by Susanne Myers

A Halloween cake is not only the perfect dessert for any Halloween party, but it can also make a great centerpiece. Here are two simple, yet impressive Halloween cakes that you can try this year.

Pumpkin Cake

You will need three boxes of white or yellow cake mix, along with the additional ingredients like oil and eggs the box calls for. Prepare the batter as directed. Pour it into two bunt pans and bake according to the package directions. Allow the cake to cool completely.

Meanwhile, combine two to three cans of vanilla frosting in a bowl. You can probably make do with two cans, but if you prefer being able to work out any unevenness, or fix fingerprints made by little hands, go with three cans.

Add enough red and yellow food coloring to the frosting to turn it bright orange. Spread some of the frosting only on the flat side one of the cooled bunt cakes. Set the other one on top of it flat side down and you have a pumpkin shape. Use the rest of the frosting mixture to frost the entire cake.

Use black icing to draw a carved pumpkin design on the cake. Some triangular shapes for the eyes and nose, as well as a large half moon shape will do the trick.

Spider Cake

Start with a boxed mix of devil’s food cake (or your favorite chocolate cake mix). Prepare the batter and bake it in two round pans according to the package instructions. Let it cool on a rack.

Scoop two cans of vanilla frosting into a large bowl and add enough green and yellow food coloring to turn it into a spooky green color. Spread a layer of frosting between the two cake rounds and put them together. Use the rest to frost the entire outside of the cake.

Use black icing to draw a spider web on the top of the cake. Start by drawing lines across the top. Imagine the top of the cake is a clock. Draw a line from 12 to six, then another from nine to three. Fill in the spaces with two more lines. Then, start working on the circles starting in the center of the cake and working your way out toward the edge.

Take a chocolate muffin, cut off the bottom and frost the top of it with chocolate frosting. Roll the frosted side in chocolate sprinkles and place it in the center of the spider web on the cake. Add four pieces of black licorice to each side as legs. Draw eyes with two white icing dots.

Now all you’ll need is a spooky costume and you will be ready for an impressive Halloween party.