I am really getting into the Halloween spirit huh?
This cake was a little different for me, because I knew exactly what I wanted inside, but had NO IDEA what to do with the outside!
And even though the outside of this cake is just supposed to be pretty enough to pass for "please dont let people look at the outside and want to puke" I ended up loving it!
And it was really, really easy to do! Which is great cause when stuff is complicated my brain hurts.
I'm a simple girl I tell you. Simple!
The inside, on the other hand, was not as simple. There was lots of carving and lots of scraping and me getting out a toothpick to move around fine little cake crumbs.
But I like it too.
I think.
Can you tell what it is? My hubby did right away! He said, "Some diamonds lined up?"
*banging head against wall repeatedly*
Um, no. Its supposed to be a bat.
Oh well. At least it tasted ok.
It was white sheet cake (adapted from a recipe at allrecipes.com that I cannot seem to find for the life of me) and my favorite chocolate cake ever and chocolate frosting.
The top design is simply my glaze icing and the little tiny bit of chocolate for the bird and branch is left over chocolate frosting.
Even if you dont tackle the bat (heh, heh, tackle a bat, now that would be funny to see) I hope you will try the tree and bird design. It is really forgiving and will make such an impact!
(I just couldn't resist that big ole knife in there. I think thats about as scary as I get!)
I could tell it was a bat right away! Even without the title giving it away. ;) Amazed as usual!
Posted by: Jessica @ How Sweet | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:36 PM
oh my gosh! i LOVE it. the inside is awesome! i have totally gotten in the halloween spirit too. haha it's weird because i never have been before. :) must be all the halloween inspiration floating around the blog-o-sphere.
Posted by: libby | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:36 PM
I just want you to know I opened my email and saw the Iambaker update and said "YAY!" :]]
I love the outside, LOVE IT! and the bat is precious! Your cakes are always so adorable.
Two questions (hope you don't mind me asking), How did you get your BC that black? And is it royal on BC? I keep seeing on CC that you can't do that because the BC will break down the royal? But I am not pleased with how my BC piping skills are.
Anyway, I'm lovin this cake. I want to go downstairs and make one like it right now!
Posted by: Jae | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:39 PM
That is AWESOME! I love it! Silly me looked at the first picture and thought to myself, where is the bat?
Inside of course!!!
Beautiful as always! I am so so SO glad you are feeling better, both for you and for my cake viewing pleasure!
Posted by: Lorie | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:44 PM
MEN! I could tell the inside of your cake held a bat right away. It is so neat how you do these wonderful *surprise* cakes but the outside of this one is what really makes me go *OMG* I love your silouette. Absolutely love it.
Posted by: Paula | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:44 PM
I love it, I could tell that it was a bat.Wondering how you did the inside, it seems difficul.
Great job with the outside decoration. You are so talented.I hope you are feeling well
Posted by: Kathia Castro | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:45 PM
I don't know how you do that?!? Love the stunning black and white!
Posted by: Sue | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:51 PM
That is the coolest cake I've ever seen!! You must have a LOT of patience, because that couldn't have been easy to do!!
I can't decide which I like better, the inside or the outside. It's ALL fab!!
Kelly
Posted by: Kelly @ JAX does design | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:53 PM
I love YOU Amanda and this cake is sooo awesome! I love that little bird the most out of everything! I think it's so funny how your husband thought it was diamonds...I could definitely tell it was a bat. All you need to do now is mail a slice to Jamaica :)
Posted by: Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:54 PM
One word. Yum. If that is in fact, a word. Well done yet again, Amanda!
Posted by: Sarah | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:56 PM
Super Cute!! LOL @ your Hubbs comment, mine would probably do the same! Such dorks. Great job, lady!
Posted by: Bridgette | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:58 PM
The bat inside is really neat, but I think the outside is really nice too!
Posted by: Betty @ scrambled hen fruit | Oct 19, 2010 at 08:59 PM
this is so totally cute...just like you! however, i want the recipe for the glaze. you are so talented!xxxxx
Posted by: the urban baker | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:03 PM
This is really awesome! I can't believe you thought of that; I am impressed! :D And it totally looks like a bat :D
Posted by: Wardah Arif | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:05 PM
You drive me batty with your amazing creations :) I'm jealous! Great job!
Posted by: Renee | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:09 PM
LOVED IT!! Yes, I could tell it was a bat right away! :)
Posted by: Joy | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:10 PM
AHHH! Could you hear it? It happened every time I scrolled down to the next picture! AHHH!!! Love this! That tree in incredibly beautiful--like I want to frame it! Okay?
Silly question that I should just email you...why does my red sugar cookie frosting taste HORRIBLE? I used Wilton red coloring, but it was so bitter and the red wasn't even that dark. I just called them my diet cookies! :) Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Posted by: Londa | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:17 PM
OHH I'm just swooning over this.. I absolutely LOVE IT.. my house is completely monotone and I can't wait to try out my new pedestal ... I think I'm going to get my family involved in this one, I'm not very good at hand drawing...
Posted by: girl | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:18 PM
Hah. I knew that was a bat! You're so amazing at this!
Posted by: Wei-Wei | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:18 PM
I panted with enthusiasm when I saw you had a new post, and you do not disappoint! Seriously- you are such a bad a#* baker! I absolutely love your gorgeous gourmet cakes. Very, very fun. By the way- I was so sad not to have met you at BHF! we made a mutual bestie in jenjenk :)
Posted by: HeatherChristo | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:22 PM
amazing, amazing, amazing. as usual.
umm...i might be able to swing the bat (hah!) but there's no way I could draw that tree scene. you are an artiste!
