This rich chocolate cake offers a great opportunity to mix and match with some of the other recipes from our Halloween countdown. Consider taking a frosting recipe from one of our other offerings (maybe Caramel?) and use it to enhance this cake!

ILoveToBake.com
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN
Black Magic Cake
A rich, chocolate cake… Frost as desired! An Orange frosting would make the a wonderful cake for Halloween, and I don’t know about you, but Orange and Chocolate one of my favorite flavor combos!
This recipe makes two 9 inch round cakes or one 13×9 inch sheet cake.
Ingredients
2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
1 cup strong black coffee OR 2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee plus 1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extractHINT – * To sour milk: Use 1 tablespoon white vinegar plus milk to equal 1 cup.
Step by Step
Preheat oven to 350°F
1) Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or one 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
2) Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in large bowl
3) Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes (batter will be thin)
4) Pour batter evenly into prepared pans
5) Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean
6) Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks
7) Cool completely
8) Frost as desired
9) Serve and Enjoy!
Check out today’s Halloween Countdown recipe at TheArmchairChef.com

Caramel Apple Quesadillas

Serve these delicious cookies warm, and with a big tall glass of icy, cold milk!

ILoveToBake.com
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN
Soft Apple Butter Cookies
When I was in high school, we had a wonderful Divinity student, Frank, who lived with our family.I loved the situation! I got the big brother I had always wanted and Frank would bring back Homemade Apple Butter from his family’s farm!

The first day with a new jar of Apple Butter, from the farm, Daddy and I would sit at the kitchen table with a loaf of bread, the jar of Apple Butter and a knife each. We would spread and eat, and spread and eat until we were too full to move!

It was wonderful and my memories of it are even sweeter!

Ingredients
1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 egg
1/2 cup brewed coffee, room temperature
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups apple butter
1 cup chopped walnuts
Step by Step
1) In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar
2) Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition
3) Stir in coffee
4) In a different bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground nutmeg
5) Gradually add this to the creamed mixture
6) Stir in the apple butter and the walnuts. The dough will be sticky.
7) Refrigerate for one hourPreheat oven to 400 degrees F

1) Lightly grease the cookie sheets
2) Drop cookies from a teaspoon onto cookie sheet about two inches apart
3) Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are firm
4) Let cookies cool on a wire rack
5) Serve and Enjoy!

Check out today’s Halloween Countdown recipe at TheArmchairChef.com

Famous Restaurant Praline Pumpkin Pie

Also, check out

Tips and Tricks for Making Your Own Whipped Cream

There is nothing more American than Apple Pie. Here is a variation to add to your repertoire!

ILoveToBake.com
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN
Apple-Cider Pie
from Cooking Light Magazine
A great variation on that perennial favorite!
Ingredients
Pie Crust Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/3 cup ice water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chilled stick margarine or butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup vegetable shorteningPie Filling Ingredients
2 cups apple cider
1/3 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin-pie spice
7 Braeburn apples, peeled and quartered (about 3 pounds)
Cooking spray
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon sugar
Step by Step
Pie Crust Instructions
1) Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife
2) Combine 1/3 cup flour and ice water, stirring with a whisk until well-blended
3) Combine 1 2/3 cups flour and salt in a bowl
4) Cut in margarine and shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal
5) Add ice water mixture; toss with a fork until moist
6) Divide dough in half
7) Gently press each half of mixture into a 4-inch circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap
8) Cover each with additional plastic wrap
9) Roll one half of dough, still covered, into a 12-inch circle, and chill
10) Roll other half of dough, still covered, into an 11-inch circle; chillPie Filling Instructions
1) Bring cider to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan over high heat
2) Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 20 minutes)
3) Cool completely

Preheat oven to 450°

1) Combine cooled cider, 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla, and pie spice in a large bowl
2) Cut each apple quarter crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
3) Stir apple slices into cider mixture

Preheat Oven to 450 degrees F

Pie Assembly Instructions
1) Remove 1 sheet of plastic wrap from the 12-inch circle; fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray, allowing dough to extend over edge of plate
2) Remove top sheet of plastic wrap
3) Spoon apple mixture into crust
4) Brush edges of crust lightly with water
5) Remove 1 sheet of plastic wrap from the 11-inch circle, and place on top of apple mixture, plastic wrap on top
6) Remove top sheet of plastic wrap
7) Press edges of dough together; fold edges under, and flute
8) Cut 6 (1-inch) slits into top of pastry using a sharp knife
9) Combine egg and 1 tablespoon water
10) Brush top and edges of pie with egg mixture, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar
11) Place pie on a baking sheet, and bake at 450° for 15 minutes
12) Reduce oven temperature to 350° (do not remove pie from oven), and bake an additional 45 minutes or until golden
13) Cool on a wire rack
14) Serve and Enjoy

Check out today’s Halloween Countdown recipe at TheArmchairChef.com

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Apples and walnuts add a wonderful variation to a classic blondie bar cookie.

