This Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake has been my go-to ever since I hosted a Halloween party that needed a show-stopping dessert. I still remember my nephew’s face lighting up as he poked at the candy pumpkins and pulled a gummy worm from the frosting “dirt.” One bite of that moist chocolate crumb, paired with silky cocoa frosting and crunchy Oreo topping, convinced me I had to perfect this spooky graveyard cake recipe.
My version of Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake is ready in just over an hour and delivers rich flavor, easy decorating, and creepy-cute charm in every slice. It’s not only fun to make—it’s irresistible to eat.
If you’ve been searching for the best Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake or how to make a Halloween graveyard cake at home, this is the one.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredibly Moist: Cocoa powder, coffee, and oil give the cake a deep, rich texture
- Festive and Fun: Perfect for a spooky Halloween gathering or kids’ baking day
- Customizable: Add creepy candies, spooky toppers, or edible tombstones
- Beginner-Friendly: No piping bags or advanced skills needed
- Perfect Halloween Centerpiece: Pairs well with pumpkin fudge and mummy mini pizzas
A Bite of History
The idea behind this Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake draws from the classic American pudding graveyard cake. Its roots go back to simple refrigerator cakes layered with crushed cookies and creamy fillings, often called graveyard dirt cake. Over time, Halloween-loving bakers transformed them with spooky elements like gummy worms, peep ghosts, and tombstone cookies. Today, it’s a favorite among Halloween chocolate cake ideas.
Ingredients for Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake
For the Cake
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup salted butter, melted
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup brewed coffee
- 1 cup whole milk
For the Frosting
- 1 cup salted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup whole milk, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp salt
For Decoration
- 1 cup crushed Oreos
- Candy pumpkins
- Peeps ghosts
- Gummy worms
- Cupcake tombstones (or chocolate-covered cookies)
Looking for more seasonal inspiration? You’ll love pumpkin dump cake and pumpkin creme brulee cheesecake bars for a cozy autumn lineup.
How to Make Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake
Prep the Base
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×13 metal pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until creamy.
Mix the Dry
In a separate bowl, sift together cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Combine
With your mixer on low, add half the dry ingredients to the wet, followed by the milk. Then mix in the remaining dry ingredients and coffee. Blend until smooth.
Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into your pan. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes, then chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Make the Frosting
Cream butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa until smooth. Add vanilla, milk, and salt. Beat until fluffy and light.
Decorate the Graveyard
Frost the chilled cake evenly. Sprinkle with crushed Oreos for the “dirt.” Top with your choice of candy pumpkins, tombstones, peep ghosts, and gummy worms for that spooky Halloween vibe.
Pro Tips for Success
- Use hot coffee to bloom the cocoa—this deepens chocolate flavor.
- Chill the cake before frosting to avoid a melty mess.
- Want a darker graveyard dirt cake? Use chocolate sandwich cookies with extra black cocoa.
- For a twist, layer the cake with a pudding mix to create a pudding graveyard cake feel.
- Add a few touches of pumpkin smores cookies on the side for bonus crunch.
Variations of This Graveyard Cake
1. Oreo Graveyard Cake
Use only Oreos and pudding for a no-bake version. Add whipped topping to replace frosting.
2. Spooky Graveyard Cake Recipe with Ganache
Replace frosting with a chocolate ganache pour and edible glitter.
3. Mini Cupcake Graveyard
Bake the same batter in cupcake tins and decorate each one as a mini tombstone plot.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve slices with a glass of cold milk or hot chocolate
- Add a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream
- Decorate your table with creepy cute mummy veggie wraps
- Offer pumpkin streusel muffins as a warm-up before dessert
Nutritional Information (Approximate)
| Nutrient | Per Serving |
| Calories | 520 kcal |
| Carbs | 65g |
| Protein | 4g |
| Fat | 27g |
| Saturated Fat | 13g |
| Sugar | 45g |
| Sodium | 280mg |
Note: Add-ins may slightly increase calorie and sugar counts.
Storage & Leftovers
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months (without decorations).
Reheat: Microwave for 10–15 seconds if desired, though it’s just as good cold!
FAQs
What is the most famous chocolate cake in the world?
The most iconic might be the Sachertorte from Austria. However, this Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake wins Halloween hearts every year!
What is the graveyard dessert for Halloween?
It’s often a no-bake pudding graveyard cake made with Oreos, whipped cream, and gummy worms. Our version is a rich, baked chocolate twist!
What’s in a death by chocolate cake?
Layers of chocolate cake, mousse, ganache, and fudge. Our Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake leans into this indulgence with moist chocolate and frosting.
Can I eat a 2-week-old chocolate cake?
Only if it was refrigerated and stored properly. For this recipe, it’s best within 5 days.
Related Recipes
Now you know how to make the best Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake—rich, spooky, and crowd-pleasing. Whether it’s your Halloween dessert centerpiece or just a fun weekend bake, this cake will disappear fast. Have you made it your own? Share your twist in the comments, tag your photos, and pin this recipe to save it for your Halloween board!
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Print
Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake – Scary-Good and Fun to Make
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
A rich and spooky Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake topped with crushed Oreos, creepy candies, and silky cocoa frosting. Perfect for Halloween parties and kid-friendly fun.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
2 cups granulated sugar
¼ cup salted butter (melted)
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs (room temperature)
¾ cup cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup coffee (brewed)
1 cup whole milk
For the Frosting:
1 cup salted butter (room temperature)
4 cups powdered sugar
¾ cup cocoa powder
¼ cup whole milk (room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
For Garnish:
1 cup crushed Oreos
Candy pumpkins
Peeps ghosts
Gummy worms
Cupcake tombstones
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. In a stand mixer, combine melted butter, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Mix until smooth.
3. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add half the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, then add the milk. Mix in the remaining dry mixture and coffee until smooth.
5. Pour into the pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes, then chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
6. To make frosting, beat butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa until fluffy. Add milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until smooth.
7. Frost the cooled cake and top with crushed Oreos to look like dirt.
8. Decorate with candy pumpkins, tombstones, ghosts, and gummy worms.
Notes
Use freshly brewed coffee to deepen the chocolate flavor.
Chill the cake before frosting to make spreading easier.
Decorate just before serving to keep the garnishes fresh and crisp.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Sweet Graveyard Chocolate Cake, Halloween graveyard cake, graveyard dirt cake, pudding graveyard cake, spooky graveyard cake recipe, Oreo graveyard cake, Halloween chocolate cake, easy Halloween cake