Goofy Spooks Halloween Cake
By Amada Formaro

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 cooled, 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 toothpick 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 angry eyebrows over the cinnamon hots.

SPYING EYES Use miniature marshmallows for the eyes and miniature chocolate chips for the eyeballs. Use a toothpick 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 toothpick, 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 toothpick 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 toothpicks 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 toothpick 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.

Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She and her husband live in southern Nevada. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine at http://familycorner.com She can be reached at mailto:WebMom@familycorner.com