Celebrating a birthday on or near Halloween in 2025 calls for a showstopping cake that blends spooky flair with sophisticated flavors, perfect for adult parties that embrace the eerie magic of October 31st. These Halloween birthday cakes for adults combine creepy designs—like dripping “blood” or spiderweb frosting—with grown-up tastes, such as dark chocolate, spiced pumpkin, or boozy accents, all while keeping prep manageable (30-60 minutes) and budget-friendly ($8-$20 for 8-12 servings). Designed for diverse diets (vegan, gluten-free, healthy), these cakes are ideal for haunted house bashes, costume parties, or intimate gatherings. Drawing from 2025 trends on Delish, Food Network, and Bon Appétit, we’ve curated 10 Halloween birthday cake recipes inspired by sources like The Pioneer Woman and Martha Stewart. Using ingredients from Walmart, Target, or Amazon Fresh, these cakes feature easy decor like candy eyes or edible glitter for maximum impact. Let’s dive into these 10 spooky Halloween birthday cakes to make your 2025 adult party a scream, starting at 2:39 PM on September 30, 2025!
1. Bloody Red Velvet Cake
Inspired by Delish, this cake drips with “blood” for a creepy effect.
Ingredients: 1 box red velvet cake mix, 3 eggs, ½ cup oil, 1 cup water, 8 oz cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar, ½ cup raspberry jam (for “blood”).
How to Make: Prepare cake mix with eggs, oil, and water; bake at 350°F for 30 minutes in two 8-inch pans. Mix cream cheese and sugar for frosting. Stack cakes, spread frosting, drizzle jam for “blood.”
Why It’s Spooky: Red velvet and jam mimic gore, 280 calories per slice. Vegetarian.
Prep Time: 45 minutes. Cost: $8-$12. Serves: 10. Variations: Use vegan cake mix and frosting. CTA: Bake this bloody cake for your party now!
2. Vegan Pumpkin Spice Graveyard Cake
From Minimalist Baker, this vegan cake features edible “tombstones.”
Ingredients: 2 cups almond flour, ½ cup pumpkin puree, ½ cup maple syrup, 1 tsp pumpkin spice, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 cup vegan chocolate frosting, 6 chocolate cookies (crumbled for “dirt”).
How to Make: Mix flour, pumpkin, maple syrup, spice, and baking powder; bake at 350°F for 25 minutes in a 9-inch pan. Frost, sprinkle cookie “dirt,” add cookie “tombstones.”
Why It’s Spooky: Graveyard design is eerie, 200 calories per slice. Vegan, gluten-free.
Prep Time: 40 minutes. Cost: $10-$14. Serves: 8. Variations: Add candy bones or use coconut flour. CTA: Create this graveyard cake for a vegan treat today!
3. Spiderweb Chocolate Cake
Food Network’s chocolate cake has a web for spooky elegance.
Ingredients: 1 box chocolate cake mix, 3 eggs, ½ cup oil, 1 cup water, 1 cup dark chocolate frosting, ½ cup white chocolate (melted for web).
How to Make: Bake cake mix with eggs, oil, and water in two 8-inch pans at 350°F for 30 minutes. Frost with chocolate, pipe white chocolate in spirals, drag toothpick for web.
Why It’s Spooky: The web adds creepy flair, 300 calories per slice. Vegetarian.
Prep Time: 45 minutes. Cost: $8-$12. Serves: 10. Variations: Use vegan frosting or add candy spiders. CTA: Spin this spiderweb cake for your party now!
4. Healthy Pumpkin Mousse Cake
EatingWell’s mousse cake is light and festive.
Ingredients: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1 cup Greek yogurt, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 tsp pumpkin spice, 1 cup whipped coconut cream.
How to Make: Mix crumbs and oil, press into an 8-inch springform pan, chill. Blend pumpkin, yogurt, maple syrup, and spice; spread over crust. Top with coconut cream, chill 2 hours.
Why It’s Spooky: Pumpkin hue screams fall, 180 calories per slice. Gluten-free with GF crumbs.
Prep Time: 20 minutes + chilling. Cost: $9-$13. Serves: 8. Variations: Add cinnamon or candy eyes. CTA: Chill this mousse cake for a healthy treat now!
5. Gluten-Free Black Velvet Bat Cake
Bon Appétit’s black velvet cake is dramatic with bat decor.
Ingredients: 2 cups almond flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, ½ cup maple syrup, 2 eggs, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 cup dark chocolate frosting, black edible glitter, bat-shaped cookies.
