Jack O Lantern Cake Recipe

I love baking fun treats for Halloween, and nothing grabs attention like a Jack O Lantern Cake.

If you want to make a cake that looks just like a classic carved pumpkin, this cake recipe is easy to follow and perfect for parties.

With simple ingredients and basic steps, I can show you how to create a moist cake that looks great and tastes delicious.

Making a Jack O Lantern cake is a great way to add spooky fun to your Halloween dessert table.

Kids and adults will enjoy how festive the cake looks.

You don’t need any fancy tools to get that pumpkin shape.

Why I Love Them

Making a Jack O Lantern Cake always makes me smile.

It combines baking with a little creativity, which makes it extra fun for me.

I love how these cakes bring a special touch to any Halloween party.

When guests walk in and see a cake shaped like a classic Jack O Lantern, their faces light up.

One thing I like is how easy it is to decorate one.

I can use simple candy, colored frosting, or even fruit to make the face.

It’s a project that lets me be creative without needing fancy tools.

I enjoy baking this cake with kids or friends.

We all get to design our own faces, and everyone feels included.

It’s a great way to laugh and share time together.

Equipment

Making a Jack O Lantern Cake is easier if I have the right tools.

Here’s what I use:

• Two 8-inch round cake pans
• Mixing bowls (at least two)
• Electric mixer or whisk
• Rubber spatula
• Offset spatula or butter knife
• Serrated knife (for trimming)
• Wire cooling rack
• Piping bags and tips
• Measuring cups and spoons

Using a wire cooling rack helps my cake cool evenly.

I like to use a serrated knife to shape the cake.

It also helps me get smooth, straight edges.

A piping bag lets me decorate the Jack O Lantern face.

If I don’t have one, I can cut a small hole in the corner of a plastic bag.

Ingredients

When I make my Jack O Lantern Cake, I gather all the basics first.

I use a boxed spice cake mix as my main base. This makes the cake soft and full of fall flavors.

For extra pumpkin flavor, I add a small can of pumpkin puree.

It gives the cake more moisture.

I also use egg whites for a lighter texture.

Here’s a quick list of what I need:

• 1 box spice cake mix
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting is important for the Jack O Lantern look.

I use orange frosting for the outside and a little vanilla frosting for details.

To make the cake bright orange, I like to add a few drops of orange food coloring to my frosting.

For the face, I use chocolate chips and sometimes mini marshmallows for the eyes or teeth.

If I want the frosting a little sweeter, I sift a bit of powdered sugar in.

This helps the frosting hold its shape too.

Here’s a quick ingredient table:

Ingredient	Amount
Spice cake mix	1 box
Pumpkin puree	1 cup
Egg whites	3
Water	1/2 cup
Oil	1/2 cup
Vanilla extract	1 tsp
Orange frosting	1-2 cups
Vanilla frosting	1/2 cup
Chocolate chips	Handful
Marshmallow	Few pieces
Orange food coloring	As needed
Powdered sugar	1/4 cup

Having these ingredients ready makes decorating easy and fun.

Instructions

First, I preheat my oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two round cake pans.

This makes sure my cake layers won’t stick.

In a large bowl, I mix the cake batter by combining flour, sugar, eggs, melted butter, and a pinch of salt.

I pour the batter evenly into the pans.

I tap the pans gently to smooth out the batter before placing them in the oven.

I bake the cake for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Then, I remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool completely.

While the cakes cool, I start on the buttercream frosting.

I whip unsalted butter with powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

I beat until I see stiff peaks form in the frosting.

This helps create a smooth and thick buttercream.

Once the cake layers are cool, I carefully spread a thin layer of frosting between them.

I then stack the cakes to create the pumpkin shape.

To finish, I cover the whole cake with orange-colored buttercream frosting using a spatula.

I use green frosting for the stem and details.

For a fun touch, I draw a jack o’ lantern face with black icing or melted chocolate.

Substitute

If I don’t have some ingredients for my Jack O Lantern Cake, I use substitutes that work just as well.

For flour, I sometimes swap in whole wheat flour if I want more fiber.

If I need a gluten-free option, I use a gluten-free flour blend.

If I run out of pumpkin puree, I can use mashed sweet potato or butternut squash instead.

They have a similar texture and taste, so the cake still turns out great.

For the orange color in the frosting, I like to use a few drops of orange food coloring.

If I don’t have it, I mix red and yellow food coloring to make orange.

If someone is allergic to dairy, I choose plant-based milk and dairy-free butter.

These work well and don’t change the flavor too much.

When I want the cake to have stronger pumpkin spice flavor, I mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger if I don’t have pumpkin pie spice.

What Can Go Wrong?

Sometimes, my cake sinks in the center. This usually happens if I open the oven door too early or, honestly, forget to check if my baking powder’s fresh.

I try to remember to check my ingredients before I start.

If my cake sticks to the pan, it’s almost always because I forgot to grease and flour it. Forgetting that step? Happens more often than I’d like to admit.

Now, I double-check before pouring in the batter.

Frosting can be tricky. If it’s runny, I’ve probably added too much milk. When it’s too thick, I just add a splash more milk and hope for the best.

Getting the texture just right makes decorating so much easier, but sometimes it’s a bit of a guessing game.

Colors can mix together if I rush. I have to let the cake cool all the way before adding orange or green icing.

Clean piping bags for each color help too, even if it’s a bit of a hassle.

---