Description

Indulge in the festive spirit of Halloween with this High Altitude Ginger Chocolate Skull Cake! This delightful dessert combines the warmth of ginger with rich chocolate flavor, creating a unique and spooktacular centerpiece for any gathering. With its fluffy texture and eye-catching skull decorations, this cake is not only delicious but also fun to serve, making it perfect for Halloween parties or any time you want to impress your guests. Adjusted for high altitude baking, this recipe ensures you achieve the perfect rise and flavor, regardless of where you are.

Ingredients

Scale

3 1/4 cups cake flour
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp coarse Kosher salt
1 tbsp ground ginger
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups unsalted butter (for frosting)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup unsweetened Dutch processed cocoa powder
1 tbsp meringue powder (optional)
1/4 tsp coarse Kosher salt
2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
2 tbsp milk or cream (if needed for consistency)
12 oz chocolate candy melts (for decoration)
1–2 tbsp solid coconut oil (if needed to thin the chocolate)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two round baking pans with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground ginger.
In another bowl, mix eggs, egg whites, whole milk, apple cider vinegar, light brown sugar, melted butter, vegetable oil, and vanilla until combined.
Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ingredients using an electric mixer until just blended.
Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cakes cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
For frosting, beat softened butter until creamy, then gradually incorporate powdered sugar and cocoa powder until smooth.
Frost cooled cakes and decorate with melted chocolate candy melts as desired.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 85g)
Calories: 360
Sugar: 28g
Sodium: 220mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 14g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 60mg

Keywords: For added flavor variations, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or using dark chocolate cocoa powder in the frosting. This cake can easily be made vegan by substituting eggs with flaxseed meal mixed with water and using plant-based milk.