Halloween Red Velvet Cake

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. To me, there's nothing better than sitting in my kitchen on a chilly October night and carving jack-o-lanterns with my expert set of pumpkin carving tools. I love the adorable costumes that the little trick-or-treaters wear, not to mention the satisfaction of coming up with my own perfect costume. And what's everyone's favorite part of Halloween? The candy!!! As if the piles of Snickers, Twix, and Reese's weren't enough sugar, I decided to welcome Halloween with a delicious home-made treat, a spooky Red Velvet Cake! So come on and show your ghoulish side with this yummy creation!

For the cake (from foodnetwork.com):

Ingredients:

- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- 3 tablespoons dutch processed cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.

Beat the granulated sugar, 12 tablespoons butter and the vegetable oil in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour, until just combined.
Divide the batter between the prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on racks, then turn the cakes out onto the racks to cool completely.


For the Marshmallow Frosting:


2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powder sugar
1 jar marshmallow fluff  (7 oz)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract


In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add butter and sugar together. Beat until fluffy. Add marshmallow and vanilla, and mix well.


To decorate: 

Frost the cake with the frosting. Use whatever decorations you want to make it look Halloween-y! I used chocolate sprinkles to make a ghostly face, but the options are endless!