Sunday, October 25, 2009

Halloween Cake



Yep. A pumpkin cake.


Cute, isn't it?


Festive with the chocolate cake and orange frosting, right?


I think so.


Not only on the outside...but on the inside too.


Yep. That's a candle in there.... for a nice Jack-o-Lantern Cake!

Jack-O-Lantern Cake - Adapted from Amanda

1 recipe chocolate cake
1 white cake mix (I used a store bought)
1 recipe chocolate frosting
1 recipe my favorite cream cheese frosting


Food coloring
Time
Freezer space
Patience :)

Begin by making the white cake mix into cupcakes. Reserve 1 C of the batter, and create 3 or 4 yellow cupcakes using your food coloring.


Bake according to package directions.


Then, when cupcakes are cooled. Choose the best looking ones (and the yellow ones) and freeze 'em for a few hours.


Meanwhile, make up one recipe of chocolate cake. Pour into 4 pans to bake. I used 2 8inch pans, a pie plate and a small Corningware dish.



Cool completely and freeze these guys too. Trust me. Stick them in the freezer for at least a good hour. They'll be much easier to work with!


Prepare the frosting (both the chocolate and the cream cheese one) so they are ready when you are!

Now... for the assembly directions:

1) Level each cake, if needed. I didn't have to do a lot of leveling with my cakes. You'll also want to level your 3 or 4 of your white cupcakes.

2) Place your cupcake on top of one of your layers of chocolate cake. Using a knife, carefully cut a hole into the chocolate cake. (When I make this again, I'm going to make the cupcakes smaller in diameter by cutting them down... I think having a smaller "candle stick" will help the candle effect in the middle of the cake).


3) Very carefully, pop the chocolate piece out of the center! Save these little guys!


4) Place the cut-out layer of cake on top of an the other remaining larger layer cake, and cut out a hole the same size in the second layer. In the third layer, cut a smaller hole... for the flame.


5) Next, place the cake on the serving platter you intend to use. Spread the layer with chocolate frosting.


6) Top with the second layer (the one you cut the middle out of!).



7) Frost the second layer next!


8) Take your leveled cupcakes, and carefully stuff them down into the cake.


9) Then, cut out a "flame" (i.e. diamond) out of the yellow cupcake. You might need to try a few times to get one you like ;-)


10) Place the third layer (I used the pie plate cake layer), with the smaller hole, on top of the cake. Then, stuff the "flame" cupcake into the top layer.



11) Using the final level, fit it over the top of the flame. Of course, frosting in between those layers!

12) Top with one of the cut-out holes... this is your stem!


13) Now... you have a pumpkin cake!


14) Freeze for at least an hour.

15) Frost with a thin layer of orange frosting. This will seal in the crumbs and make the final layer easier to put on.



Looks pretty, eh? Not quite. This is why it's called a crumb-coat. Wouldn't want this to end up on Cake Wrecks or anything....

16) Freeze again. Again, freeze for at least 1 hour.

17) Then, add the second layer of frosting over the "crumb" coat.


18) Add a green stem....


19) And, a face, if desired. (Amanda has a great face on her pumpkin)


20) Keep in the fridge until about 15 minutes before serving.


Then, slice and serve... and enjoy watching people's faces as they see the "lit" candle inside the pumpkin!



Yum-o.


This was the first cake that I really decorated!!! It was a blast -- and while I may not begin making wedding cakes anytime soon, it's fun to know I can kind-of-sort-of decorate a cake.

This post is linked to:

Fall into Flavor,
Mouthwatering Mondays,
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,
Tuesday at the Table,
Save Room for Dessert,
Chocolate Friday,
Foodie Friday,
Week 14 of the Chef's Cooking Challenge
All Halloween Bash
Tasty Tuesday
Tasty Tuesdays
Totally Tasty Tuesday

32 comments:

  1. This is not only cute, it sounds delicious! You usually don't get both with seasonal cakes. I like this very much.

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  2. That is so cute! Oh my goodness- that candle just pushes it over the edge!

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  3. Wow, that looks tasty and it's such cute idea!

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  4. GREAT job!!! Your creativity and talent are evident!!!

    Well done!

    Blessings-
    Amanda
    http://iammommy.typepad.com

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  5. Great cake! Very festive!!!

    Stop by my blog...I have a present for you!
    http://my-vintage-kitchen.blogspot.com/2009/10/awardor-two.html

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  6. Cute! And I bet older kids (10-14) would love to help make it.

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  7. wow,this is so creative. i love it!!

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  8. This is great - I know my family will love this!
    First time I was at your blog - it's great.

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  9. What a really cute cake. I am wondering if I couldn't make a bundt cake, put a cupcake piece in the bundt hole and then one on top and frost it?

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  10. Wow girl, that's fabulous. How long did that take you?!?!

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  11. Very creative, and fun!

    I love Fall Into Flavor!

    Have a great week!

    Blessings
    Robin

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  12. I bet kiddos would have a blast making this cake!!

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  13. Very cute. Honestly too much work for me but very cute.

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  14. What a great idea! Thanks for passing this along

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  15. I would be sad to see this go.. Yummy and what a talent you have. So much work and it looks amazing.

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  16. GREAT!!! idea and FUN!!! for the family.
    Geri

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  17. This was great - I especially enjoyed the step-by-step pictures. Really makes it easy to understand. Thanks!

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  18. Fun cake. Thanks for all the great "how to" pictures! Good job!

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  19. That is amazing! You are so talented! Thanks for sharing. :-)

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  20. thanks for these step by step directions on how to make the giant pumpkin

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  21. Great idea, and step-by-step visuals! Love the cream cheese frosting. Thank you for participating in Save Room for Dessert at Our Krazy Kitchen!

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  22. YUM...I'e seen this done with 2 bundt cakes before but I like your technique better...all that frosting between the layers. YUM :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  23. Wow, what a great cake you really worked hard to create it but I just bet it was worth it with the first bite.
    Happy Halloween
    Maggie

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  24. Cute and delicious...the candle is very creative.

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  25. That is so cute!! Good job and yummmm! Thanks for linking it up!

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  26. This is way cute! The middle bit is such a funny idea =D

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  27. So cool! My kids would think that was the best thing in the world :) Whoever comes up with this stuff is amazing. I can copy almost anything but coming up with it on my own isn't always so easy. Thanks for playing along this week!

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  28. I'm so impressed. You are amazing.

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  29. Very Cute and tasty looking.
    Angela

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Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear from you; especially how you're finding JOY in your kitchen.

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