Description
A spooky and decadent Brain Cake perfect for Halloween, featuring moist red velvet cake layers, rich pink cream cheese buttercream, and a raspberry jam ‘blood’ filling for an eerie finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour (300g)
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (10g)
- 1 tsp baking soda (6g)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (350g)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature (112g)
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, room temperature (300g)
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil (120g)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (8g)
- 1 tsp white vinegar (4g)
- 1 tsp red gel food coloring (or 1 Tbsp liquid food coloring)
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature (339g)
- 1 cup (8 oz) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature (226g)
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (12g)
- 1 tsp fine salt (6g)
- 7 cups powdered sugar (904g or a 2lb. bag)
- 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream, room temperature (45g)
- Small squirt of red gel food coloring (or 1 tsp liquid food coloring)
Filling Ingredients
- 1/2 cup seedless raspberry or strawberry jam
- 3 Tbsp water (45g)
- [1/4 tsp red gel food coloring or 1 tsp liquid food coloring – optional]
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your cake pans or line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together cake flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and fine salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the room temperature unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then mix in vanilla extract, white vinegar, and red food coloring until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently to combine without overmixing.
- Add Oil and Mix: Stir in the vegetable or canola oil until the batter is smooth and well incorporated.
- Pour and Bake: Divide the batter evenly between prepared cake pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Cakes: Remove cakes from oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract, fine salt, and gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud. Once incorporated, beat in heavy whipping cream and red food coloring until a smooth, pink buttercream is achieved.
- Prepare Jam Filling: Mix seedless raspberry or strawberry jam with water and optional red food coloring to create a blood-like consistency.
- Assemble the Cake: Level the cooled cake layers if needed. Place the first layer on your cake board or plate, spread a layer of jam filling over the top, then frost with buttercream. Repeat layering with subsequent cake layers.
- Carve Brain Shape: Using a serrated knife, carefully carve the stacked cake into a brain-like shape with lobes.
- Frost and Detail Cake: Cover the entire cake with a crumb coat of buttercream and chill briefly. Then pipe or spread remaining buttercream in brain-like ridges over the cake, adding detail and texture.
- Final Touches: Use extra red gel food coloring or jam around the base or in crevices to simulate blood for added spooky effect.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the assembled brain cake for at least an hour to set before serving. Bring to room temperature before slicing for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This brain cake is perfect for Halloween or spooky-themed parties.
- Using cream cheese in the buttercream adds richness and tang that complements the red velvet cake.
- Be careful when carving the cake to achieve a realistic brain shape.
- The raspberry or strawberry jam adds a delicious ‘blood’ effect inside the cake.
- Red gel food coloring is preferred for vibrant color without thinning the batter or frosting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 85g)
- Calories: 596 kcal
- Sugar: 60 g
- Sodium: 333 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 77 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 89 mg
