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Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes |
Ready In: 50 Minutes Servings: 12 |
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THIS CREEPY CONFECTION is fast to conjure up...and it's bound to disappear just as quickly! The delicious birthday dessert starts with a homemade chocolate cake kids find hard to resist. For a festive finish, CT's cooks prepared speedy frosting and spread on a ghoulish design with a Happy Boo-Day sign. Ingredients:
1 cup water |
1/2 cup butter |
1/2 cup shortening |
3 tablespoons baking cocoa |
2 cups king arthur unbleached all-purpose flour |
2 cups sugar |
1 teaspoon baking soda |
1/2 teaspoon salt |
2 eggs |
1/2 cup buttermilk |
1 teaspoon vanilla extract |
chocolate frosting: |
1 cup heavy whipping cream |
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips |
1-3/4 to 2 cups confectioners' sugar |
white frosting: |
1/4 cup butter, softened |
1/4 cup shortening |
2 cups confectioners' sugar |
4-1/2 teaspoons milk |
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract |
orange and purple paste or gel food coloring |
Directions:
1. In a saucepan, combine the water, butter, shortening and cocoa; cook and stir until butter and shortening are melted. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter mixture; mix well. Add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla; mix well.
2. Pour into a greased and waxed paper-lined 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Gently peel off waxed paper. Transfer to a 17-in. x 12-in. covered board.
3. In a saucepan, heat the cream until bubbles begin to form around sides of pan. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Place pan in a bowl of ice water; stir constantly until cooled. Gradually whisk in enough confectioners' sugar to achieve spreading consistency. Frost the top and sides of cake.
4. In a small bowl, cream the butter and shortening. Beat in confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Place 1/3 cup in a small bowl; tint orange. Place 3 tablespoons in another bowl; tint purple.
5. Trace a ghost pattern. Cut out with a shape knife, trace the ghost on chocolate frosting. Gently spread white frosting in ghost shape. Place orange frosting in a pastry or plastic bag; cut a hole in one corner. Pipe banner on ghost. Cut a hole in corner of another pastry or plastic bag; insert #2 round pastry tip and purple frosting. Pipe Happy Boo-Day on banner. Yield: 12-15 servings.
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