Goofy Spooky Halloween Cake
You don't have
to be a master chef to create a fun and festive Halloween
cake that your kids will love. Try this easy recipe for
success!
Cake decorations:
1 box chocolate or yellow cake mix (ingredients needed will
vary per brand, usually eggs, oil, and water)
cinnamon red hots
Cherry Heads (or other round red candies)
miniature marshmallows
licorice vines; cut into two inch lengths
miniature chocolate chips
gum drops
orange jellied candies
large marshmallows
raisins
Frosting:
6 tbsp butter or margarine
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 2/3 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup milk
Instructions:
Prepare
cake as package directs. While cake is baking, prepare frosting
and decorations (below).
Frosting:
Cream butter and vanilla in a small bowl with mixer and
medium-low speed. Mix until completely creamed together.
Alternating, add cocoa and confectioner's sugar, beating
at medium speed until creamy. Add some of the milk with
the remaining sugar and cocoa until you reach desired consistency.
You will use all the cocoa and sugar, but may not use all
the milk, depending on your desired consistency. Set aside.
Decorating the Cake:
When
cake is completely cooled, pour the frosting on top and
spread evenly. Carefully place your critter decorations
(below) on top of the frosting and press down gently to
set. Get ready for some happy faces!
Preparing the Decorations:
The key here is to use your imagination. We have given you
a few examples, but create whatever critters you like! To
see a close up of these critters, click here.
INCH WORMS
Using 5 gumdrops and two cinnamon hots per worm, line up
the gumdrops, one in front of the other. Use a toothpick
to create indentations in the leading gumdrop. Insert cinnamon
hots for eyes.
ANGRY EYES
Place two large marshmallows next to each other, on end.
Place a cinnamon hot in the center of each marshmallow for
eyeball. Using two 2-inch long licorice vines, create angry
eyebrows over the cinnamon hots.
SPYING EYES
Use miniature marshmallows for the eyes and miniature chocolate
chips for the eyeballs. Use a toothpick to create a little
hole in each marshmallow top, then insert the pointed side
of the chocolate chip into the marshmallow.
CREEPY CRAWLIES
Using a toothpick, poke three holes completely through the
sides of an orange jellied candy. Insert licorice vines
for legs, poking through the other side and pulling them
through. Use toothpick to create small holes in "head" and
insert two miniature chocolate chips as eyes.
GOOFY EYES
Stand two large marshmallows on end, top with cinnamon hots
or raisins for eyeballs, in cross-eyed fashion.
MARSHMALLOW SPIDER
Place large marshmallow on it's side. Use a toothpicks to
poke three holes on each side of marshmallow to insert legs.
Use licorice vines for legs, gently press into the holes.
Use two miniature chocolate chips for eyes.
BUG EYES
Stand two large marshmallows on end, top with Cherry Heads
for eyeballs.
SKULL
Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut a large marshmallow
in half lengthwise. Cut triangular slits out of sides to
create jawbone effect. Use toothpick to insert holes for
eyes, use miniature chocolate chips. Cut a small piece off
of a licorice vine for straight mouth, and a tiny piece
for nose. Use a miniature marshmallow for the neck.
MUMMY IN A COFFIN
Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut a large marshmallow
in half lengthwise, but not completely. Unfold the marshmallow
and lay it down, open side up to create the coffin. Use
a miniature marshmallow for the head, and body. Cut up a
miniature marshmallow for the arms and legs. Use small pieces
of licorice vine for the mouth and eyes.
Serve!
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four
children. She and her husband live in southern Nevada. She
is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine.
Subscribe to her free weekly kid's craft newsletter, Busy
Little Hands, by sending any email message to mailto:kidscrafts-on@mail-list.com
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