Halloween Layer Cake

Cake

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

3 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1/4 cup baking cocoa

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon orange extract

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

10 drops yellow food coloring

6 drops red food coloring

Frosting

3 (3 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

5 3/4 cups confectioners sugar

2 tablespoons milk

8 drops yellow food coloring

6 drops red food coloring

Glaze

3 (1 oz.) squares semisweet chocolate

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Candy corn

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cake

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until mixture reaches a light and fluffy consistency. Add in eggs, one at a time; beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture -- alternating with 1 cup of milk, until both flour mixture and milk are completely mixed in.

In a separate bowl, combine cocoa, vanilla, and 1/4 cup water. Stir in 2 cups of the cake batter. Pour this chocolate cake batter into a greased and floured 9-inch round cake pan.

Add orange extract, orange peel and food coloring to the remaining cake batter.

Pour this orange cake batter into 2 additional greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

Bake cake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

Let cake cool thoroughly.

Frosting

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, milk and food coloring; stir until smooth and creamy.

Place one orange cake layer on a cake plate. Frost this orange layer with 1/2 cup frosting. Add the chocolate cake layer on top. Frost chocolate layer with 1/2 cup frosting. Add the remaining orange cake layer on top and use remaining frosting to frost top and sides of cake.

Glaze

In a microwave bowl, heat chocolate squares and whipping cream for 1 1/2 minutes on HIGH, or until completely melted. Stir mixture until it reaches a smooth consistency. Let cool for 2 minutes.

Slowly pour glaze over middle of cake. Allow glaze to run down sides of cake.

Garnish with candy corn.