Recipes

Jack-O’-Lantern

1 Mins read
Scroll to recipe
Share
Jack-O'-Lantern

Jack-O'-Lantern

amanda

Equipment

  • Carving Knife - A sharp knife specifically designed for cutting intricate shapes out of vegetables such as pumpkins.

  • Pumpkin Scraper or Scoop - Essential for removing seeds and stringy insides from the pumpkin, leaving it ready to be carved.

  • Stencil Set (Optional) - For those who prefer a template-based approach to design their Jack O' Lantern faces or decorations.

  • Glasses and Protective Gloves - Safety gear for protecting eyes from debris and hands from cuts during carving.

  • Pumpkin Carving Kit - Includes various sizes of knives, scoops, potentially including templates for different designs.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons shortening

  • 2 tablespoons flour

  • 1 recipe Chocolate Cake Batter

  • 1 recipe Creamy White Frosting

  • Green gel or paste food color

  • Orange gel or paste food color

  • 1 small waffle ice cream cone

  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) black fondant

  • Black decorating sugar, for sprinkling

  • Two 6-inch half-sphere cake pans (such as Wilton Sports Ball set) or two 1 1/2-quart

  • ovenproof bowls

  • Waxed or parchment paper

  • Toothpicks

  • Wire cooling racks

  • Glass measuring cup

  • Small offset spatula

  • Cake plate or 4-inch round cardboard base (optional)

  • Plastic straw

  • 2 decorating bags, #70 leaf tip, and #5 round tip

  • Rolling pin

  • Small, sharp knife

  • Small plate

  • Compote or shallow bowl, for serving

Instructions

1

Instruction 1

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease the bottom of each cake pan, then line it with waxed paper or parchment paper and lightly grease and flour the bottom and sides. Divide the batter between the pans and bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 minutes. Cool the cakes completely in the pans on cooling racks and then turn them out onto the racks.
2

Instruction 2

2. While the cakes are cooling, transfer 1 cup of the frosting to a glass measuring cup. Tint it green (see Decorating Tips). Tint the remaining frosting orange.
3

Instruction 3

3. Using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of the orange frosting over the flat surface of 1 cake. Invert the second cake on top of the first, joining the flat surfaces of both domes together. Transfer the assembled cake to the cardboard base, if using, or a cake plate. Cover the cake completely with the rest of the orange frosting.
4

Instruction 4

4. To make rib indentations as shown in the photo, hold a plastic straw against the cake, curving it from bottom to top. Lift it off, reposition it, and press again. Repeat all around the cake. (Gently incise the ribs with a skewer if you don't have a straw.)
5

Instruction 5

5. For the stem, invert the ice cream cone and, using a clean spatula, cover it with the green frosting; add more frosting at the top to give the stem a curved tip. Place the stem on the top of the cake.
6

Instruction 6

6. Fit a decorating bag with a coupler and the leaf tip; add 1 cup of the green frosting to the bag. Referring to the photo, pipe several leaves around the base of the stem. Hold the bag at an angle next to the stem. Squeeze out some frosting, allowing it to fan into a wide base, then decrease the pressure and slowly pull the tip away, lifting slightly, to form a point.
7

Instruction 7

7. Remove the leaf tip and replace with the round tip. Pipe tendrils around the stem and leaves. Place the tip where you want the tendril to begin. Using even pressure, squeeze out some frosting and move the tip to draw the tendril. Release the pressure and lift the tip when the tendril is the desired length.
8

Instruction 8

8. Using a rolling pin, roll the fondant to 1/8 inch thick. Referring to the photo and using a small, sharp knife, cut out the features. For the eyes, cut 2 triangles about 1 1/2 inches wide at the base and 1 1/2 inches tall at the center. For the nose, cut another triangle a little smaller than the eyes. Cut the smile to be about 4 inches from tip to tip. You can draw a paper pattern first if you like.
9

Instruction 9

9. Spread the black sugar on a small plate (large enough to hold the smile) using the back of the spoon. Press each cutout into the sugar and then invert the coated cutout onto the pumpkin to form the face, pressing it into the frosting. Transfer the cake to the serving dish if you have not already done so.
You may also like
Recipes

hot-buttered-rum

1 Mins read
Introduction Discover the cozy warmth and delightful flavors of a timeless classic. The Hot Buttered Rum recipe invites you to indulge in…
Recipes

Fish Vermicelli with Fresh Dill and Pineapple Sauce

1 Mins read
Introduction Dive into the delightful world of flavors with “Fish Vermicelli with Fresh Dill and Pineapple Sauce”, a unique culinary experience that…
Recipes

Endive and Chicory Salad with Grainy Mustard Vinaigrette

2 Mins read
Introduction This Endive and Chicory Salad with Grainy Mustard Vinaigrette is a delightful combination of the earthy, slightly bitter flavors of Belgian…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *