desserts

I don't think I need to say much. I'll just let you bask in the awesome that is this cake.

It's made by Jet City Cakes.

While the recipe has made the rounds online, I thought I would post it anyway. I originally saw this on yumsugar.com. In honour of V-day, I am resurrecting it from Internet oblivion.

I should note the recipe is originally from Hey There, Cupcake! by Clare Crespo. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients and Tools

20 glass marbles or small balls of tinfoil
1 recipe batter for White Cupcakes (store bought or see below for the homemade recipe)
2 to 3 cups strawberry jelly or smooth strawberry jam
1 recipe Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting (store bought or see below for the homemade recipe)
Red and blue food colouring
Pastry bag and medium round tip (optional)

My first experiment with a brain mould: a classic panna cotta dessert.

Ingredients for the brain:

• 1 cup milk
• 5 teaspoons unflavored gelatin *
• 4 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup sugar
• pinch salt
• 2 Tablespoons vanilla

Ingredients for the sauce:

• 2 tablespoons of jam
• Approx. 1 cup pomegranate or blueberry juice

In my fair city there is a talented baker who runs the Wicked Little Cake Company, which started up in January of this year. Jaime, the Chief Wicked, uses fondant and cake batter like a sculptor uses clay. She can create almost anything you can dream up, including this bleeding heart cake.

Most customers have been family and friends, but with some more exposure, I imagine business should pick up for this independently run one woman baking machine.

I asked Jaime what she digs most about her craft:

I really like the jaw-dropping 'that's a cake?!' aspect of making sculpted cakes and trying to figure out how to make cake do things I never thought possible. Plus I've always liked playing with food - bonus if I get to play with other people's food!

I picked this recipe up from Freddie and Cindy's Halloween website. For some reason, the link to their homepage wasn't working so I couldn't verify whether or not they allow other people to use their information. So Freddie and Cindy, if you're out there, I hope you don't mind that I have posted your idea.

1. Make Rice Krispies treats as directed on the box.
2. When cool enough to handle, roll into balls the size of a...well, an eyeball.
3. Melt some white chocolate and coat the balls.
4. Place an M&M in the center of the eyeball and press lightly.
5. Place eyeball on wax paper to set up. Putting the tray in the fridge helps speed up the process.
6. Store in a container.

Want to get fancy with the treats? There are oodles of recipe ideas on the official Rice Krispies website.

I've been having a bit of fun this morning making cupcakes. You must understand, my devilish darlings, I don't bake. This was my first attempt at decorating cupcakes and I am pretty chuffed.

So I am not going to win any culinary awards for them, but it's a simple thing to do and I feel it adds just a bit of something spookily special to my party spread.