My kids usually ask me to make a cake that looks like some kind of insect, animal, robot, or Star Wars related theme for their birthday. Whether it’s a chocolate brownie cake, ice cream cake, or something else, it’s going to be good!
Being that I try to keep things simple and, to be honest, I don’t have the patience to make those elaborate, beautiful cakes that some of my friends can make….this Chocolate Brownie Cake – Birthday Spider style – is what I came up with.
It’s easy, took me less than 15 minutes to decorate, and the kids are over the moon happy about it. Mission accomplished!
The main reason I’m sharing this cake recipe with you is that it is delicious! It is light, chocolaty, chewy delicious, and if you decide to make your own spider, know that it goes well with Halloween as well.
This particular child’s birthday is the week before Halloween, so it seemed like it fit right in. I’ll give you the chocolate brownie cake recipe and the decorating instructions. If you have other ideas for it, I’d love to hear them.
Chocolate Brownie Cake
Ingredients:
- In a Mixing Bowl, Cream:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- In Another Bowl, mix:
- 2-2/3 cups flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 2 t. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients Together, Add:
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions:
- Grease and flour a large, oven safe glass bowl (or if you are not making a spider, a 9in x 12in glass dish).
- Pour batter into bowl and bake in a 350 degree F for 25-30 minutes, or oven until fork inserted into the middle comes out clean. My cake took 40 minutes to be fully baked, but this will vary depending on the deepness or shallowness of your bowl. When the top started to get dark I put a piece of foil on top so it wouldn’t burn while the thicker part of the cake finished baking.
- After the cake is cool, run a baking spatula around the edges as deep down as you can get. Place your hand on the cake and turn the bowl upside down over where you want your cake. It should come right out.
- Cover in icing of choice
Spider Decorating Instructions:
- Pat the icing with a spatula or fork to make the spider look hairy.
- Gently push twizzlers into the cake as legs.
- Place peanut M&Ms on the head for eyes.
- Break apart snack sized KitKat for pinchers and stinger – my son added that one
Chocolate Brownie Cake
Equipment
- 1 13×9 in baking dish , or a large oven safe bowl for the spider
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter , softened
- 2 cups white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-2/3 cup unbleached all purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Grease and flour a 9in x 13in glass baking dish (Or a large, oven safe glass bowl if you're making a spider).
- Combine the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl and cream together.1 cup butter, 2 cups white sugar, 2 eggs, 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.2-2/3 cup unbleached all purpose flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Pour in milk and boiling water and mix just until fully incorporated.1 cup milk, 1 cup boiling water
- Pour batter into the baking dish and bake at 350 degree Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, or until fork inserted into the middle comes out clean.
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