Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year because not only is it our Wedding Anniversary, but it also brings out the fun, silly, and creative side of baking. James and I love watching Ariya and Cameron get excited about spooky treats, and this Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake was such a hit at our house. It looks impressive, but it’s honestly so easy to make with just a couple of round cakes, some frosting, and a little creativity. When Ariya saw the cake decorated like a black cat with big candy-colored eyes, she gasped, and Cameron couldn’t wait to get into the chocolate frosting lol This recipe is a perfect way to bake with kids or surprise everyone at your next Halloween party.

Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake on serving tray sitting on table

What is This Recipe?

This Easy Halloween Cat Cut Out Cake is a fun, shaped cake that starts with two 8-inch round chocolate cakes. By cutting and arranging the cakes into simple shapes, you can form the cat’s head, ears, tail, and body. Then, it’s all about decorating with chocolate frosting and colorful accents to bring the cat to life. It’s beginner-friendly, doesn’t require fancy cake-decorating tools, and turns an ordinary chocolate cake into a centerpiece-worthy Halloween dessert. This cake looks impressive but is surprisingly approachable. Whether you’re baking it for a Halloween party, a classroom treat, or simply a cozy night at home watching movies, it’s the type of recipe that makes kids smile and adults say, “Wow, you made that?” But don’t worry—I’ll walk you through why this cake works, how to make it ahead, and all my favorite tricks for getting it perfect every time.

Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake on a serving tray on table with some candy corn to the side

Why This Recipe Works

Uses simple shapes: No carving skills needed—just a few easy cuts.
Kid-friendly: Kids can help with the frosting and decorating.
Flexible decorating: Change the colors, add sprinkles, or even candy for details.
Show-stopping presentation: It looks like something from a bakery, but it’s homemade.
Budget-friendly: Uses a boxed cake mix and pantry basics—no need for expensive tools.

Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of the year to bake something fun, whimsical, and a little bit spooky. My husband James looks forward to all the sweet treats I test in the kitchen, my daughter Ariya loves the silly decorations and bright colors, and Cameron—who is still little but already curious about everything I’m doing—just loves being part of the fun (even if it’s just “helping” by banging on the mixing bowls while I work). That’s what makes recipes like this Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake so special. It’s not just about cake—it’s about traditions, memories, and baking something that feels as playful as the season itself.

ingredients for making Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake in containers sitting on the wooden table

Ingredient Breakdown: What They Do

For the cake itself, you can go homemade or box mix—both work. Here’s the breakdown:

Cake Mix or Homemade Cake Batter: The structure of your black cat cake. Chocolate or devil’s food works beautifully because the deep color peeks through even if you don’t tint the frosting jet black.
Eggs, Oil/Butter, Water or Milk: Standard cake mix add-ins for moisture and lift. Using milk instead of water gives a richer flavor.
Black Gel Food Coloring (for frosting): Gel food coloring works best for getting a deep, rich black without thinning out the frosting.
Butter & Powdered Sugar (for frosting): These create the base of your buttercream. Smooth, spreadable, and sturdy enough to hold details.
Vanilla Extract: Balances the sweetness and adds depth.
Candy Eyes or White Chocolate Chips: For the cat’s eyes—these make decorating simple and fun.
Pink Candy Melt or Frosting: For the nose. A little pop of color brings your cat to life.
Sprinkles (optional): A fun way to jazz up the background if you’re serving this at a party.

round cake being cut into pieces to shape into a cat

Step-by-Step Photo Guide: How to Assemble the Black Cat Cake

One of the things that makes this Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake so fun is that it looks incredibly impressive on the table, but the assembly is simple once you see it laid out. I’ve broken it down into clear steps below so you can follow along and get picture-perfect results.

Bake Two Round Cakes

Bake two standard 8-inch chocolate cakes (or whichever cake you love best).
Let them cool completely before cutting, otherwise, the crumbs will make assembly messy.
Cut One Cake into Ears and Tail
Place one cake on a flat surface.
Slice two small football-shaped wedges from the top half — these will become the cat ears.
Use the bottom crescent piece as the tail.

Position the Cat Shape

Place the full, uncut round cake in the center of your serving board or platter.
Add the two ear cutouts to the top of the cake.
Attach the crescent-shaped tail to the side, angled slightly outward for a playful curve.

Frost the Cat

Generously frost the entire cake with black frosting (tinted with black gel food coloring for that deep Halloween look).
Smooth it out with a spatula or leave swirls for texture—it looks great both ways.

Add Details

Use candy, frosting, or sprinkles for the cat’s eyes, nose, and whiskers.
Green or yellow M&Ms or gumdrops make fun glowing eyes.
Licorice strips or piped white frosting work well for whiskers.

Present and Serve

Set your cake in the center of your Halloween table.
It makes the perfect centerpiece for a party, but it’s also an adorable family dessert for a spooky night in.

close up of Halloween cat cake on a wooden tray

When to Serve / Serving Ideas

This cake is best served as a Halloween party centerpiece, but it works beautifully in other situations too:

School Parties: Easy to slice and serve, and kids love the cat shape.
Halloween Movie Night: Pair it with popcorn and apple cider for a cozy evening at home.
Trick-or-Treat Night Gathering: Set it out so family and friends have something sweet to snack on before (or after) walking the neighborhood.
October Birthdays: If someone in your family has a birthday close to Halloween, this doubles as both a festive cake and a birthday dessert.

side view of Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake on a serving tray with candy corn around it

Make Ahead & Storage Tips

Make Ahead: You can bake the cake a day ahead, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and store it at room temperature. Frosting can also be made in advance and refrigerated.
Storage: Store the decorated cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4.
Freezing: Both the cake layers and the buttercream can be frozen. Wrap cake tightly in plastic and foil for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before frosting.

Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake sitting on a wooden tray on table to show the Halloween cake

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s approachable: No special pans or advanced decorating skills needed.
It’s festive: Nothing screams Halloween like a black cat!
It’s fun for kids: Ariya loves helping me place the eyes, and Cameron, at his age, just enjoys pointing at the “kitty.”
It’s versatile: Change up the flavor of the cake or the decorations depending on what you have on hand.
It’s memorable: James still talks about how the first time I made this cake, everyone at the party immediately asked, “Where did you buy that?”

Homemade Halloween cake in the shape of a cat sitting on cutting board

FAQ – Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake

Can I use a boxed cake mix?

Yes! In fact, I often do. Boxed mixes are easy, consistent, and perfect for a recipe where the focus is on the decoration. If you want a richer flavor, add an extra egg, substitute milk for water, or stir in a half cup of sour cream to the batter.

How do I get my frosting black without it tasting bitter?

Start with chocolate frosting instead of white—it gives you a darker base so you need less dye. Use gel food coloring (not liquid) and let it sit for an hour; the color deepens over time. Adding a teaspoon of cocoa powder also helps balance the flavor.

What if I don’t have candy eyes?

No problem—use white chocolate chips with a dot of melted chocolate in the center, or pipe small circles of white frosting and dot them with black.

Can I make this cake gluten-free?

Yes. Substitute a gluten-free cake mix or your favorite gluten-free chocolate cake recipe. The decorating process stays the same.

How do I cut the cat shape?

I recommend printing a simple black cat silhouette and tracing it on parchment. Lay it over your cooled cake and cut around it with a serrated knife. Don’t worry about perfection—the frosting covers minor imperfections.

How do I prevent my cake from crumbling while cutting?

Chill the cake for at least 30 minutes before shaping. A slightly firmer texture makes clean cuts easier.

Can I make this recipe without food coloring?

Yes. Start with a dark chocolate frosting for the body, and use candies or sprinkles to emphasize the features. It won’t be jet black, but it’ll still look festive.

Variations & Substitutions

Flavor Swap: Use red velvet, pumpkin spice, or even vanilla cake tinted orange for a fun twist.
Different Animals: The same method works for bats or pumpkins—just adjust your template.
Healthier Frosting: Try a Greek yogurt-based frosting for a lighter option.

Leftover Ideas

Cake Pops: Crumble leftovers with a little frosting, roll into balls, and dip in chocolate.
Trifle: Layer cake scraps with pudding and whipped cream in a glass dish for a spooky layered dessert.
Ice Cream Topping: James swears leftover cake cubes taste best over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake on a tray with fake pumpkins around the tray and candy corn candy to side

Budget Breakdown

Cake Mix: $1.50
Eggs, Oil, Milk: $2.00
Butter & Powdered Sugar: $4.00
Gel Food Coloring: $3.00
Candy Eyes & Decorations: $3.50

Total: Around $14 for a cake that serves 12–15 people, which is far cheaper than ordering a custom Halloween cake from a bakery (often $45–$70).

Lightened-Up Version / Lower Calorie

Use a sugar-free cake mix and sugar substitute for the frosting.
Swap butter with half butter and half Greek yogurt in the frosting.
Make mini cat cupcakes instead of a full cake for built-in portion control.

Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake on a serving tray with fake spider webs around bottom of tray

Reader Favorite Tips & Ideas

“Freeze your cake before cutting—it makes shaping so much easier.”
“Use cocoa powder to darken frosting without as much food dye.”
“Add sprinkles around the cat to make it look like a starry Halloween night.”

Troubleshooting Tips

Cake too crumbly while cutting? Chill it first.
Frosting too runny? Add more powdered sugar.
Frosting not black enough? Let it sit 1–2 hours; the color deepens as it rests.
Cake sticking to pan? Always grease and line your pan with parchment.

close up of face of cat cake for Halloween on a wooden table tray

My Personal Kitchen Notes

The first time I made this, Ariya was so proud of helping decorate the cat’s eyes, and Cameron just kept pointing and giggling at the “kitty.” James, of course, was the official taste tester and immediately said it was one of the best Halloween cakes I’d made. That’s why this one has earned a permanent spot in our October traditions—it’s a cake that brings my family together and reminds me why I love creating recipes that look magical but are simple enough for a busy mom to pull off.

side view of Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake on a tray so you can see the whole cat on the table

My Final Thoughts

Halloween doesn’t have to mean complicated desserts or professional decorating skills. This Easy Halloween Black Cat Cut Out Cake is living proof. With a simple cake, a little frosting, and a creative template, you can create a dessert that makes your family smile, impresses your guests, and becomes a tradition you’ll want to make every year.

The best part? It’s approachable for beginners but still fun for experienced bakers. And when James is sneaking a second slice, Ariya is showing off the cat cake proudly, and Cameron is covered in a little frosting while pointing at the “kitty”—that’s when I know a recipe has done its job.

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