Festive Halloween Layer Cake

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups 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 cup water

1/2 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 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

5-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons milk

8 drops yellow food coloring

6 drops red food coloring

GLAZE:

3 ounces semisweet chocolate

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Candy corn for garnish

Directions

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk to creamed mixture. Mix well. Combine cocoa, water and vanilla; stir in 2 cups cake batter. Pour into a greased and floured 9-in. round baking pan. Add orange extract, peel and food coloring to remaining batter. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. 

In a bowl, beat all frosting ingredients until smooth. Place one orange cake layer on a cake plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with chocolate layer; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with second orange layer. Frost the sides and top of each.

Microwave chocolate and cream on high 1-1/2 minutes or, stirring once. Stir until smooth; let cool 2 minutes. Slowly pour over cake, letting glaze drizzle down sides. Garnish with candy corn. Yield: 12-16 servings.