Halloween Strawberry Shortcake Skull Cake Recipes

HALLOWEEN COFFIN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease one 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan. Prepare and bake both pound cake mixes together in one pan as directed on package for 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan. (After baking cake, leave oven on to bake cookie "lid"). Cool cake 10 minutes on wire rack; invert cake onto wire rack and remove pan. Cool completely.
• With clean hands or wooded spoon, stir together cookie dough and flour until well combined. On lightly greased cookie sheet, roll out cookie dough to 12x8-inch rectangle. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. With large spatula, carefully remove cookie to wire rack. Cool completely.
• Place cake on large tray. With knife, mark 1-inch from each edge of cake. With fork, scoop out center of cake to within 1-inch from sides and bottom. Unwrap cookies and creme bars. Line inside of "coffin" with bar pieces. Place frosting in bowl. Stir in cocoa until well blended. Frost entire outside of coffin and top of cookie lid. Fill center of coffin with assorted wrapped candies. Unwrap some candies and decorate lid. Prop up one side of lid with wooded skewer or popsicle sticks wrapped with Pull-n-Peel candy
• CANDY CRITTERS Create "spooktacular" critter by using products such as nuggets candy, peppermint patties miniatures, chocolate drops, peanut butter cups as bodies. Then add licorice candy legs, candy whiskers, and candy and chocolate covered peanut butter candy eyes.

CHEF JOHN'S CLASSIC STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Melt butter over medium heat in small saucepan. Stir continually, letting foam dissipate, just until butter begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Whisk together self-rising flour and 1/4 cup white sugar in a bowl. Add milk, 1/4 cup cream, and toasted butter. Mix just until ingredients come together. Wad up dough and transfer to floured surface. Press or roll dough into a rectangle about 1-inch thick. Cut in half lengthwise, and then cut each half into 3 portions. Place shortcake pieces on prepared baking sheet. Brush with cream; sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake in preheated oven until gold brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer shortcakes to a rack to cool completely.
• Sprinkle sliced strawberries with sugar; stir until sugar begins to dissolve. Refrigerate until juice from berries is extracted, about 1 hour.
• Whip 3/4 cup cream with 1 tablespoon sugar and a few drops of vanilla in bowl with an electric mixer.
• Split biscuit in half. Place bottom half in a bowl. Spoon strawberries and juice over shortbread half. Top with shortbread top and spoon on more strawberries and juice over the shortbread. Finish with a dollop of whipped cream.