Sorry. That is a bit presumptuous to just assume I can call my cake beautiful.
Trust me, I'm just trying to pretend I am funny.
Anywho, I have been thinking about this particular cake for about a month now, but just never felt good enough to make it. Well, I am feeling better and better everyday, and I suddenly had the urge to tackle this cake!
Ahhh! Is it scary or what?
I kid.
I have made a cake similar to this before, but I really wanted to attempt ganache again. I wanted to see if I could make it shiney and beautiful like my culinary hero Ina Garten.
I did. But then I used waaaaaayyyyyy to much and it got all gloppy.
Ganache
16oz bittersweet chocolate
12 oz heavy cream
Chop chocolate into fine chips (or use a bag or chips) place in heat safe bowl. Heat cream to a soft rolling boil then pour over chocolate. Stir and cover with saran wrap. Let sit anywhere from 1 hour to overnight.
But now for the fun part.
Or, the "boo" tiful part.
I tried a brand new recipe for a sweet marshmallow buttercream to make some whimsy little ghosts on my cake.
Frosting
2 sticks butter (I use unsalted)
2 cups powder sugar
1 jar marshmallow fluff (7 oz)
2 teaspoons clear vanilla extract
In a bowl, add room temp. butter and sugar together. Mix until fluffy. Add marshmallow and vanilla, and mix well.
I used a bit of my glaze icing and added some scary expressions to the ghosts.
Ok, ok, so they arent scary. My kids even laughed at me.
But I sorta liked them.
The super scary and halloween inspired inside is red velvet.
I gotta tell ya, I was on the HUNT for a good red velvet. I didnt want one the burned your eyes out it was so red, (we all know I can make those) I just wanted one that would taste good.
What I discovered was that a good red velvet cake needed to have a few key ingredients to be yummy. Cocoa, buttermilk, and vinegar. If you have some variation of these ingredients, you will have a decent tasting cake!
I used a version of this one on Food Network.
Red Velvet Cake
- 1 cup shortening
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 2 ounces red food coloring
- 2 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the shortening, eggs and sugar. In a separate small bowl, mix together the cocoa and food coloring. Add the paste to the shortening mixture. Sift the flour and salt together over parchment. Add to the batter alternately with the buttermilk in 3 additions. Add the vanilla extract. Fold in the baking soda and vinegar. Pour the batter into 2 greased 9-inch cake pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until an inserted cake tester comes out clean. Let cool on a cooling rack. Invert the cakes from the pans.
And there you have it! A boo-tiful and fun cake that is sure to be the hit of any Halloween celebration!
I think it is very boo-tiful!! LOL My husband has already put in a request for me to make this cake! He saw the picture and was like, I want that! Glad you are feeling better. :)
Posted by: Joy Ellis | Oct 01, 2010 at 05:39 PM
It is boo-tiful! Can you send me a piece? Please?
Posted by: Renee | Oct 01, 2010 at 05:43 PM
a-dorable!! and I am thinking that the marshmallow buttercream must be DEEEELICIOUS! Eh??
Posted by: Becki D | Oct 01, 2010 at 05:46 PM
Is there a house near you for sale? Because I SERIOUSLY want to live near you. Really near, like in your basement. (That sounds creepy.)
This cake is INCREDIBLE! I love the ganache, the ghosts, the red velvet, everything!!!
I leave you with a song, "Won't you be, won't you be, won't you be my neighbor.." (courtesy or Mr. Rogers).
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | Oct 01, 2010 at 05:50 PM
So CUTE! I love it
Posted by: colleen B | Oct 01, 2010 at 06:11 PM
This is THE cutest Halloween cake...ev-ah!
Posted by: Ihearttherockies | Oct 01, 2010 at 06:13 PM
Very cute and clever! I love to bake for the crew at work and this will be one i will make as an extra. i never can have too many cakes at my work. Thanks so much. Halloween cakes are so much fun to make.
Posted by: Bonnie Bakes | Oct 01, 2010 at 06:26 PM
ADORABLE!!! I especially enjoyed the little ghosts, and then I saw that it was red velvet. Clever :)
Posted by: Margie | Oct 01, 2010 at 06:48 PM
So cute! I love how the ghosts turned out. What tip or technique did you use to get them on the cake?
