Ghostly 'Boo-Day' Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• CHOCOLATE FROSTING:
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
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• 1-3/4 to 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• WHITE FROSTING:
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 4-1/2 teaspoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Orange and purple paste or gel food coloring

Directions

• In a saucepan, combine the water, butter, shortening and cocoa; cook and stir until butter and shortening are melted. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter mixture; mix well. Add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla; mix well.
• Pour into a greased and waxed paper-lined 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Gently peel off waxed paper. Transfer to a 17-in. x 12-in. covered board.
• In a saucepan, heat the cream until bubbles begin to form around sides of pan. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Place pan in a bowl of ice water; stir constantly until cooled. Gradually whisk in enough confectioners' sugar to achieve spreading consistency. Frost the top and sides of cake.
• In a small bowl, cream the butter and shortening. Beat in confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Place 1/3 cup in a small bowl; tint orange. Place 3 tablespoons in another bowl; tint purple.
• Trace a ghost pattern. Cut out with a shape knife, trace the ghost on chocolate frosting. Gently spread white frosting in ghost shape. Place orange frosting in a pastry or plastic bag; cut a hole in one corner. Pipe banner on ghost. Cut a hole in corner of another pastry or plastic bag; insert #2 round pastry tip and purple frosting. Pipe "Happy Boo-Day" on banner. Yield: 12-15 servings.

Download the pattern for Ghostly 'Boo-Day' Cake

Ghostly 'Boo-Day' Cake published in Country Woman September/October 2002, p30