Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your cake pan and set it aside. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sifted flour and granulated sugar until combined. Add the softened butter and mix until the batter is crumbly and resembles coarse crumbs.
Beat the eggs one at a time into the batter, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Pour in the milk and vanilla extract, then mix until smooth and well combined. The batter should be thick but pourable.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
For the sugar glaze, combine the powdered sugar, corn syrup, and water in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly until it thickens just enough to spread but remains pourable.
Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake, allowing it to set into a shiny, smooth layer. As it cools, it will create a beautiful glossy surface that forms the web's base.
Prepare the web decoration by mixing a small amount of gel food coloring with a few spoonfuls of the remaining glaze or icing. Fill a piping bag fitted with a fine tip with the colored icing. Pipe concentric circles on the top of the cake to form the web, then pipe straight lines from the center outward to complete the web pattern, creating a spider web look.
Allow the decorated web to set for a few minutes, ensuring the piping holds its shape. Add additional web lines or flourishes if desired for extra spooky detail.
Once decorated, place the cake on a serving platter. Slice into wedges to reveal the moist, flavorful interior with the shiny web design on top. Serve and enjoy the eerie, beautiful dessert.
