Halloween stencils

Halloween stencils turn a plain chocolate cake, a tray of biscuits or a cappuccino into something spooky in seconds: lay the stencil down, dust over icing sugar or cocoa or spray on some colour – and a pumpkin, a witch or a skull appears. Here you will find stencils for cakes and biscuits, airbrush stencils and cappuccino stencils with Halloween motifs. The best part: you need neither a steady hand nor piping-bag experience, yet the result looks as if it came straight from a patisserie.

Which Halloween stencils do we stock?

The range is small but covers the main techniques:

• Stencils for cakes and biscuits: the Ø 25 cm Halloween stencil covers the whole top of a cake. Three sets of 3 stencils each complete the range, including a “Mini trick or treat” set – the mini stencils are just right for cupcakes, tartlets and individual biscuits.
• Airbrush stencils: five food-safe single motifs for your airbrush – Halloween, Halloween pumpkin, witch, skull and skull tattoo. The design comes out sharpest on a smooth, firm surface such as a fondant or marzipan covering.
• Halloween cappuccino stencils, 4 pieces: for milk foam, hot chocolate or a dessert in a glass.

For year-round designs, browse our stencils and templates and our cappuccino stencils.

Tips from our bakery for crisp designs

• Lay it flat, lift it straight: the stencil must sit flat everywhere, otherwise powder creeps under the edges. Chill the cake briefly so the surface is firm. Hold the stencil at two corners and, once you have dusted, lift it straight up without sliding it.
• Icing sugar or cocoa: icing sugar shows up best on a dark base such as chocolate glaze, ganache or brownies; cocoa works on pale fondant or marzipan. Sift through a fine sieve – two thin layers are better than one thick one. Icing sugar dissolves on moist surfaces, so dust just before serving.
• Spreading icing: for biscuits and fondant, spread royal icing thinly over the stencil in a single sweep with an angled palette knife. It should be roughly as thick as toothpaste; if it is too runny, it will seep under the edges.
• Airbrush: spray from about 10–15 cm in several very thin coats, letting each one dry briefly. Using two airbrush colours – orange as a base and black for the outlines, for example – gives the motif depth. Cover the surrounding area with baking paper to catch any overspray.
• Cappuccino: the milk foam should be fine and stable. Hold the stencil just above the cup without touching the foam and dust with cocoa or cinnamon.

Cleaning and storage

After each use, wash your stencils by hand in lukewarm water with a little washing-up liquid and loosen dried icing with a soft sponge rather than a brush. Let them dry thoroughly and store them flat, for instance between two sheets of baking paper. That way the fine details stay straight and the stencil lies flat again next time.

Would you like to try more decorating techniques with expert guidance? The cake decorating course in Adliswil is the place to start. And for a dark base that makes icing-sugar designs stand out, try our chocolate cupcake recipe.

Frequently asked questions

Which Halloween stencil fits my cake?

To cover the whole top of a cake, choose the Ø 25 cm stencil. If your cake is smaller, centre the main motif. For cupcakes and biscuits, the mini stencils are the better size.

How do I avoid smudged edges?

The surface must be firm and dry and the stencil must lie flat. Apply icing or colour thinly and lift the stencil straight away – don't wait until everything has dried.

Can I reuse the stencils?

Yes. Wash them carefully, dry them well and store them flat, and they will see you through many Halloween parties.