Think you don’t have time to make a showstopper dessert for Halloween? Think again! With the help of those mini chocolate donuts and a microwave to make a luscious orange curd, this cute and luscious No-Bake Halloween Torte can be made, start to finish, in about 30 minutes. If it’s convenient, the orange curd can be made up to a week ahead, or it can chill in the freezer while you’re whipping the cream. If you happen to be making the torte a day or two ahead, that’s perfectly fine, since the flavors blend better when wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for a while. This festive torte makes a perfect centerpiece for a Halloween BOO-ffet or it transports easily if you need to take a dessert to a Halloween party.

Orange and chocolate are a match made in heaven, so this orange and black torte not only looks great for any Halloween event, it actually tastes good. Food snobs may balk at using those little donuts, but they soak up the flavors and most people won’t guess what they are eating. (I never invite food snobs to my parties anyway because they aren’t very fun people.) Health food nuts may also have a fit, since the donuts are filled with lots of not-so-good stuff, but Halloween is not known as a healthy holiday, and it isn’t going to kill anyone to eat fun instead of healthy on one day of the year. Dieters can simply eat a smaller serving rather than skipping this dessert.

16 Servings

Orange Curd:
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
3 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons butter
1 pinch salt
Orange gel paste food coloring

Topping:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding powder
Orange gel paste food coloring

30 mini chocolate donuts
Peep Ghosts, or other Halloween decorations

1. Whisk together the yolks and sugar until well blended; stir in the remaining ingredients.
2. Microwave on high, stirring every minute, until thickened and the mixture coats a wooden spoon but is still liquid enough to pour. Make sure it doesn't boil.
3. Press the mixture through a fine sieve or fine strainer, stir in a few drops orange gel food coloring, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface, and chill (if you’re in a hurry, spread it on a shallow plate and place the mixture in the freezer – it will chill in about 10 minutes) or make it up to a week ahead and refrigerate).
4. Whip the cream with the powdered sugar and pudding powder until stiff peaks form; add enough food coloring to make it a bright orange.
5. Assembly: Arrange a layer of donuts on a serving tray; cover with 1/3 of the whipped cream mixture.
6. Spread 1/3 of the orange curd over.
7. Repeat twice, ending up with orange curd on top.
8. Top with the ghosts or other Halloween decorations.
9. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time. This torte can be assembled up to 3 days ahead.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 315 Calories from Fat 196
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 62% Protein 3% Carb. 35%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 14 g
Cholesterol 107 mg
Sodium 284 mg
Total Carbohydrate 27 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 15 g
Protein 2 g

Vitamin A 13% Vitamin C 10% Calcium 0% Iron 1%