PEEPS® Halloween Red Velvet Layer Cake

Directions

• Step one

  Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 8-inch round pans with baking spray.

• Step two

  Blend cake mix, buttermilk or water, eggs, and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer at low speed until moistened, about 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.

• Step three

  Pour batter evenly into pans. Bake 24 to 28 minutes, until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 15 minutes, remove from pans and cool completely.

• Step four

  Place one cake layer on serving plate and frost the top with about 1/2-cup cream cheese frosting. Tear 6 PEEPS® Marshmallow Ghosts into small pieces and press into frosting. Top with second cake layer.

• Step five

  Frost top and sides of cake with remaining cream cheese frosting, leaving the sides of the cake exposed so you can see the red cake through a very thin layer of frosting. Refrigerate cake 30 minutes, until frosting is cold and firm.

• Step six

  Pour heavy cream into a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave 30 seconds. Pour hot cream over white chips in another small bowl and whisk until smooth. Microwave in 5 second increments if needed to finish melting the chips. Add enough red food coloring gel to dye it bright red.

• Step seven

  Pour glaze over the cold cake and push it to the edge of the cake with an offset spatula so that it drips down the sides. Refrigerate 15 minutes to set the glaze.

• Step eight

  Place 3 PEEPS® Marshmallow Ghosts on lollipop sticks and remaining 3 PEEPS® Marshmallow Ghosts on toothpicks. When red glaze has set, insert PEEPS® into the top of the cake. Decorate with Hot Tamales® and sprinkles, pressing gently into the glaze. Slice and serve red velvet layer cake!