How to Make: Mix flour, cocoa, maple syrup, eggs, and baking soda; bake at 350°F for 25 minutes in a 9-inch pan. Frost, sprinkle glitter, top with bat cookies.
Why It’s Spooky: Black hue and bats are creepy, 220 calories per slice. Gluten-free.
Prep Time: 40 minutes. Cost: $10-$15. Serves: 8. Variations: Use vegan frosting or add red jam “blood.” CTA: Bake this bat cake for a spooky vibe today!
6. Boozy Pumpkin Bourbon Cake
The Pioneer Woman’s cake has a grown-up kick.
Ingredients: 1 box spice cake mix, ½ cup pumpkin puree, 3 eggs, ½ cup oil, ¾ cup water, 2 tbsp bourbon, 1 cup cream cheese frosting, candy pumpkins.
How to Make: Mix cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, oil, water, and bourbon; bake at 350°F for 30 minutes in two 8-inch pans. Frost, decorate with candy pumpkins.
Why It’s Spooky: Pumpkin candies add festive touch, 310 calories per slice. Vegetarian.
Prep Time: 45 minutes. Cost: $9-$13. Serves: 10. Variations: Use rum or skip alcohol. CTA: Spike this bourbon cake for your adult party now!
7. Candy Corn Layer Cake
Delish’s layer cake mimics the iconic candy.
Ingredients: 1 box white cake mix, 3 eggs, ½ cup oil, 1 cup water, yellow and orange food coloring, 1 cup vanilla frosting, candy corn.
How to Make: Divide cake mix into three bowls, dye one yellow, one orange, leave one white. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes in three 8-inch pans. Stack with frosting, top with candy corn.
Why It’s Spooky: Candy corn colors scream Halloween, 290 calories per slice. Vegetarian.
Prep Time: 50 minutes. Cost: $8-$12. Serves: 10. Variations: Use vegan cake mix or add sprinkles. CTA: Layer this candy corn cake for fun now!
8. No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
Martha Stewart’s cheesecake is creamy and easy.
Ingredients: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 8 oz cream cheese, ½ cup pumpkin puree, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 tsp pumpkin spice.
How to Make: Mix crumbs and oil, press into an 8-inch pan, chill. Blend cream cheese, pumpkin, maple syrup, and spice; spread over crust. Chill 2 hours.
Why It’s Spooky: Pumpkin hue is festive, 200 calories per slice. Gluten-free with GF crumbs.
Prep Time: 20 minutes + chilling. Cost: $8-$12. Serves: 8. Variations: Add whipped cream or candy eyes. CTA: Chill this cheesecake for your party today!
9. Chocolate Pumpkin Skull Cake
Food Network’s skull-shaped cake is a spooky centerpiece.
Ingredients: 1 box chocolate cake mix, 3 eggs, ½ cup oil, 1 cup water, ½ cup pumpkin puree, 1 cup chocolate frosting, white chocolate for skulls.
How to Make: Mix cake mix, eggs, oil, water, and pumpkin; bake at 350°F for 30 minutes in a 9x13 pan. Frost, pipe white chocolate skulls on top.
Why It’s Spooky: Skull decor adds eerie charm, 300 calories per slice. Vegetarian.
Prep Time: 45 minutes. Cost: $9-$13. Serves: 10. Variations: Use vegan frosting or candy skulls. CTA: Shape this skull cake for a creepy treat now!
10. Vegan Maple Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Minimalist Baker’s bundt cake is rustic and healthy.
Ingredients: 2 cups whole-wheat flour, ½ cup pumpkin puree, ½ cup maple syrup, ½ cup almond milk, 1 tsp pumpkin spice, 1 tsp baking powder, powdered sugar for dusting.
How to Make: Mix flour, pumpkin, maple syrup, almond milk, spice, and baking powder; bake at 350°F for 30 minutes in a bundt pan. Dust with sugar.
Why It’s Spooky: Rustic look with fall vibes, 180 calories per slice. Vegan, gluten-free with GF flour.
Prep Time: 40 minutes. Cost: $7-$10. Serves: 8. Variations: Add pecans or drizzle with vegan glaze. CTA: Bake this bundt cake for your party now!
Conclusion: Make Your Halloween Birthday Epic
These 10 spooky Halloween birthday cakes for adults in 2025, from bloody red velvet to vegan pumpkin bundt, bring eerie elegance to your party. Budget-friendly and inclusive, they’re perfect for any celebration. Ready to bake? Shop at Walmart, Target, or Amazon Fresh, browse Pinterest for ideas, or grab ingredients now. Don’t wait—create your creepy cake today and make your 2025 Halloween birthday a delicious scream!