If you’re looking for a Halloween cake that’s more cute than creepy, this pastel pumpkin cake is the one. With its sweet little smile and a crown of delicate flowers, it’s perfect for anyone who wants a more gentle take on spooky season. Here's how to make this cute Halloween cake!
Bake 4 layers of 6-inch round cake using your chosen recipe.
Once baked and cooled, level the tops so they're flat.
Chill the cakes in the fridge for easier stacking and shaping.
Stack and Carve the Pumpkin Shape
Stack the 4 layers with buttercream between each layer.
Use a serrated knife to gently carve the stacked cake into a rounded pumpkin shape - slightly domed at the top and tapering at the base.
Carve shallow vertical grooves around the cake to mimic the pumpkin's ridges. These don't have to be perfect.
Crumb Coat and Chill
Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of buttercream to seal in the crumbs.
Chill for 30 minutes to firm up.
Cover with White Fondant/Sugarpaste
Roll out white fondant large enough to cover the entire cake.
Drape it gently over the cake and smooth it down with your hands or fondant smoothers, paying attention to the pumpkin grooves.
Trim away any excess fondant at the base.
Add the Face
Roll out black fondant and cut out two curved eyelash shapes and a small smiling mouth. Use a small knife or templates if needed.
Attach the face to the front of the cake using edible glue or a dab of water.
Dust on a little pink petal dust for blush cheeks.
Make the Fondant Flowers and Leaves
Use the pastel fondant and small cutters to create a variety of flowers.
Add some simple leaves using green fondant - roll into a sausage shape and flatten, then indent with a tool or knife to create veins.
If you'd like a vine, roll out a thin coil of green fondant and curl it slightly before attaching.
Assemble the Decorations
Attach flowers and leaves around the top of the pumpkin using edible glue.
Place a fondant stem in the center top (you can build this from a shaped piece of green fondant).
Add a few flowers and leaves around the base of the cake for balance.
Finishing Touches
Place the cake on a cake board and add a name or message if you’d like.
Display on a pretty stand and get ready for compliments!
Notes
To get finer flowers, add a little Tylose powder to your fondant. This helps strengthen the fondant and you can roll it thinner. Make your flowers a day in advance and allow them to firm up on some shaped kitchen foil or baking paper overnight.