If you’re looking to surprise your guests with a spine-chilling dessert this Halloween, Cemetery Cake is your best bet. It combines rich, moist chocolate cake with eerie edible decorations to create a graveyard-themed masterpiece that looks hauntingly good and tastes even better. Whether you’re throwing a party or want to impress your kids, this cake will rise to the occasion, pun intended.
What Is Cemetery Cake?
Cemetery Cake is a Halloween-themed chocolate cake decorated to resemble a spooky graveyard. It features crushed cookies resembling soil, cookie tombstones, and candy accents like gummy worms and candy pumpkins. This cake not only captures the festive spirit of Halloween but also delivers a deep, satisfying chocolate flavor that appeals to both kids and adults.
Cemetery Cake Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake Base:
- 1 box (18.25 oz) devil’s food cake mix
- 1⅓ cups water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
For the Frosting and Topping:
- 1½ cups vanilla frosting (store-bought or homemade)
- 10 oz crushed Oreo cookies (remove filling before crushing)
- 6–10 Milano or oval cookies for tombstones
- Black decorating gel or edible marker for writing
- Gummy worms, candy pumpkins, candy bones for decoration
- Optional: green colored sugar or sprinkles for grass effect
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Cake Base
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine the devil’s food cake mix with water, oil, and eggs. Use an electric mixer to beat the mixture until smooth—about 2 minutes. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before decorating.
2. Apply the Frosting
Spread a thick, even layer of vanilla frosting over the cooled cake. You can use an offset spatula for smooth coverage. This frosting acts as the base for your “dirt” and decorations.
3. Add the Crushed Cookies
Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies generously over the frosted cake. These crumbs simulate the look of graveyard soil, giving your cake its creepy character.
4. Decorate the Graveyard
Write “RIP” or other spooky messages on the Milano cookies using black decorating gel or an edible marker. Insert these cookie tombstones upright into the cake. Next, arrange gummy worms, candy bones, and pumpkins around the tombstones. Sprinkle green sugar in random spots to mimic grass patches. You can even place a plastic skeleton or toy hand sticking out of the cake for added creep factor.
Variations to Try
Grave Mounds: Shape small mounds of extra cake crumbs and place them in front of each tombstone to simulate freshly dug graves.
Marshmallow Ghosts: Use mini marshmallows and black gel to create tiny ghosts floating between the tombstones.
Red Velvet Twist: Swap the devil’s food cake with red velvet cake for a “bloody” surprise when sliced.
Pumpkin Spice Base: For a seasonal flavor, add pumpkin puree and spices to the cake mix.
Tips for a Perfect Cemetery Cake
- Stability First: Make sure the cake is completely cool before frosting and decorating. Warm cake can cause frosting to melt and decorations to slide.
- Crush With Caution: Use a food processor or seal Oreo cookies in a zip-lock bag and crush them using a rolling pin for a clean crumb texture.
- Tombstones That Stand Tall: Dip the base of the cookie tombstones in frosting before inserting them into the cake to help them stay upright.
- Make It Ahead: This cake holds up well when made a day in advance. Just store it covered at room temperature, and add delicate candies right before serving to keep them fresh.
Why Cemetery Cake is a Halloween Favorite
This cake is a crowd-pleaser for many reasons. It’s visually impactful, customizable, and easy to make. Even beginner bakers can pull it off with confidence. It’s also a great project to involve kids in—let them handle the decorations while you handle the baking.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Cemetery Cake at room temperature with a glass of cold milk or warm apple cider. If you’re hosting a Halloween dinner, pair it with savory dishes like mummy meatballs or pumpkin chili for a full festive meal. For an adult twist, offer it with a pumpkin spice latte or Irish coffee.
Storing and Leftovers
Wrap leftover cake with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. It stays fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days or can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Decorations may soften over time, so if you’re planning to serve it over multiple days, keep extra candy on hand to refresh the look.
Cemetery Cake vs. Other Halloween Cakes
Compared to generic Halloween-themed cakes, Cemetery Cake stands out due to its interactive and thematic design. It tells a story. It’s more than just a dessert, it’s a spooky scene you can eat. Unlike cupcakes or cookies, this cake offers a full canvas for your creative expression. It’s ideal for larger gatherings, making it a practical yet impressive option.
If Halloween is your favorite holiday and you want to serve something spooky and sweet, the Cemetery Cake is the ultimate choice. It’s easy enough for home bakers, exciting for kids, and spooky enough to set the tone for your Halloween party. Plus, it’s delicious—what more could you want from a themed dessert?
Try it this Halloween and create a creepy, chocolatey masterpiece that will be remembered long after the ghosts and goblins are gone.
Easy Cemetery Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 box 18.25 oz devil’s food cake mix
- 1⅓ cups water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
For the Frosting and Topping:
- 1½ cups vanilla frosting
- 10 oz Oreo cookies crushed (filling removed)
- 6 –10 Milano or oval cookies for tombstones
- Black decorating gel or edible marker
- Gummy worms candy pumpkins, bones
- Optional: green sugar sprinkles for grass
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine the devil’s food cake mix with water, oil, and eggs. Use an electric mixer to beat the mixture until smooth—about 2 minutes. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before decorating.
- Spread a thick, even layer of vanilla frosting over the cooled cake. You can use an offset spatula for smooth coverage. This frosting acts as the base for your “dirt” and decorations.
- Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies generously over the frosted cake. These crumbs simulate the look of graveyard soil, giving your cake its creepy character.
- Write “RIP” or other spooky messages on the Milano cookies using black decorating gel or an edible marker. Insert these cookie tombstones upright into the cake. Next, arrange gummy worms, candy bones, and pumpkins around the tombstones. Sprinkle green sugar in random spots to mimic grass patches. You can even place a plastic skeleton or toy hand sticking out of the cake for added creep factor.
Notes
- Use extra cake crumbs to create small grave mounds.
- Secure tombstones with extra frosting.
- Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.