Boneyard Chocolate Cake

Happy Halloween!  Before we set out to go trick-or-treating this evening, I wanted to share with you this basic chocolate cake and frosting recipe.  This boneyard cake was created for my son’s birthday a couple of weeks ago and everyone loved it.  It’s a great fuss-free recipe that is a must-have in your personal recipe box.

This time, I used my favorite Wilton Candy Melts mold of small skeletons to decorate the cake.  By using white (or off-white) Candy Melts such as marshmallow, white chocolate and my personal favorite, coconut flavor, the decorations really pop out and make an impression.  Plus, they are so sweet and tasty to enjoy as a fun treat on their own.

Boneyard Chocolate Cake

For celebrations other than Halloween, Wilton has a never-ending variety of molds, flavors and colors of candy melts.  Candy melts can be used to decorate cake pops, cookies, fruit and even potato chips.

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Boneyard Chocolate Cake

Boneyard Chocolate Cake 
Serves 6

Ingredients
2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup hot water

Ingredients for frosting
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar

For candy melt bones
6 ounces Wilton Candy Melts, White variety

Method
Preheat oven to 350° F.  Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.

In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Mix at medium  for 2 minutes.  Carefully add hot water.

Pour evenly into pans.  Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and when tested with a toothpick.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes, remove and let cool completely on wire rack.

To give the cake a tiered effect, place an upside down bowl (size of bowl slightly smaller) on one of the cakes and cut around it with a serrated knife.  You can also leave as is for a 9-inch two-layered cake.

Frost and decorate with candy melt skeleton pieces.

Method for frosting
In a large mixing bowl, combine margarine and cocoa powder.  Beat with hand mixer until well mixed.  Add milk and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Add confectioner’s sugar 1/4 cup at a time until desired consistency.  Frost cooled cake using a decorator spatula for ease.

Method for Candy Melt Bones

In a double boiler, fill lower pan with water to below level of top pan. Heat water to a simmer, then remove from heat. Put Candy Melts in top pan and set in position on lower pan. Stir constantly, without beating, until smooth and completely melted.

Pour melted candy onto Wilton’s Skeleton Bones Candy Mold.  Let candy set for at least half hour.  Carefully remove candy from mold and decorate your cake.

This is a sponsored post as part of the Wilton Treat Team.  All opinions are 100% my own.