Spiderweb Chocolate Cake is a spook-tacular dessert that combines rich, moist chocolate cake with a creative, Halloween-inspired decoration. This cake is not only visually striking but also delicious, making it a perfect centerpiece for Halloween parties, family gatherings, or themed events. With its indulgent chocolate flavor and dramatic spiderweb design, it’s sure to impress your guests while satisfying their sweet tooth.
The base of this cake is a decadent, moist chocolate cake made with simple ingredients that deliver a rich and tender crumb. Whether you bake a layer cake or a single round, the cake itself is the perfect canvas for your spooky spiderweb design. The dark chocolate cake pairs wonderfully with a smooth, velvety chocolate frosting that adds both flavor and a bit of luxury to each bite.
The real fun comes with the spiderweb decoration. After the cake is frosted, a contrasting white icing is piped into a simple spiderweb pattern across the top of the cake. Using a toothpick or knife, the web is then carefully pulled from the center outwards, creating the iconic spiderweb look. For added flair, a small plastic or candy spider can be placed in the center or crawling along the edges of the web, adding that final creepy touch.
What makes Spiderweb Chocolate Cake so appealing is its combination of textures and flavors. The richness of the chocolate cake and frosting is balanced by the delicate sweetness of the spiderweb icing. It’s indulgent without being overwhelmingly sweet, making it a great choice for those who love chocolate but don’t want a cake that’s too heavy.
This cake is an easy and fun project for Halloween baking. Kids will love helping with the spiderweb decoration, and it’s a simple way to make a dessert look impressive without requiring advanced baking skills. Whether you’re serving it at a party, enjoying it with family, or taking it to a Halloween potluck, Spiderweb Chocolate Cake is a dessert that combines spooky fun with a deliciously decadent treat.

Ingredients
- 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/4 cup white chocolate or icing for spiderweb decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until evenly mixed.
- Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Stir in boiling water until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thin.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a layer of icing on top. Add the second layer of cake.
- Melt the white chocolate or prepare icing and place it in a piping bag. Pipe a spiral design on top of the cake.
- Use a toothpick to drag lines from the center of the spiral outward to create a spiderweb pattern.
Spiderweb cake!!! I love Halloween and this recipe is perfect!
I didn’t have boiling water, I used cold. It turned out kinda mushy. Wouldn’t recommend 😩
I don’t really get the whole spiderweb thing… are we eating cake or catching spiders?
Y’all, this is the best recipe ever! So simple and looks fancy. My kids loved making the spiderwebs! 🎃
I’m glad you and your kids enjoyed it! The spiderwebs are such a fun touch! 🕷️🎂
This seems nice, but honestly, my kids hate chocolate. Do you think it works with vanilla instead?
Um, I don’t know about using boiling water. Seemed kinda weird. The cake turned out alright, but I was nervous.
Use a whisk? Can’t I just use a fork? 🤔
Highly overrated. The flavor was just okay, and it didn’t look like the picture. Should’ve just bought one.
This is just a chocolate cake with some icing, nothing special.
This cake is a total showstopper! The spiderweb design is so cute, and it tastes divine. My kids loved it!
I tried making this cake for my kids’ Halloween party, and it turned out awesome! Thank you for sharing this recipe! 🎃
Why use boiling water? Isn’t that gonna ruin the eggs? I didn’t try this recipe, sounds silly…
Perfect for spooky season! It was a hit at the party!
Was it really that good? I tried a different chocolate cake and it was just okay.
I’m so glad you and your guests loved it! The spiderweb decoration is such a fun touch.
This cake is just chocolate overload! Too sweet for my taste. I prefer a simple vanilla.
Good but I guess I overbaked it. The texture wasn’t right… still tasted fine tho!
It’s just a chocolate cake… like we needed another one? Meh.
Bakin it tonight! Hoping for good results. Wish me luck!
The spiderweb design was super fun to make! My kids loved it. 😊
Wow, this cake looks so cool! Can’t wait to try it for Halloween!
Yummy!!!
I can’t wait to try this! Looks so good! 😍
This cake is like chocolate heaven!! 🍫 I didn’t do the spiderweb cause I’m not that good at decorating. Still awesome!
Too much sugar, I think! It tasted more like candy than cake.
I don’t think it’s too much sugar, it’s a dessert after all! Candy cakes are the best!
Honestly, you can just reduce the sugar next time. But I love my cake sweet! 😋
Love this recipe! It’s super easy and super YUMMY!! Just glazed it instead of the spiderweb, and it was awesome.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Glazing sounds like a great idea, I’ll have to try that next time!
I followed the recipe exactly but my cake didn’t rise. What went wrong?
idk maybe u didn’t mix it enough or ur oven isn’t hot enough. try again it could be better next time!
Maybe your baking powder or soda is old? They can lose their power over time. Check the dates next time!
This cake is a hit at every party! Rich chocolate flavor and the spiderweb decoration is so cool! 5 stars!!
Love it. I made for Halloween and everyone was impressed. 10/10 would bake again.
why would u use boiling water?? this sounds impossible, no way it works!
Boiling water is actually common in cake recipes! It helps dissolve the cocoa and makes the cake super moist. Give it a try!
So easy to make! I’m no baker, and even I nailed it. Thanks for this recipe!
I’m impressed! This does seem like an easy recipe. Can’t wait to try it myself!
This cake is absolutely delicious! Easy to make and looks impressive too! My kids loved it! 🍰
I tried this but was really confused by the boiling water part. It made my batter super runny. Maybe I did it wrong?
Honestly, I don’t get all the fuss. It’s just a chocolate cake. My grandma’s cake is way better!
Chocolate cake is chocolate cake. Don’t know why people make such a big deal. My mom’s is just a mix and still better!
I get what you’re saying, but this cake looks amazing! It’s not just about taste, it’s about presentation too. 👏
I made this for Halloween, and it was a hit! Everyone was impressed with my decorating skills! Definitely making it again!
Hmmm, sounds good but I ain’t sure if my decorating skills are up to par. What if I mess it up?
That sounds awesome! I love when people love what I make. What kind of decorations did you use besides the spiderweb?
Spiderweb cake? Creepy but cool! I made it for Halloween and everyone was impressed. I’m not even a baker! 😄