Cake:
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon instant coffee
1/3 cup boiling water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Topping:
1 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs
Skeleton Candies
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray cavities of Wilton Petite Loaf Pan with vegetable pan spray.
In small bowl, dissolve instant coffee into boiling water; set aside to cool.
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Add vanilla, chocolate, and coffee; mix well. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, starting and ending with flour; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until cake tester inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes; remove to cooling grid and cool completely before icing.
In microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips and cream for one minute on 50% power; stir to combine. Continue heating
at 30 second intervals until chips are melted and combined with cream. Let stand until thickened slightly. Spread the tops of each cake with a layer of chocolate cream; sprinkle with cookie crumbs, pressing lightly into chocolate. Insert skeleton candies.
Host a Ghoulish Gathering for more great Halloween recipes from Wilton
For additional Halloween ideas and directions for making cocktails, eyeball, skull and skeleton candies, and skull pound cake, go to www.wilton.com.