A party-perfect cake that’s spooky, sweet, and full of edible Halloween magic.

This Witches’ Potion Sheet Cake is everything a Halloween dessert should be—fun, festive, and just a little bit magical. It starts with a spiced sheet cake that’s soft, flavorful, and easy to bake, then gets topped with orange buttercream and chocolate potion bottles that look straight out of a spellbook. This Halloween sheet cake brings spooky season sweetness to every celebration.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s made with a soft and flavorful spice cake mix.
• The Halloween sheet cake is topped with orange buttercream and candy potion bottles.
• It’s easy to make but looks like a party showstopper.
• The frosting is rich, creamy, and perfect for piping.
• You can customize the candy colors for any spooky theme.
• Great make-ahead option for Halloween parties or bake sales.
• Kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and full of Halloween magic.

Ingredient Notes

• Spice Cake Mix – This gives the cake a warm, cozy flavor perfect for fall. Any brand works, but Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker are great options.
• Vanilla Pudding Mix – Just the dry mix! It adds extra moisture and richness to the cake.
• Candy Melts – Use purple and lime green melts, or start with white Ghirardelli melts and tint them with oil-based candy color for vibrant potion bottles.
• Potion Bottle Mold – This silicone mold is what brings the theme to life. You can grab the same one here.
• Orange Gel Food Coloring – A little goes a long way to get that perfect Halloween frosting hue.
• Salted Butter – Adds extra flavor and balances the sweetness in the buttercream.
• Heavy Cream – Helps whip the frosting into a smooth, spreadable consistency. Add a little at a time until it reaches the texture you like.

Before You Bake

Do I need to prepare the pudding mix separately?
Nope! Just add the dry pudding mix straight into the cake batter—it boosts moisture and texture without any extra steps.

Can I use a different cake mix flavor?
Yes! Spice cake brings that fall flavor, but you can swap in vanilla, chocolate, or even pumpkin for a different twist.

Do the potion bottles hold their shape at room temperature?
Yes, as long as your room isn’t too warm. If transporting, you can pop the cake in the fridge for 10–15 minutes to firm everything up.

Witches’ Potion Sheet Cake

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• Author: Taryn Camp

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 potion bottle mold: Potion Bottle Mold on Amazon
• Candy melts in purple and lime green or Ghirardelli white melts + oil-based candy color (purple and green)
• 1 box spice cake mix
• 1 box vanilla instant pudding mix (just the dry mix)
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 eggs

For the Frosting:

• 2 sticks salted butter, softened
• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 4–6 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• Orange gel food coloring

Instructions

Make the Potion Bottles:

1. Melt your candy melts (or white melts + candy color) according to package directions.
2. Pour into the mold cavities—green in one set, purple in another.
3. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or until fully set. Carefully de-mold and set aside.

Bake the Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9 baking pan (or use a disposable pan for easy transport).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, oil, and eggs. Mix until well blended and pour into the prepared pan.
3. Bake according to the cake mix instructions and let the cake cool completely.

Make the Frosting:

1. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Add half the powdered sugar and mix to combine.
3. Add the remaining sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
4. Add a few drops of orange gel food coloring to create a light orange hue.
5. Scoop out about 1/3 of the frosting and tint it a deeper shade of orange for piping.

Decorate:

1. Frost the cooled cake with the light orange buttercream.
2. Press the potion bottle candies gently into the frosting, spacing them out across the surface.
3. Transfer the deeper orange frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe a decorative border around the cake.

Serve:

1. Slice, serve, and cast a sweet spell over your Halloween crowd.

FAQ

Can I make this Halloween sheet cake ahead of time?
Definitely! Bake and frost it the day before, then add the potion bottles just before serving to keep them crisp.

What piping tip should I use for the border?
A large star tip like Wilton 1M or 6B creates the perfect swirl for borders.

How should I store leftovers?
Store the cake covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let it come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Can I freeze the potion bottles?
Yes! Once set, the chocolate potion bottles can be frozen for up to a month. Just make sure they’re in an airtight container to avoid moisture.

What size pan works best for this cake?
A standard 13×9-inch pan works perfectly. If you use a different size, adjust baking time as needed.

Sprinkle of Fun

Throw a Halloween party that’s anything but ordinary by turning your space into a potion lab. Set up a DIY drink station with fun “potion” cocktails and mocktails—think bubbling green soda, gummy eyeballs, and dry ice fog. Put on Hocus Pocus in the background, hand out slices of this Witches’ Potion Sheet Cake, and let the spooky magic take over the night.