Haunted House Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FOR HAUNTED-HOUSE CAKE

Steps:

• Combine egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of a standing mixer; set over a saucepan of simmering water, whisking (by hand) until sugar dissolves and mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer bowl to mixer, and whisk on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and mixture is cool, about 10 minutes. 3. Reduce speed to medium, and add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until combined before adding more. Reduce speed to low; whisk in chocolate, then whisk over medium-high until well combined. Buttercream can be refrigerated up to 3 days, or frozen up to 1 month, in an airtight container. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat on low speed until smooth.

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.

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.