Halloween Fun Pumpkin Cake O Lantern Jack Olantern Food

JACK-O-LANTERN CAKE

Steps:

• For Candy Core and Exterior- In a medium sauce pan or double boiler, heat candy melts until just liquid. 110 degrees is their ideal temperature in a liquid state.
• Blow up several balloons and make sure you have ample room in your freezer. Slowly dip or paint candy melts onto balloon working in small sections until completely covered. Once ready, set on flat plate and place in freezer.
• Here are TWO helpful hints to avoid trouble at this stage: The balloon should be slightly under inflated and the temperature of the candy melts being too warm can cause the balloon to pop and splatter difficult to clean candy all over you and your kitchen. I can't guarantee this won't happen anyway, which is why I mentioned you should blow up several and make your peace with disaster before it happens. Layer the balloon several times and keep frozen until ready to use. When desired shape is achieved punch small hole in balloon and slowly begin to remove using your fingers to separate the balloon from the frozen candy. If any large pieces of your pumpkin core break, simply heat the edges and put it back where it broke from. Keep remaining candy melts to brush on final cake to create delicious seal.
• For Pumpkin Cake- Pre-heat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, set aside. In stand mixer, combine 4 cups white sugar. 2 1/2 cups vegetable oil, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 4 cups canned pumpkin. Beat until smooth and then add one egg at a time. Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into the wet. Butter and flour six 7" round cake pans and pour two cups batter into each. Bake three at a time at 350 for 30 minutes. Some cakes are finicky, but these are pretty foolproof and so delicious!
• Once removed from oven, wait 10 minutes, then remove from baking dishes, wrap loosely in wax paper and refrigerate until ready to use. At which point you will slice the rounds into thin moon-like crescents with a serrated blade and any additional pieces can be used later for pumpkin cake pops or just eating fresh.
• For Buttercream- In a stand mixer, beat room temp butter until light and the gradually add confectioners sugar. Beat until fluffy, then add 2 tbs heavy whipping cream, 4 tbs canned pumpkin, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp Pumpkin spice, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp Orange food coloring, 3/4 tsp brown food coloring and taste to ensure the flavor is to your liking.
• Remove cake crescents from fridge and candy core dome from freezer and frost and apply in two layers. Initial layer should start horizontal and the last layer should be vertical. Keep in mind pumpkins are somewhat irregular, so don't worry too much about imperfections. Refrigerate often to ensure cake is structurally sound and never work in a warm kitchen.
• Once built, frost with remaining buttercream and pipe stripes from top to bottom and blend for added dimension and flavor. Seal with leftover candy melts and finalize by painting additional shadows and highlights. Use a flame-heated blade to carve the jack-o-lantern. Cut a small mouse hole in the back and light with either a candle or a plug-in light. This cake has no supports, so know it must be kept cold as it could collapse if left at room temperature.
• Note: You'll need 3 batches of buttercream for this cake.

HALLOWEEN FUN - PUMPKIN CAKE O' LANTERN (JACK O'LANTERN)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350° and butter two 10-inch bundt cake pans.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the milk, pumpkin, and vanilla extract until smooth.
• In another large bowl, beat the butter or margarine and oil together with an electric mixer until combined. Next, beat in the sugar. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Alternately beat in the milk/pumpkin mixture and the flour mixture until just combined.
• Divide the batter between the two prepared pans. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
• Cool the cakes in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Frosting:
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the vanilla extract. Then beat in the powdered sugar gradually until the frosting is a spreadable consistency. Color about 1 cup of the frosting green and the rest orange.
• Assembly:.
• Trim the bottoms of the cakes so they lie flat against each other. Frost the flat surface of the bottom cake and place the other cake on top. Frost the entire cake orange. When the frosting dries, add green frosting leaves and top with the ice cream cone to create a stem.
• Decoration:.
• Sprinkle sugar over your work surface and use a rolling pin to flatten 12 large yellow and white gumdrops together into a pancake about 1/4 inch thick.
• Adults only - use a knife to cut out the eyes, nose and mouth. Microwave 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips for about 60 seconds.
• Dip the left side and bottom of the facial features in the melted chocolate. Dab a small amount of water onto the top surface of each feature, sprinkle the edible glitter on top, then press the facial features onto the cake.

HALLOWEEN JACK-O-LANTERN CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring the water, butter and sugar to a boil.
• Combine flour and pie spice; add to water mixture all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms.
• Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny.
• Drop 12 rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove to a wire rack.
• Immediately split puffs open; remove tops and set aside.
• Discard soft dough from inside; cool puffs.
• For filling, in a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and pie spice until smooth.
• Pipe into cream puffs.
• Top each with 1 tablespoon whipped topping; replace tops.
• For frosting, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
• Tint 1 tablespoon frosting green and 2 teaspoons orange; set aside.
• Stir cocoa into the remaining frosting.
• Pipe jack-o'-lantern faces with orange and chocolate frosting.
• Pipe stems with green frosting.

JACK-O-LANTERN SLOPPY JOE PIE (HALLOWEEN RECIPE)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. In a small bowl, combine the flour, salsa and chili sauce until blended; stir into skillet. Add the corn, chilies and brown sugar.
• Transfer to a deep-dish 9-in. pie plate. Unroll pastry; place over filling. With a sharp knife, cut out a face to resemble a jack-o'lantern; flute edges. Beat egg and food coloring; brush over pastry.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.