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How to Make a "Jack-O-Lantern" Pumpkin Cake!
• Lynsey Macdonald
Hoping to make a cake this Halloween that's too cute to spook? We've got just the thing! In this post, we'll show you how to make a Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin cake using some of our favourite products. It will make the perfect centrepiece for any party table this spooky season!
Big thanks to the super talented Judit at @yoras.cakes for putting this cutie together. Don't be daunted by the shape - we have the perfect products to bring it to life!
Serving Size: Approximately 16
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
Prep Time: 15mins
Cook time: 30-45mins depending on sponge cake recipe
Decorating time: 20mins
What you need to make your Pumpkin-shaped cake
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Item |
Brand / Recommendation |
Purpose |
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Wilton |
Shapes the base sponge into a pumpkin design without the need for carving. |
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Pre-mix or homemade (approx. 750g) |
Forms the edible base of the cake. Pumpkin spice flavouring is optional. |
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Standard recipe or store-bought (approx. 500g) |
Serves as the primary decoration medium. |
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Food Colouring |
Tints the buttercream into rich, autumnal shades without splitting the fat. |
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Sprinkles |
FunCakes (Nonpareils and Gold Pearls) |
Adds final textural details and contrast. |
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Piping Equipment |
Assorted tips (star, round, petal) and piping bags |
Applies the textured, multi-tonal frosting design to the cake surface. |
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Cake Board |
Provides a stable base for serving and decorating. |
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Fondant & Gold Lustre Dust |
Any brand of fondant and lustre, and a Silicone leaf mould |
Optional: Used to create a decorative, realistic pumpkin leaf near the stem. |
How to make your Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin Cake Step by Step
Step 1: Make up your cake batter
Make up your sponge cake batter using your own recipe or one of our handy cake mixes! Once well mixed, decant into your Wilton Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin tin and bake for the recommended time.
Step 2: Leave to cool.
Once baked, carefully remove your cake from the tin and leave it to cool.
Judit says: “It’s important not to rush this step - make sure your cake has fully cooled before you begin to decorate. We don’t want to risk the buttercream design melting!”
Step 3: Make and Colour your Buttercream
While your cake is cooling, it's time to make and colour your buttercream! If you're using a ready-to-use frosting, you're halfway there. Add your flavouring, if desired - a little goes a long way. Then split your buttercream into separate bowls for each colour and add your chosen shades. For this beautiful autumnal version, Judit used Colour Mill’s Dusk, Latte, Peach, and Black.
Step 4: Prep your Piping Bags
Insert a piping tip into each piping bag - use a variety of shapes for an eye-catching look!
Step 5: Bring in your Cake Board
Place your fully cooled cake onto your chosen cake board - Judit went for a bold pink.
Step 6: Start Piping!
Add your buttercream into each bag and get piping!
Judit advises: “Mix it up for a multi-tonal effect, placing one shape or colour next to another until you fill all the space. Try to avoid using too much of the same colour in one spot, for a more eye-catching effect!”
Step 7: Add some sprinkles
Finish off with a dash of your favourite sprinkles, and you're done!
Optional Step 8: Add a fondant leaf
Judit also used a leaf mould with fondant icing and gold edible dust to add some extra detail to the cake. If you have time, this is a gorgeous final touch! But the cake looks just as eye-catching without, so we'll leave that up to you!
You can watch Judit create this cake on our YouTube channel.
Pumpkin-Shaped Cake Ideas
While we’re head over heels for this design, it isn’t the only option when it comes to this Halloween cake tin! Here are a few other colour palettes and styles you could use to decorate your Jack-O-Lantern showstopper.
Troubleshooting/FAQs
What food colouring is best for a pumpkin cake?
For creating this type of buttercream topped pumpkin cake, we recommend using an oil-blend food colouring. It will achieve the best results in buttercream because they are designed to work with higher-fat content ingredients. The Colour Mill collection is excellent!
Do I need a special tin to make a Jack-O-Lantern cake?
No - a specific pumpkin shaped tin is helpful when making a Jack-O-Lantern cake, but is not essential. You can use a classic round tin and then carve the shape by hand and with cookie cutters. This will be less precise but perfectly achievable!
Quick Troubleshooting Guide
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Problem |
Likely Culprit |
Quick Fix |
|
Cake won’t release from cake tin. |
Forgetting to grease the cake tin before adding your batter. |
The tin is non-stick, but we still advise greasing with some butter before adding your cake batter. |
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Buttercream isn’t turning the right colour. |
You’re using the wrong colouring formula, e.g. a liquid colouring which will not emulsify (fully mix) with the fats in buttercream. |
Use an oil-based colouring for best results with buttercream. |
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Buttercream is running off the cake. |
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Piping tip is popping out of the bag. |
You may have cut too much off the end of the piping bag. |
Start with a new bag and just snip the very end off, so that only the very tip of the piping nozzle is showing through. |
We hope this jazzy Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin cake has given you the creative inspiration you need to get baking this Halloween! These tins from Wilton make creating the perfect seasonal shaped cake so easy, and we can't wait to see your designs!
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How to Make Halloween Flat-Top Cupcakes
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