ILoveToBake.com
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN
Apple Walnut Cinnamon Blondies
This recipe is quick and easy to make, but your guests won’t know!
Apples and walnuts are packed into a moist cinnamon spiced blondie.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
3 medium apples – peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Step by Step
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
1) Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish
2) In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter, sugar, and egg until fluffy
3) Fold in the apples and walnuts
4) In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon
5) Stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture until just blended
6) Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish
7) Bake 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
8) Let cool briefly and remove from pan.
9) Serve and Enjoy!
Check out today’s Halloween Countdown recipe at TheArmchairChef.com

Frosted Nightmare Caramel Brownies

Ginger, ginger, ginger! If you like ginger, you will LOVE this recipe.

ILoveToBake.com
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN
Three Way Ginger Cookies
How can anyone resist Ginger Cookies with THREE different kinds of ginger?
Remember to allow at least 2 hours for the cookie dough to chill when you plan to make this recipe!
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
1/2 cup chopped crystallized ginger
Step by Step
1) In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth
2) Beat in the egg and molasses
3) Combine the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, and salt
4) Stir into the molasses mixture using a wooden spoon
5) Mix in the fresh and crystallized gingers
6) Cover, and refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours, or overnightPreheat oven to 350 degrees F

1) Shape dough into 1 inch balls
2) Place about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet
3) Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned
4) Cool on wire racks
5) Serve and Enjoy!

Check out today’s Halloween Countdown recipe at TheArmchairChef.com

Hot Mulled Cider

Cheesecake is an ever popular dessert. Here is a unique variation which could become a Halloween tradition!

ILoveToBake.com
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN
Pecan Pumpkin Cheesecake
Start with a AWESOME Baked Pecan Crumble Crust, and a layer of Pumpkin Decadence, and add CoolWhip Brand topping and more chopped pecans for an UNFORGETTABLE cheesecake!
Ingredients
Baked Pecan Crumble Crust Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup chopped pecansPumpkin Decadence Ingredients
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
5 cups frozen CoolWhip Brand Whipped Topping, thawed (retain 1 cup for serving)
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 (3.5 ounce) packages JELL-O Brand Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1/2 cup milk
3 cups pumpkin puree
4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Step by Step
Baked Pecan Crumble Crust Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
1) In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, butter or margarine, and 1 cup chopped pecans.
2) Beat until thoroughly combined.
3) Press mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
4) Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.Pumpkin Decadence Instructions
1) In a medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese, 2 cups of the CoolWhip Brand Whipped Topping, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract.
2) Beat until smooth
3) Spread evenly over cooled crust
4) In a large mixing bowl combine JELL-O Brand Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix, milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and 2 more cups of CoolWhip Brand Whipped Topping.
5) Stir until thoroughly combined
6) Spoon mixture over cream cheese layer
7) Top with remaining 1 cup of CoolWhip Brand Whipped Topping
8) Sprinkle with 1/2 cup chopped pecans
9) Chill at least 1 hour before serving
10) Serve and Enjoy!
Check out today’s Halloween Countdown recipe at TheArmchairChef.comHaunted Graveyard Pumpkin Mousse
ILoveToBake.com
Baked Pecan Crumble Crust
I first found this recipe combined with a wonderfully decadent Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe, but I know that it would work with MANY other recipes!
Ingredients
Baked Pecan Crumble Crust Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup chopped pecans
Step by Step
Baked Pecan Crumble Crust Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
1) In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, butter or margarine, and 1 cup chopped pecans.
2) Beat until thoroughly combined.
3) Press mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
4) Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Everybody loves brownies. Here’s a great recipe for brownies with a lovely Halloween twist.

ILoveToBake.com
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN
Spiderweb Brownies
The lovely drizzled spiderwebs on these brownies make them perfect for Halloween!
For the rest of the year… just think Jackson Pollock as you dribble!
Ingredients
Brownies Ingredients
4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans or walnutsDecoration Ingredients
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate
Step by Step
Brownies Instructions
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F
1) In a saucepan over low heat, stir unsweetened chocolate and butter until chocolate is melted.
2) Remove from the heat; stir in sugar.
3) Cool chocolate and butter mixture for 10 minutes.
4) Blend in eggs and vanilla.
5) Stir in flour and nuts.
6) Pour into a greased foil-lined 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan.
7) Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (do not overbake).Immediately after it comes out of oven…
Icing Instructions
1) Immediately drop marshmallow cream by spoonfuls over hot brownies
2) Spread evenly
3) Cool on a wire rack.
4) Lift out of the pan; remove foil
5) Place on a serving tray

For Spider Web Decoration
1) Melt semisweet chocolate and pour into a small zip close plastic bag
2) Cut a small hole in one corner of the bag
3) Drizzle chocolate over creme in a spiderweb design
4) Serve and Enjoy!

Check out today’s Halloween Countdown recipe at TheArmchairChef.com

Frozen Pumpkin Pie

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