1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper or use Wilton’s loaf pans for easy layers.

2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and mix in vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Alternate adding dry mix and buttermilk to wet ingredients until combined.

4. Divide batter into 4 bowls. Add gel food coloring to create black, orange, green, and purple batters.

5. Spread into pans and bake for 18 minutes. Test with a toothpick for doneness, then cool completely.

6. Prepare frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, whip until fluffy. Mix in black food coloring.

7. Trim cake layers. Stack starting with black, then purple, orange, and green, spreading frosting between each. Chill overnight.

8. Frost cake with black cream cheese frosting. Coat sides with black sanding sugar.

9. Slice and serve your spooky Halloween Layer Cake!