Posted by: angien24 | Oct 01, 2010 at 07:05 PM
So glad to hear you're feeling better and better!
This is beautiful and the little ghosts remind me of a choir. :] Very cute!
Posted by: Jae | Oct 01, 2010 at 07:20 PM
It's so BOO-TIFUL!!!!! I love it :)
Posted by: Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} | Oct 01, 2010 at 08:11 PM
Love those cute little ghosties on top!
Posted by: Betty @ scrambled hen fruit | Oct 01, 2010 at 08:16 PM
Amanda, I LOVE IT!!! Glad you're feeling better! :)
Posted by: Sue | Oct 01, 2010 at 08:17 PM
You've topped yourself with this one Amanda! Simply the cutest Halloween cake I've ever seen!!! No joke!!
Posted by: Renee (Kudos Kitchen) | Oct 01, 2010 at 08:19 PM
Super fun! :)
Posted by: Stephanie | Oct 01, 2010 at 08:22 PM
So cute! Did you pipe the ghosts? Or am I just brain-dead tonight? (Zombies, ghosts . . . .)
Posted by: Jenny | Oct 01, 2010 at 11:19 PM
Wow!!!! This is so impressive....well all your fun creations are impressive! Martha Stewart better make a run for it because I think you will quickly be taking over her job! How did you make your ghosts on top of your cake? I so have to know, because I am hosting a family friendly Halloween party this month and I think this would be a huge hit...
Posted by: Heather | Oct 01, 2010 at 11:21 PM
This cake is fantastic! So creative. Love it.
Posted by: Lora | Oct 01, 2010 at 11:22 PM
What kind of white icing did you use under the ganache? I am sooo making this for my son's 4th birthday party next week!
Posted by: Amanda | Oct 01, 2010 at 11:24 PM
YUM!
I need to figure out what Halloween cake I am doing for my Ruby's birthday! I think I am in denial that October is here. And I think I am in denial that my baby is turning 3! And that her big sister is turning 7. And that it is OCTOBER!!!! Did I say that already?n It's OCTOBER!
Posted by: Lorie | Oct 01, 2010 at 11:26 PM
I think this is just WAY too cute! There's so much marshmallow going on in my life right now. I made smores pie the other day but this is so much cooler!
Posted by: Wei-Wei | Oct 02, 2010 at 12:29 AM
Those ghosts are so adorable! <3 It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside hehe!
Another beautiful cake! Keep em coming :)
Posted by: Teegg | Oct 02, 2010 at 01:34 AM
OMG this looks absolutely amazing! I want to just dive right in, I love red velvet cake. When I first saw the pic I assumed you purchased the little ghosts at a confection shop, can't believe you made them, how did you do it?
Posted by: Grace | Oct 02, 2010 at 02:10 AM
This cake looks too yummy to eat!
Posted by: Carissa McCaughin | Oct 02, 2010 at 02:33 AM
This is a seriously boo-tiful cake. You have iced it so incredibly neatly too. What did you use to get such a perfect
Finish on the buttercream?
Posted by: Alice | Oct 02, 2010 at 02:56 AM
This is incredible! It's so cute and decorated to perfection!
Posted by: Jennifer @ maple n cornbread | Oct 02, 2010 at 05:35 AM
Mind blowing. Every single thing I've seen from you so far, I've left the blog thinking "I WANT TO MAKE THAT!"
Posted by: Celeste @ Berrytravels | Oct 02, 2010 at 05:56 AM
What?! No, SO booootiful and very very very scary. Oh, those ghosts are making me shudder with their scariness! Eek! Well, now wait a minute, let me get a little closer. Okay, yes. Yes. They are cute. Ridiculously cute. Sorry. Kids are right. Ridiculously cute.
