ME-Dawn

Goofy Spooks 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 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 ed, 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!

INCH WORMS Using 5 gumdrops and two cinnamon hots per worm, line up the gumdrops, one in front of the other. Use a hpick 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 eyebrows over the cinnamon hots.

SPYING EYES Use miniature marshmallows for the eyes and miniature chocolate chips for the eyeballs. Use a hpick 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 hpick, 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 hpick 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 hpicks 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 hpick 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.

Completed Cake Photo Can be found here:
http://20ishparents.com/cgi-bin/arti...mp.cgi?ID=1649