Towering Haunted House Cake Food

HAUNTED-HOUSE CAKE

Steps:

• To assemble the cake: Secure one 11-inch cake layer to corresponding-size round foam board with a dab of chocolate buttercream. Spread 2 cups buttercream on top. Stack another 11-inch cake on top of buttercream, and frost as before. Top with remaining 11-inch cake. Spread 1 cup buttercream over top and sides of tier, scraping lightly to create a thin layer, or crumb coat, and refrigerate until frosting is firm, about 30 minutes. Spread 2 cups buttercream over entire tier until smooth.
• Repeat with 9-inch cake layers on second foam board, using 1 cup frosting between layers, 1/2 cup for crumb coat, and 1 cup for the final coat.
• Trim 5 dowels to height of 9-inch tier and 6 to height of 11-inch tier. Insert dowels in corresponding tiers in a circle, 2 1/2 inches from the edge of cake. Center 9-inch tier over 11-inch tier, pressing gently to secure. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip (#806) with remaining buttercream. Pipe pearls around bottoms of tiers for a border, as shown below. (Cake can be refrigerated up to 3 days before proceeding.)
• Make the steps: Fill a small bowl with cocoa powder. Cut torrone into 2-to 2 1/2-inch-long blocks. Cut toothpicks in half (1 for each block). Roll torrone in cocoa powder to coat. Insert toothpicks into torrone blocks, and push blocks into cake, starting from top of 9-inch tier and curving to bottom of 11-inch tier. Using a vegetable peeler, shave milk chocolate; sprinkle over tops of tiers.
• Finish the cake: Carefully transfer assembled cookie house to top of cake. Press cookie doors into cake in front of house. Decorate cake with cookie tree, tombstones, and candy cats, if desired. Press caretaker cutout onto top of cake, behind door. Arrange a flashlight behind cake to shine through door and windows.

TOWERING BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• For Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend butter, shortening and sugar with the paddle attachment until creamy. Add the cocoa to the butter mixture along with the milk and extract. Continue to mix until well combined. Turn off the mixer and gently fold in chocolate chips with a spatula. Set frosting in the refrigerator to firm up to a spreadable consistency while the cake is prepared.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, including sides. Cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit the pan bottoms and lay in place. Then spray the paper.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until smooth. Gradually add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time. Stir in the vanilla until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients in 3 batches, alternating with the milk. Beat for 1 minute after each addition to incorporate the ingredients and strengthen the cake's structure. Mix until the batter is smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the surface with a spatula, the pans should be 2/3 full. Place pans on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake springs back when touched.
• Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack, peel off the paper and let cool for at least 1 hour. Level the tops of the cakes with a serrated knife if domed in the middle. To divide each cake in half to give 4 layers: cut a vertical notch on the side of the cakes so you can easily line up the layers when assembling. Place one hand flat on top and the serrated blade along the side of the cake. Rotate the cake against the knife as you slice. Carefully separate the layers and brush away any loose crumbs. To make sugar glaze: combine sugar, water and rum in a small saucepan. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Brush the sugar glaze on the cake layers to moisten and add extra flavor.
• Put a cardboard cake round or plate on a lazy Susan; so it easier to turn and frost the cake. Lay 1 cake layer on the plate. With a metal spatula, spread about 1/2 cup of chocolate buttercream frosting on top of the base. Carefully place another cake layer on top. Do this for the remaining 2 layers.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake thoroughly. Refrigerate for 45 minutes before decorating or cutting.

HAUNTED HOUSE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake in 13x9-inch pan as directed on package, beating the dry pudding mix into the batter before pouring into prepared pan. Cool cake 10 min.; invert onto wire rack. Remove pan; cool cake completely.
• Melt chocolate as directed on package; cool 5 min. Pour into large bowl. Add sugar, butter and vanilla; beat with mixer on low speed until well blended. Gradually beat in milk until well blended and of spreading consistency.
• Transfer cake to cutting board; cut into pieces as shown in diagram. Arrange cake pieces on tray or platter as shown in diagram, securing pieces together with some of the frosting.
• Frost cake with remaining frosting. Decorate with remaining ingredients as shown in photo.