Posted by: meaghan (chic cookies) | Oct 02, 2010 at 07:17 AM
Great question Grace! I just grabbed a large piping bag, filled it with the marshmallow frosting, then cut off a big tip. The easy part was just piping them out! :)
Posted by: Amanda Rettke | Oct 02, 2010 at 07:20 AM
You truly amaze and inspire me with with your creativity....this cake is gorgeous! Those ghosts are so not scary-they are like the CUTEST things ever. Gorgeous photography! xo
Posted by: marla {family fresh cooking} | Oct 02, 2010 at 07:27 AM
Beautiful Amanda!!! It's like a piece of art.
Posted by: Gina @ Skinnytaste | Oct 02, 2010 at 07:37 AM
Amanda, one more question, what type of icing did you use on the base of the cake. I am starting to make more cakes and this looks fantastic, so smooth.
Btw, thank you so much for the reply!
Posted by: Grace | Oct 02, 2010 at 07:59 AM
Just when I think you can't possibly get any more creative, you come up with this. It is the cutest Hallowe-en cake I've ever seen. What a delightful treat.
Posted by: Paula | Oct 02, 2010 at 09:12 AM
Love this cake, what a great addition to any halloween party! It is absolutely "boo" tiful! Love those marshmallow ghosts!
Posted by: Lauren @ Crave. Indulge. Satisfy. | Oct 02, 2010 at 09:46 AM
Amanda - it's people like you and blogs like this that make me look good! I am now officially my circle's Martha Stewart. Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you're starting to feel better. I can totally sympathize.
Posted by: Laura | Oct 02, 2010 at 10:57 AM
I love this cake. Simple - but PERFECT. I want to make it. NOW.
Posted by: Andrea | Oct 02, 2010 at 02:07 PM
super cool! you're my hero!
Posted by: laci | Oct 02, 2010 at 03:04 PM
I LOVE your cake!!! Awesome. I can't stop looking at it!!
Shelly
Posted by: shelly | Oct 02, 2010 at 08:14 PM
Hi there, I followed you from (flickr) girl japan, this is just utterly amazing. It's a bit hard for me to find marshmallow cream, the kind I can find from my home country, but do you think I can adapt by just using marshmallow? I could melt it down possibly?
Posted by: girl paraphernalia | Oct 02, 2010 at 08:56 PM
That looks so amazing! To be honest, what really attracted me was the white icing. It looks absolutely perfect! *_* Snow white and flawless!
Posted by: cutato | Oct 03, 2010 at 01:59 AM
Gorgeous! I'm so glad you're feeling better, and got such wonderful news at the doctor. That ganache looks waaayyy too inviting!
Blessings...
Posted by: Amy K | Oct 03, 2010 at 06:43 AM
what a super cute cake!
Posted by: Courtney | Oct 03, 2010 at 07:21 AM
Really, I am completely speechless.
First the cake. Then the ghosts (how adorable are they?). Then the red velvet cake inside???? OMG.
Posted by: Barbara | Oct 03, 2010 at 10:38 AM
That's so cute! The ghosts are adorable :)
Posted by: Bethany | Oct 03, 2010 at 02:14 PM
WOW!!! Amanda, I just came across you in the Tasty kitchen and found your blog. I feel really excited right now, and even just made my husband come look at your boo-tiful cake. (he wasn't as excited as I was- but what does he know?) You are incredibly talented and I am excited to plow through your entries. I can allready tell that I will be making your cake for a school party- I will let you know how it goes!
XO, Heather Christo
Posted by: HeatherChristo | Oct 03, 2010 at 02:34 PM
by the way- my daughter was VERY excited when she saw your cake!!
Posted by: HeatherChristo | Oct 03, 2010 at 02:36 PM
This looks really cute! Did you pipe them directly onto the cake or did you pipe them on parchment and transfer them over? I might try this, but I imagine messing this up somehow.
Posted by: Chrisgelica | Oct 03, 2010 at 05:15 PM
I think it's beautiful too..or shall i say boo-tiful? lol! Love the ganache and the fact that it's a red velvet cake inside!
Posted by: faithy | Oct 03, 2010 at 11:54 PM
I love how you decorated the cake! And the ghosts on top are perfect for Halloween.
Posted by: Susan | Oct 04, 2010 at 02:22 AM
Love the red velvet on the inside - a great Halloween-y touch!
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 04, 2010 at 08:15 AM