopping treat that combines rich chocolate flavours with a playful, spooky twist. Beneath its eerie decorations lies a soft, moist cake with creamy chocolate frosting, making it incredibly satisfying and scrumptious. The meringue ghosts and pretzel skeleton bring a light-hearted, edible charm, perfect for getting kids involved in the decorating.
Ingredients
Meringue ghosts
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2
Egg whites
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125 g
Sugar
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10 g
Dark chocolate
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Chocolate cake
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150 g
Soft butter
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200 g
Sugar
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½ tsp
Coarse salt
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2
Eggs
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300 g
Wheat flour
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3 tbsp
Cocoa powder
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2 tsp
Vanilla extract
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2 tsp
Baking powder
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250 ml
Chocolate milk
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100 g
Milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
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Chocolate cream frosting
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100 g
Soft butter
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100 g
Icing sugar
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75 g
Chocolate, melted
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100 ml
Double cream
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Decoration
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75 g
Pretzel sticks
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White icing
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Instructions
Meringue ghosts
Chocolate cake
Chocolate cream frosting
Recipe tips
It’s often the small details that make the biggest impact in the kitchen, so we’re sharing the tips we rely on when cooking and creating recipes
If you want a light, fluffy texture in both your cake batter and frosting, make sure the butter is at room temperature. Start by beating the butter and sugar until it is smooth. Doing so adds air to the mix, which creates a tender crumb and smooth frosting. Remember to scrape down the bowl regularly so everything mixes evenly, and beat until the mixture is pale and fluffy. This will also make it much easier to spread the cream frosting over the cake.
Avoid overmixing the cake batter, as this can make your cake dense and chewy instead of light and crumbly. Start by beating the butter, sugar, and salt until fluffy to add air. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until each is fully incorporated. Once you add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, either mix on low speed or fold gently by hand just until the flour streaks disappear. Take care not to overmix when adding chopped chocolate; simply use as few strokes as possible.
Chilling the graveyard cake after baking makes decorating much easier. A chilled cake means fewer crumbs and a nice, firm base for the frosting. This firmness really helps when you are adding delicate decorations like meringue ghosts, keeping them from sliding around. Let the cake cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least an hour before you start decorating.
FAQ: Questions about graveyard cake
If you want to make sure your spooky graveyard cake turns out perfect, our FAQs are here to help. We provide answers to common questions, helping you master every ghostly detail.
How do I draw faces on the meringue ghosts?
To draw faces on meringue ghosts, first make sure the meringues have cooled completely after baking. Melt 10 g of dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or over a double boiler until smooth. Let the chocolate cool a bit so it is still liquid but not too hot. Dip a toothpick or a fine-tipped food-safe paintbrush into the melted chocolate. Carefully use it to draw two small dots for the eyes and an oval or curved line for the mouth on each meringue ghost. Let the chocolate set by leaving the meringues at room temperature.
How do I know when the meringue is stiff enough?
The meringue is stiff enough when it looks glossy and smooth. Lift the whisk; if the peaks stand up straight without drooping, you are good to go. Also, if you rub a bit of meringue between your fingers, it should feel smooth without any gritty sugar. And once piped onto baking paper, the meringue should keep its shape well, so your ghost shapes stay perfect.
Can I make the meringue ghosts ahead of time?
Yes, you can make meringue ghosts up to a week in advance. Once baked and cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Make sure the storage area is dry to keep the ghosts crisp, since moisture can make them sticky or chewy. Avoid refrigerating or freezing them; humidity damages their texture. If you are in a humid area, you might want to put a small packet of food-safe desiccant or some uncooked rice in cheesecloth inside the container to soak up any extra moisture. Decorate the ghosts with melted chocolate faces only after they have cooled completely. Place them on your graveyard cake just before serving, so they stay crisp and look great.
How can I pipe ghost shapes without a piping bag?
You can pipe the ghost shapes without a piping bag by using a freezer or zip-top bag instead. Fill the bag with your meringue mixture, then cut a 2 cm hole in one corner. Hold the bag vertically over the baking tray and squeeze gently, lifting upwards to create the ghost shapes. If you do not have a bag, use two spoons to scoop and shape the meringue into mounds on the tray, which will still bake into recognisable ghost shapes. Once baked and cooled, draw faces on the ghosts with melted chocolate using a toothpick.
Nutritional values
Nutritional value, per
6483 Kcal
| Fibre | - | 19 gram fibers |
| Protein | 4.7 | 74.7 gram |
| Fat | 44.8 | 328.1 gram |
| Carbohydrates | 50.5 | 806.7 gram |
Recommended information
Serving suggestion
Try our shockingly delicious graveyard cake
Bring some frightful fun to your Halloween celebration with this decadent graveyard cake. Beneath the playful decorations hides a rich, chocolate cake that is perfect for sharing at parties or serving as the grand finale to a Halloween feast. The cake is decorated with charming or scary meringue ghosts, depending on your tolerance for the macabre. But trust us, this is a hit every Halloween.
Moist and tender crumb with a gentle bite
The chocolate cake itself is deeply flavoured and wonderfully soft, thanks to the combination of butter, cocoa, and chocolate milk. The crumb is tender but holds together nicely when you cut into it, complementing the creamy frosting on top.
Every mouthful is rich and satisfying, with a subtle chew from the chopped milk chocolate folded into the batter. You will quickly appreciate that this treat is not all about looks; it is, first and foremost, an incredibly tasty cake.
With a smooth chocolate cream frosting
Spread the graveyard cake with a rich, velvety blanket of smooth chocolate frosting. Made with butter, melted chocolate, and a swirl of whipped cream, this frosting adds a luscious creaminess that clings to the cake. Its glossy finish makes it the perfect backdrop for your spooky decorations to come alive. This is the kind of frosting that makes you want to lick the spoon before it even reaches the cake.
Kid-friendly meringue ghosts and pretzel skeleton
Halloween treats should be as fun to make as they are to eat, and this graveyard cake truly delivers. The crisp meringue ghosts, each with its own cheeky chocolate face, float across the chocolate frosting graveyard ground. The pretzel-stick skeleton and fence add an unexpected salty crunch that balances the rich chocolate perfectly.
While being an obvious choice for Halloween, this cake also makes it suitable for horror-themed birthdays. Trust us, both children and adults will be delighted by its playful appearance.
To start you off with more Halloween recipes you can make with the whole family, try Halloween sausage fingers, witch finger cookies, and Halloween apples.
Decorate with more spooky monsters
Want to take your graveyard cake to the next level? Add edible gravestones made from biscuits, chocolate dirt made from crushed cookies, or even gummy worms peeking out from beneath the frosting or in between the ribs of the pretzel skeleton.
And instead of summoning meringue ghosts from the other side, you can replace them with white chocolate spiders made from melted chocolate and piped carefully together. Start gathering your ingredients and let this cake become your cherished Halloween tradition.