Posted by: Becki D | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:43 PM
WOWOWOWOWOW! That's cool! I do hope you will come link this up at my Thursday Making It With Allie Link Party!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com
Posted by: Allie | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:48 PM
I love it! I almost hounded you this weekend, unable to properly enjoy it without a weekly fall/Halloween cake... but I gave you a rest for attending BlogHer. *wink*
Posted by: Navygreen | Oct 19, 2010 at 09:48 PM
You always make the most amazing cakes. I love the designs and surprises :)
Posted by: Foodsarefriends.wordpress.com | Oct 19, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Absolutely love it! You are so talented. I can't imagine having the patience to make such a cool "inside" to a cake.
Blessings to you, Kari
Posted by: Kari | Oct 19, 2010 at 11:06 PM
This is a beautiful... I think I know where my normal inspiration for this time of year went. I'm normally working on a few different recipes- but haven't gotten "into" it yet this year.
Posted by: Amber | Oct 19, 2010 at 11:20 PM
So cute! I love the bat. I could tell right now, even if your hubby couldn't lol!
Posted by: Laura Flowers | Oct 19, 2010 at 11:32 PM
Amazing!!! Super duper cute!!!
Posted by: Lesley Yates | Oct 20, 2010 at 12:08 AM
super cool!! I love all your 'inside' cakes! (is it what it is called?) ..they are so fun..like you never know what you get until you cut the cake! ..now that quote sounds familiar...lol!
Posted by: faithy | Oct 20, 2010 at 01:31 AM
WOW! What a great idea to bake for my class! I am not even going to TRY carving out the bat. Instead, I'll just try a white layer cake and the awesome icing on top!
but first I need my broken oven fixed!
Posted by: scatterbrain | Oct 20, 2010 at 01:55 AM
Just beautiful! You make the most amazing things:@)
Posted by: Lynn@HappierThanAPigInMud | Oct 20, 2010 at 04:44 AM
so glad i found your wonderful & very creative blog!
this cake is stunning!!
Posted by: linda | Oct 20, 2010 at 06:17 AM
Your cake is so beautiful!!! from the outside and the inside, it looks awesome!! congratulations for such a performance! it really looks like a bat!
Posted by: Charlotte | Oct 20, 2010 at 06:18 AM
Wow. I mean really. You have this surprise-cake thing down to perfection! (I posted a link on ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com, but I didn't reveal the surprise)
Posted by: meaghan (chic cookies) | Oct 20, 2010 at 07:22 AM
You almost made me cry with this one Amanda! I seriously think you are the most talented baker I know! How in the world did you come up with this idea??? Of course it looks like a bat! Leave it to a man to only see lined up diamonds. Duh! LOL. BTW, I stumbled your post. This, and you, deserve as much attention as possible! Excellent, exceptional, elegantly done, work!!!
OK, enough gushing from me. I could go on and on. :)
Renee
Posted by: Renee (Kudos Kitchen) | Oct 20, 2010 at 07:32 AM
I love it! You have such a creative mind! Thank you for sharing with us!
Posted by: cara | Oct 20, 2010 at 07:43 AM
Once again, you completely amaze me. Great job!!
Posted by: Christine Trebendis | Oct 20, 2010 at 08:10 AM
hahaha I was able to tell that it was a bat. it looks gorgeous inside and out. bet it tasted good as it looks
Posted by: Nicole | Oct 20, 2010 at 08:46 AM
Amanda this is amazing, unique, awesome and so many other words (LOL). I love your creative cakes!!
Posted by: Erica B. | Oct 20, 2010 at 08:51 AM
That is so awesome!! Good job!
Posted by: Ashley from Dallas | Oct 20, 2010 at 09:22 AM
What a FUN cake!!! You had me at the outside decor, then the cut through the inside came...WOW!!
Posted by: Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles | Oct 20, 2010 at 10:04 AM
So clever!!! What a fantastic job!
Posted by: Lisa | Oct 20, 2010 at 10:06 AM
That is the COOLEST cake EVER!
Posted by: Maria | Oct 20, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Every Batman-loving boy in the world would go crazy for this cake! Just thinking about cutting into it to surprise my son (10 years ago, sniff, he's too old for Batman now...) makes me smile. You are so clever! And the icing is seriously gorgeous.
Posted by: Stephanie Meyer | Oct 20, 2010 at 10:17 AM
So awesome!!!!
This is too clever!!!
=)
Posted by: Cassie | Oct 20, 2010 at 10:25 AM
So very clever and I knew it was a bat all along! The inside of the cake part looks quite time consuming. The frosted top - so darn GREAT! I bet the cake tasted great too!
Posted by: Jane M | Oct 20, 2010 at 10:29 AM
a bat! how adorable! your cake looks awesome too (:
http://greenoatsandjam.wordpress.com
Posted by: hannah {greenoatsandjam} | Oct 20, 2010 at 10:52 AM
We love the black and white design on top! I know others have already said this, but you are extrememly talented! The girls and I are going to attempt a bumble bee cake w/flower cake pops for their birthday this week. Could you send us some good cake vibes please ;)
Posted by: Mary | Oct 20, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I never would have thought of making a design for the inside of the cake. This is fabulous.
Posted by: CopyKat | Oct 20, 2010 at 12:22 PM
OMG. this is amazing!!! the best inside of a cake i've ever seen! super great. LOL @ your husband -- "diamonds lined up?" It's ok, boys see the world in a different way.
Posted by: kotomi | Oct 20, 2010 at 01:08 PM