Hidden Treasure Chocolate Cake Recipes

TREASURE CHEST CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan--except use 1 cup water, the oil and eggs. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• From center of cake, cut one 3-inch crosswise strip (see diagram). Cut the strip diagonally in half to make two 9-inch triangular wedges. (Discard 1 cake wedge or reserve for another use.)
• On tray, place a 9x5-inch cake piece. Stir food colors into frosting to make golden yellow. Spread 1 tablespoon of frosting on 1 edge of triangular wedge of cake. Attach wedge, frosting side down, to 9x5-inch cake piece on tray, placing wedge along top edge of larger cake piece. Freeze all cake pieces 1 hour.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of frosting on top edge of triangular wedge of cake. Attach remaining 9x5-inch cake piece to cake wedge to look like partially opened treasure chest. To seal crumbs, frost cake with a thin layer of frosting. Refrigerate or freeze 30 to 60 minutes to set frosting. Spread remaining frosting evenly over entire cake. Pull fork through frosting to look like wood grain.
• Use pull-and-peel licorice to make handles and straps. Fill chest with chocolate coins, candy necklaces, and other hard candies. Add gummy ring half for clasp. Store loosely covered.

HIDDEN TREASURE CAKE

Steps:

• Place cake on serving plate and cut a slice off the top 3/4 inches thick.
• Cut a trench or tunnel 1 inch wide and 1 inch deep around the center interior of the cake, making sure not to cut through the bottom.
• Remove the cake cutout.
• Stir water into the jello powder until powder is completely dissolved.
• Add enough cold water to 1/2 cup ice cubes to fill to 3/4 cups and stir into jello mixture until ice cubes are completely melted.
• Set aside 1/2 cup of jello mixture in medium bowl.
• Add the Cool Whip and stir with a wire whisk until well blended.
• Cool in the fridge for 10- 15 minutes or until thick enough to spread.
• Refrigerate remaining jello mixture until thickened (5- 10 minutes, but it took me longer than that).
• Stir in 3/4 cups of the fruit and spoon into the tunnel in the cake.
• Replace the top of the cake and frost the entire cake with the Cool Whip and jello mixture.
• Garnish the top of the cake with the remaining 1/4 cup of the fruit.

HIDDEN TREASURE CHEST CAKE

Steps:

• Microwave chocolate and cream in large microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM (50%) 2 to 3 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1-1/2 min. Cool slightly. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating with electric mixer on high speed until mixture is well blended and of desired spreading consistency.
• Use a serrated knife to cut off top one third of cake. Set top aside. Place bottom of cake on large serving platter; spread with chocolate frosting. Scatter candies and some of the coins around cake as desired. Replace top of cake; spread with the remaining chocolate frosting to resemble a treasure chest.
• Decorate top of chest with string licorice and some of the remaining candies. Sprinkle wafer crumbs onto platter to resemble sand. Arrange any remaining coins and candy in "sand." Store in refrigerator.

HIDDEN TREASURE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Fill paper-lined muffin cups half full. Drop 1/2 teaspoon pie filling in the center of each; top with remaining batter. , Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , Meanwhile, cut cake rolls lengthwise (do not cut through); set aside. Place two tablespoons frosting in a small bowl; set aside. Tint remaining frosting with blue food coloring if desired; frost cupcakes., Place a cake roll on each cupcake. Decorate with assorted candies. Tint reserved frosting with yellow food coloring if desired; place in a resealable plastic bag. Cut a small hole in a corner of bag; pipe latches onto chests.

HIDDEN TREASURE COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar, the butter and vanilla. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
• Mold portions of dough around pieces of caramels to form 1-inch balls. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls about 1 inch apart.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. In small bowl, place additional powdered sugar. Roll cookies in powdered sugar while warm. Cool completely on wire rack, about 30 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar again.