What could be a better centerpiece for a Halloween BOO-ffet than a giant edible pumpkin-shaped cake? Placing two bundt cakes on top of each other makes a perfectly shaped pumpkin. Of course you can spend several hours in the kitchen making two of your favorite scratch cakes, or you can save time by using two readily available convenience products, cake mixes and canned frosting; with this method, your pumpkin cake can be baked and assembled in a minimum of hands-on time. The end results, however, will be "spooktacular!"

One of the best things about cake mixes is that with a few add-ins, you can vary the flavor to suit anyone's tastes. You can bake two different flavors for your centerpiece, or bake two of the same – it’s your choice. Try these shortcut cakes with fall flavors; they're delicious.

Another time-saver is to use Baker's Joy, available at most grocery stores in the aisle near the non-stick spray and the shortening. Baker's Joy can be sprayed inside the bundt pan and will coat even the hardest to-get areas to insure that there is no sticking.

If you like, you can use black decorating gel to make your cake into a Jack-O-Lantern. Just make the shapes with a toothpick on the surface of the cake and squeeze the gel to fill them in.

Pumpkin Centerpiece Cake

32 Servings

2 16 oz. cans vanilla frosting
Orange paste food coloring
Green paste food coloring
Black gel food coloring to make a Jack-O-Lantern Face (optional)
1 plain ice cream cone cup

2 Bundt Cakes (unfrosted) any flavor

1. Measure 3/4 cup frosting from one of the cans; tint it bright green by stirring in green food coloring; tint the remaining frosting orange.
2. Place one of the bundt cakes upside down (curved side on the serving platter - flat side up) onto a serving platter.
3. Spread a thin layer of orange frosting over the top of the cake and place the second cake (flat side down) on top of the first.
4. Frost the cake with the orange frosting, smoothing it out.
5. With a skewer or toothpick, make lines down the sides of the cake to resemble a pumpkin.
6. Frost the ice cream cone cup with green frosting and place it inside the hole of the bundt cake - wide side down; this will resemble a stem.
7. If making a Jack-o-lantern, draw a jack-o-lantern face with a toothpick on the front of the cake; fill it in with the black gel.
8. Transfer the green frosting to a decorating bag with a small plain tip and pipe lines to resemble stems over the top of the cake.
9. Place a leaf tip on the bag and pipe leaves decoratively.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 327 Calories from Fat 109
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 33% Protein 6% Carb. 61%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 12 g
Saturated Fat 8 g
Cholesterol 64 mg
Sodium 304 mg
Total Carbohydrate 50 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 20 g
Protein 5 g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 0%


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