… I adore Halloween… if there was one festival in the year when I wish I was American then this has to be it. Whilst for us in the UK and the rest of the western world it really is one of those daft, commercial festivals with no real roots, for them, other than Thanksgiving, it seems to be their own true holiday and boy do they lavish in it… it’s serious business, steeped in folklore and tradition and I think is an incredible way to welcome the winter months in style… and there have been some incredible halloween recipes out there in blog-land but one that caught my eye and inspired me to get creative was this very simple bundt from the brilliant Lizzie over at me and my shadow… whilst Lizzie has gone less for horror and more for taste it totally sparked my wicked side…
halloween bundt
I wanted to keep this really simple so that anyone could have a go at creating it… so the cake itself is really just a sponge with a heck of a lot of red food dye – although I think I could have gone further with it – and then it’s all about some very simple decoration in the form of some melted chocolate which I brushed on to create a ‘log’ effect and some spiderwebbing with white icing… believe me, if I can do this then so can anyone…
for the sponge
3 large free-range eggs
240g sugar
240g butter
240g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 teaspoons good quality red food colour
a little milk
for the icing
90g very dark chocolate
150g icing sugar
a little water
pre-heat the oven to 170C and grease your bundt tin – I recon this recipe will work for any size
cream the butter and sugar till light and fluffy then add one egg and beat in followed by a third of the flour and baking powder and beat in, continue to add eggs and flour until they’ve all gone and then add a little milk to slacken along with the vanilla and food colouring till you beat it to a colour that looks suitably horrific
pour into your bundt tin and bake for 30 mins or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean – set aside for 5 mins then turn out and let it cool entirely
melt the dark chocolate and then brush it on to the cake using a pastry brush. Once it’s cooled and hardened a little, mix the icing sugar with enough water to create a thickish paste and drizzle on in a spiderweb pattern
eat and of course, enjoy!
Love this Dom – such a simple idea but looks really effective! Vohn x
Great cake, really effective without being too complicated. GG
Lovely that white glaze spider's web on the dark chocolate, Dom. It's perfect for Halloween even without the red inside!
What a fab cake!
It makes me wish I liked halloween more than I do, but round here it's just a load of kids in scary masks knocking on the old folks' doors and begging chocolate ! They look threatening enough without the masks anyway but woe betide anyone who doesn't have a decent selection of fun-size in stock, unless you want your tyres let down or the dog poisoned…….!!
Absolutely fantastic! what a great presentation, and though Hallowe'eny in spirit, it looks very tasty too. I have seen some elaborate Hallowe'en cakes with skulls and disgusting entrails falling out that look pretty unappetizing, even if skillful. This gorgeous cake I am happy to try.
I generally hate halloween themed cake but there is something so appealing about this one!
It looks very unassuming until you cut into it Dom.
Amazing! Was going to do a bundt (the burnt sugar one from Saturdays guardian cook section) for our mega Halloween party, but I hadn't thought of decorating it! I'm not sure I'm capable of the webby thing, but I'm desperate to try (this WILL end in disaster. Me and icing are not friends!)
Very clever! And neat, in the English sort of way, rather than the American, if you see what I mean. 🙂
That is so impressive!!! Love it…
Love it!! That is so great!
I hadn't really realised it before but last night as I was going through my box of Halloween stuff hubby commented that I might love Halloween as much as Christmas! He had a point although Christmas wins BUT I do love Halloween and love the fact that here in Canada I get to make a big deal of it! Roll on Saturday and our Halloween Party!!
What a spectacular cake! Your decorations are wonderful – it would be perfect for a party!
This looks incredibly perfect! Lovely choice of colours x
I love Halloween too! This is such a simple yet impressive cake- I love it!!
Oooooh spooooky! Love that red food dye and you are a dap hand with that spider web icing. Love it and I just know it will taste good.
My Halloween birthday boy would love this cake! Yes, it is a special holiday here in the US. Not growing up with it and now living it, it is pretty need. Hope you can make it across the ocean to celebrate with us one day! Yes, you can bring your cake, too. 😉
This is amazing. I love the cobweb decoration. This would be perfect at any Halloween party 🙂
Dom, that is fucking amazing. I love it!
Such an artist, love it, makes me wish I were a chocolate spider to sit on it:-)
It looks absolutely stunning Dom, I love it! x
That is amazing!
Fab bundt, Dominic, it looks amazing. We've never really got into Hallowe'en, but I agree that the Americans really seem to throw themselves into it. My boys are going out trick or treating on their own for the first time this year, while I hand out sweets to anyone who knocks our door.
What a creative idea. It's so simple to prepare and makes a wow statement. Love this!
But where's the spider???
Did it! Was RIDICULOUSLY pleased with myself. Thanks so much for the idea (although the Guardian Burnt Sugar bundt… not so much. Load of extra hassle for something a bit meh. Should've done your red sponge).