Halloween is a time for reinvention and trying new things. We take ideas that seem mundane on any other day, and with an added creepy kick, they become unique Halloween entities. Pretty prom queens become zombie prom queens, pumpkins become jack-o-lanterns, and cupcakes become skull cakes. Mmm, skull cakes…
I love experimenting in the kitchen so I own a lot of interesting “novelty” baking items, and they never disappoint. Put a regular old cupcake into a pan shaped like a skull (or anything else unconventional) and the recipients are twice as appreciative. Presentation is an important part of creating or serving food that is frequently overlooked. If you bring in some cake to the office, your kid’s class, or a Halloween party, try using a shaped pan and see how everyone fawns over it. The large (full cake pan size) and small (large cupcake size) skull cake pans shown above are perfect for this. The simple eye and teeth details make icing a breeze since you just need to put a thin layer of frosting to cover everything and then follow the indentations with a smaller frosting tube. Even total baking novices can create a spooky Halloween cake with these pans!
UPDATE: Halloween Cupcakes for parties and events, when a whole cake just isn’t convenient.
I am actually looking to buy a Rat shaped cake pan; not a mold or sculpture pan. I don’t know where to look. Please If you have any ideas I would greatly appreciate it.
365 Halloween Response: I did a little Googling and didn’t see any sign of a rat shaped cake pan. Sounds like a great idea, though! Until some manufacturer hears your pleas and creates a shaped pan, you’ll have to do the shaping yourself. Horror cake maker extraordinaire Barbara Jo at TheyreComing.net made some really amazing cake and fondant rats for a Killer Rat Cake. Really detailed, but the absolute best inspiration available online. For an easier version, how about some smaller rats (alive or dead, your choice!) on top of a regular cake? Let us know what you come up with, Dustin!
on October 9th, 2008