This week's Halloween treat brought to you by a Sneaky Snake cake. I adapted this recipe from countryliving.com and an article on impressive halloween cakes.
A white cake layered with simple vanilla buttercream frosting and black sanding sugar to resemble that sneaky snake! It was super duper fun to make and somewhat challenging as I am not an expert in stenciling cakes yet!
Halloween is almost here!
I can't believe Halloween is almost here! Only a few weeks away, but my kids remind me everyday! I can't help be a sucker for this holiday as well! Halloween costumes are almost all bought, scary movies are in full effect in our home, and of course candy, candy, candy!
So trying my hand at this sneaky snake cake was super fun. I love a good challenge and cake stenciling was interesting. Practice make perfect, so as Dory would say, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!"
Ingredients
- 1 box of cake: I used white cake, but any flavor will do.
- 4 large egg whites
- Water
- Vegetable oil
- Unsalted butter
- Confectioner's sugar
- Salt
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla extract
- Wilton Black sanding sugar
Step by step instructions
First, make the cake according to the directions on the box. Once it is baked, level and torte it. Place it on a cake plate.
Second, make the buttercream frosting. Layer the entire cake in frosting. Set aside.
Third, cut out the snake template and place it on top of the cake. Add the sanding sugar and using the back of the spoon, push it down into the cake. Freeze the cake for 15 minutes and then take it out. Peel away the template and then your cake is complete!
Serve and enjoy!
Tools needed for a sneaky snake cake
- Electric and stand mixer
- Two 9 inch round cake pans
- Snake template
- Cake turntable
- Offset spatula
Tips and tricks
- You can use any boxed cake flavor from the store or even use homemade as well
- I used black sanding sugar but black non-perils can be used as well
- Other snake templates can be used along with making a different size of cake. Other templates that are free online include this one and this one!
- I used a template cut out of parchment paper, but you can also use stencil paper to make a snake.
Substitutions and variations
- Use a different flavor of cake
- Substitute with a different color of sanding sugar and buttercream frosting
- Use bigger eyes on the snake
FAQ's
In an airtight container for 3-5 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Sneaky Snake cake
Equipment
- Electric hand mixer
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- spatula
- Offset spatula
- 2 9 in round cake pans
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ox White cake mix
- 4 large egg whites
- 1¼ cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
Vanilla buttercream frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Garnishes
- ½ cup black sugar
Instructions
White cake mix
- Preheat oven to 350 °. Grease two 9 inch round cake pans and place a parchment round on the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
- Prepare the white cake mix as directed on the box. Add to both cake pans evenly.
- Bake for 30 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes and then put on cooling rack to complete cooling.
Vanilla buttercream frosting
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium for 1-2 minutes until fluffy. Slowly add in the confectioner's sugar, salt, heavy cream and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy and you reach your desired consistency.
Assembly of the sneaky snake cake
- Level and torte both cakes. Place one cake on a cake board. Add a dollop of frosting in the center and spread evenly. Place the other cake on top. Apply a crumb coating to the outside. Put in fridge for 15 minutes.
- Take cake out of the fridge and apply the rest of the buttercream frosting. Center the snake stencil atop the cake and gently smooth flat. Fill in the stencil with the black sugar, pressing them softly into the icing with the back of a spoon. Chill the cake in the freezer for 15-20 minutes, then carefully remove the stencil.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Halloween treats to enjoy!
- Halloween sugar cookies
- Hocus Pocus Candy bark
- Monster mash whoopi pies
- Frankenstein Brookie cups
Fun fact of the day!
The white house is haunted! For all you political lovers out there!
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