Frankenstein Cake

Name: Frankenstein Cake
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 10 serving(s)
Ingredients: Butter and flour, for pan; 2 c. all-purpose flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp (divided); 1/4 c. dark brown sugar; 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon; 1 1/4 c. granulated sugar; 3 large eggs, at room temp; 1/2 c. whole milk, at room temp; 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract; 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temp; 4 tbsp. (1/4 cup) cream cheese, at room temp; 1 lb. confectioners’ sugar; Pinch salt; 1 tbsp. heavy cream, at room temp; Black, red and green gel food coloring; 1 c. mini chocolate chips, for hair; Chocolate sandwich cookies, for eyes; Brown M&M’s or chocolate chips, for pupils; Black frosting, for scars, eyebrows and mouth; Mini chocolate sandwich cookie, for nose; Licorice rods, for bolts; White chocolate curls, for hair; Mini chocolate sandwich cookies, for eyes and ears; Black frosting, for pupils, eyelashes and scars; Mini chocolate chips, for hair; Red frosting, for mouth

Beware! You can't resist this tasty cake.

By The Good Housekeeping Test KitchenPublished: Aug 6, 2020

Jump to recipe

Mike Garten

Yields:

10 serving(s)

Total Time:

2 hrs 15 mins

Make these monstrous cinnamon swirl cakes come to life with food coloring in the cream cheese frosting and creepy candy decorations. Have no fear, this delicious Halloween cake is fun and easy to make!

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Ingredients

For each cake

Butter and flour, for pan
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp (divided)
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temp
1/2 cup whole milk, at room temp
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

For frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temp
4 Tbsp. (1/4 cup) cream cheese, at room temp
1 lb. confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Pinch salt
1 Tbsp. heavy cream, at room temp
Black, red and green gel food coloring

For Frankenstein

1 cup mini chocolate chips, for hair
Chocolate sandwich cookies, for eyes
Brown M&M’s or chocolate chips, for pupils
Black frosting, for scars, eyebrows and mouth
Mini chocolate sandwich cookie, for nose
Licorice rods, for bolts

For Bride of Frankenstein

White chocolate curls, for hair
Mini chocolate sandwich cookies, for eyes and ears
Black frosting, for pupils, eyelashes and scars
Mini chocolate chips, for hair
Red frosting, for mouth

Directions

Make cake
1. Step 1Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 81/2- by 4-in. loaf pan with butter. Add some flour and tap and rotate pan, to lightly coat. Tap off excess.
2. Step 2In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Step 3In medium bowl, melt 2 Tbsp butter, then stir in brown sugar and cinnamon.
4. Step 4In large bowl, using electric mixer, beat together remaining 14 Tbsp butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, 3 min. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well between each addition. Add vanilla.
5. Step 5In three additions, alternate adding flour and milk, beating until just combined.
6. Step 6Add 3/4 cup batter to bowl with cinnamon mixture, stirring until just combined. Add half of remaining batter to prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Add cinnamon batter and spread in even layer. Add remaining vanilla batter and spread evenly. Using mini offset spatula or bread knife, swirl figure-eight pattern in cake.
7. Step 7Bake until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 70 to 75 min. Let cool 10 min. before inverting onto wire rack to cool completely. For fewer crumbs when decorating, chill cake at least an hour before frosting
Make frosting
1. Step 1In large bowl, using electric mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until smooth (do not overbeat). Add confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and salt and beat on low speed to fully combine. If mixture is not spreadable, add cream, 1/2 Tbsp at a time. If not using immediately, cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Frosting should be brought to room temp before using and can be gently softened in microwave at 50% power in short bursts.
To decorate
1. Step 1Place chilled cake on serving platter. Lightly coat in 1/2 cup frosting, smoothing sides and edges with offset spatula. Refrigerate at least 20 min.
2. Step 2Meanwhile, in small bowl, tint 1/4 cup frosting black. In second bowl, tint 1/4 cup frosting red (for bride only). Transfer both frostings to piping bags fitted with size 2 or 3 tips. In third bowl, tint remaining frosting green.
3. Step 3Cover cake in green frosting, smoothing all over (save a little for nose). While frosting is still sticky, use mini chocolate chips to create hair.
4. Step 4For Frankenstein: For eyes, separate cookies and cut cream side in half; top with chocolate pupils. Using black frosting, pipe scars, eyebrows and mouth. Place mini cookie for nose and cover in remaining green frosting. Gently press licorice rods into side of cake for bolts.
5. Step 5For Bride: Add white chocolate curls to hair. Separate 2 mini cookies and place cream sides out for eyeballs; use some black frosting for pupils. Cut one mini cookie in half and use for ears, gently pressing into sides of cake. Use black frosting to make eyelashes and scar. Use red frosting to make mouth.