Checkerboard Halloween Cake

Checkerboard Cake with  Carrara Chefanie Sheet.

Checkerboard Cake with Carrara Chefanie Sheet.

Your guests are sure to check this cake again once they see the inside! The recipe was inspired by Smitten Kitchen’s Best Birthday Cake.

RECIPE

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups & 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick butter 
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • black and orange food dye (can add 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder to half of mixture instead of black dye)

Buttercream Frosting:

  • 4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • (upt to) 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  • Prepare 2, 6-inch cake pans by spraying with Pam.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Then beat in vanilla.
  • Beat in eggs one at a time. 
  • Gradually add in buttermilk until just combined. 
  • Slowly add flour mixture until completely smooth. 
  • Divide batter equally among 2 separate bowls and add food dye to each bowl to make orange (red + yellow food coloring) and black (add all colors together and some cocoa powder to get it as dark as possible) cake batter. 
  • Pour 6 tbsp of batter into prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
  • While cakes are in the oven, whisk together ingredients for buttercream frosting until fluffy.
  • With the mixer running on low, add confections' sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.
  • Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes.
  • Taste. Add an extra pinch of salt if needed.
  • Remove cakes from oven a& allow to cool for 15 minutes and then remove from pans. 
  • Place cakes in fridge for at least 30 minutes, or until they feel cold and firm.
  • Using a serrated knife, cut off the bumps of the cakes, so they are flat.
  • Cut the orange & black cakes horizontally to create 2 layers. Cut each layer into circles (large, medium, and small).
  • Place one medium black ring into the large orange ring. Cover the center of the black ring with an orange circle. Repeat with other rings.
  • Place a layer of black outside ring color on flat surface like a cake pad or cake stand. Spread buttercream.
  • Place a layer of orange outside ring color on top. Spread buttercream.
  • Place a layer of black outside ring color on top. Spread buttercream.
  • Finish with the orange outside ring color. Spread buttercream on the top & sides of the cake.
  • Apply #ChefanieSheet & enjoy!

Note: this cake serves 6.

Active Time 30 minutes. Total Time1 hour.


Featured collection