Spiderweb Cake
For a festive cake that's delightfully creepy-crawly, try this spiderweb cake. Cupcake spiders will give it an extra spooky finish.
Recipe Ingredients:
Yellow Cake:*
3/4 cup butter
3 large eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk
Creamy White Frosting:
1 cup vegetable shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons milk
To Make Spiderweb Cake:
1 recipe Yellow Cake
2 recipes Creamy White Frosting
2 (2 1/2-inch) baked cupcakes
1 (1 3/4-inch) baked cupcake
Orange paste food coloring
Black paste food coloring
3 tiny marshmallows
6 black pearl sprinkles or other tiny black candies
24 black shoestring licorice pieces
Desired paste food coloring(s)
Cooking Directions:
- For Yellow Cake: Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease and lightly flour two 8x1 1/2-inch round cake pans; set pan(s) aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined. Scrape sides of bowl; beat for 2 minutes more. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Spread batter in the prepared pan(s).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes for 9-inch pans, 30 to 35 minutes for 8-inch pans, 25 to 30 minutes for 13x9x2-inch pan, or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center(s) comes out clean. Cool cake layers in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans; cool thoroughly on wire racks. Or place the 13x9x2-inch cake in pan on a wire rack; cool thoroughly.
- For Creamy White Frosting: In a large mixing bowl beat shortening, vanilla, and almond extract with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, beating well. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar. Gradually add milk until frosting reaches a spreading consistency. Makes about 3 cups.
- To Assemble Spiderweb Cake: Tint one recipe Creamy White Frosting with orange food coloring. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread top of cake with orange frosting. Add second layer; spread top and sides with additional orange frosting. If desired, spoon some of the orange frosting into a decorating bag fitted with a small round tip; pipe a border around bottom of cake.
- Remove 1 cup of the remaining recipe of frosting and tint with black food coloring. Spoon black frosting into a decorating bag fitted with a coupler and a small round tip. Pipe frosting in a spiderweb pattern over top and sides of cake.
- For spiders, cut the rounded tops off two large cupcakes and one mini cupcake. Place one large cupcake top and the mini cupcake top on cake; place the remaining large cupcake top on plate. Change decorating tip on the bag of black frosting to a small star tip. Pipe stars of black frosting onto tops of cupcakes to cover completely. For eyes, cut marshmallows in half crosswise; use a small amount of frosting to attach a black candy pearl to each marshmallow half. Place eyes on spider cakes. Attach eight licorice pieces to each spider cake for legs. For spiders on cake, secure ends of legs in frosting. For spider on plate, use small dabs of black frosting to secure legs to plate.
Makes 12 servings.
*Or substitute with 2 (2-layer-size) packages yellow cake mixes, prepared, baked, and cooled as directed for 8-inch round layers.
Tip: To reduce the amount of black paste food coloring needed, stir in some cocoa powder before tinting the frosting black.
Recipe and photograph provided by Better Homes and Gardens - BHG.com a member of the Home and Family Network for the best of cooking, gardening, decorating and more. © Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved.