Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Cake

Written By Sydney Melrose

~ This is cake decorating/assembly instructions, not a recipe. ~

 

Step into the whimsical world of a Beetlejuice cake, an ideal Halloween centerpiece! Featuring black and white stripes, graham cracker "sand," and a grave, this cake dazzles with spooky charm using only natural ingredients. It's the perfect addition to your Halloween festivities.

 

A few items to incorporate and avoid when baking:

Healthy Swaps to Incorporate:

  • High Quality Buttercream (preferably homemade so you can control the texture)

  • High Quality White Chocolate

  • Natural Food Coloring/Food Powders

Ingredients to Avoid:

  • Seed Oils or Vegetable Oils

  • Artificial Food Dyes

By making these simple ingredient swaps, you’ll definitely notice a difference in taste and quality!

 

Tips

  1. Crumb Coat Importance: Apply a thin crumb coat to seal in loose crumbs, creating a smooth base for your final frosting layer. This helps achieve a cleaner finish and prevents crumbs from marring the exterior design.

  2. Chill Your Cake: After applying the crumb coat, chill the cake in the fridge for about 10 minutes. This helps the buttercream set, making it easier to spread the next layer smoothly.

  3. Start with Black Buttercream: Begin by applying the black buttercream to your cake. Since it's darker and can be messier, this allows you to perfect the darker stripes first before filling in with the lighter vanilla.

  4. Use a Striped Cake Scraper: For crisp, even stripes, use a scraper designed for creating patterns. This ensures each line is straight and helps adjust any imperfections before adding the next color.

  5. Piping Bag Tips for Grass: When piping grass, fill the piping bag with small amounts of frosting. This prevents your hands from warming the frosting and losing texture. Keep an ice pack nearby to keep your hands cool while piping.

  6. Create a Realistic Grave Scene: After digging the cake for the grave, crumble the removed cake as "soil" next to the grave. This extra detail enhances the effect of freshly dug earth.

  7. Perfect the Chocolate Drip: Use a piping bag to control the flow and ensure a neat drip effect. Avoid liquid food coloring in your chocolate drip to prevent it from seizing—use natural powders instead.

  8. Frosting Consistency: Ensure your buttercream is the right consistency—not too stiff, so it spreads easily, and not too soft, so it holds its shape for the stripes and grass.

  9. Planning and Patience: Take your time with each step and plan your design. Allow each element to set properly, ensuring a beautiful final presentation.

Baking Supplies

Ingredients

 

Assembly Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Cake Layers

  • Begin by placing a cake drum on your cake stand to support your cake structure.

  • Stack four to five chocolate cake layers, spreading green frosting (or any desired frosting and filling) between each layer for a burst of color and flavor.

Step 2: Crumb Coat the Cake

  • Use a cake scraper and a spinning cake stand to apply a thin crumb coat around the entire cake. Hold the scraper at a 45° angle and spin the cake to remove excess frosting.

  • The crumb coat seals in any loose crumbs, providing a smooth surface for the final layer of frosting.

  • Refrigerate the cake for about 10 minutes to let the buttercream harden, making it easier to apply the next layer smoothly.

Step 3: Create Striped Frosting Design

  • Use a piping bag to pipe chocolate frosting stripes evenly around the cake.

  • Employ a cake scraper designed for stripes to ensure the lines are straight and adjust the frosting as necessary to perfect the black stripes.

  • Fill in the gaps with white buttercream using the same process, then use a straight-edge cake scraper to smooth out excess frosting, revealing crisp black and white stripes.

Step 4: Add Green Drip

  • Prepare a green chocolate drip by mixing melted white chocolate with matcha/natural green powder and a yellow powder in order to achieve a lime green color (avoid liquid colors to prevent seizing). Use a piping bag to carefully drip the green chocolate around the cake's edges.

Step 5: Create the Grave and Grass

  • Dig out a small hole on the top of the cake where the grave will be placed and set aside the removed cake pieces. Crumble these pieces to resemble soil, which will be used later for the dirt pile.

  • Prepare dark green frosting and use a grass piping tip to pipe short grass around the dugout grave section. Add a little frosting to the piping bag at a time to prevent it from becoming soft and losing texture. Refrigerate as needed.

  • Once the grass is piped, stack the crumbled cake pieces in a pile next to the gravestone to mimic freshly dug soil.

Step 6: Craft the Gravestone

  • Mix melted white chocolate with black cocoa powder to create a light gray color.

  • Pour the mixture into a gravestone-shaped cookie cutter on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Tap to flatten and freeze for about 10 minutes.

  • Once hardened, carefully remove the gravestone from the cutter and use a black edible pen to add any desired inscriptions. You can also use a knife to carve cracks into the gravestone.

Step 7: Add Finishing Touches

  • Place the gravestone at the head of the dugout grave, and lean the plastic spoon shovel against it to enhance the grave effect.

  • Crush graham crackers to create "sand" and sprinkle around the cake for added texture.

  • Complete the look with a fondant or plastic sandworm, adding an extra layer of fun and flair to your Beetlejuice-themed cake.

 

How to Store Your Cake

On the Counter:

  • If you plan to serve the cake within a day, you can store it at room temperature.

  • Cover it with a cake dome or an inverted large bowl to protect it from dust and keep it moist.

  • Ensure the cake is kept in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

In the Fridge:

  • For storage longer than a day, place the cake in the refrigerator.

  • Wrap it gently with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out or absorbing other fridge odors. If the cake is decorated, consider using a cake container to protect the design.

  • Allow the cake to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour before serving to come back to its best texture and flavor.

In the Freezer:

  • If you need to store the cake for an extended period, you can freeze it.

  • Before freezing, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, to protect against freezer burn and preserve freshness.

  • To freeze individual slices, separate them with wax or parchment paper and store them in an airtight container or freezer bag.

  • The cake can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, place it in the fridge overnight or for several hours. Allow it to reach room temperature before serving for the best taste.

 
 

I hope this Beetlejuice cake brings as much joy to your kitchen as it has to me. With its viral success across Instagram and Pinterest, it’s a testament to the creative fun you can have with baking. Armed with these tips and tricks, I'm confident you'll craft a cake that's both visually stunning and delicious. Enjoy the process, embrace the playful theme, and most importantly, have fun making this whimsical dessert. I can’t wait to see your unique creations come to life!

sydney x

Sydney Melrose
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