Spider Cake is a traditional American recipe for a classic Halloween cake made from a dry mix base that's shaped in the form of a spider and filled with jelly (Jell-o). The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic American version of: Spider Cake.
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Ingredients:
560g cake mix (whatever your preference; but white or yellow are typical) [yellow cake, sponge cake or white cake]
90g green or red jelly (Jell-O) chocolate icing or fudge icing
black or blue food colouring
4 black liquorice sticks (the long ones)
2 large gumballs (or red icing), for eyes
Method:
Prepare the jelly (Jell-O) according to the package instructions. Turn into a bowl, allow to cool then transfer to the refrigerator to set. As the jelly is setting, stir occasionally so that the final jelly is lumpy and can easily be spooned from the bowl.
Prepare your favourite sponge cakes or use a box mix or one of the recipes above. Divide the mixture between two greased and floured 20cm diameter cake tins. Transfer to an oven pre-heated to 170°C and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cakes are done thorough.
Allow the cakes to cool completely before assembling. Slice one cake in half and place half near the base of an oblong plate large enough to hold the two cakes side by side (set the cut side away from you). Take the second cake and carefully cut out a circle from the centre (you need this circle for the head, so be careful), leaving about a 5cm thick ring of cake behind. Carefully place the ring you have just made on top of the cake half (add a little jam to the cake half so they stick better together, if you want).
Now spoon the set jelly into the hole, filling as much as you can, but making sure the jelly finishes flush with the cake top. Now take the small circle you cut from the centre of the large cake and cut out a half-moon from one side, so that it will fit flush against the other cake, to form the spider's head.
Prepare the chocolate or fudge icing and when done, add a little black or blue food colouring so the icing looks black. Use this to completely cover the top and sides of the cake.
Now make legs by cutting the liquorice sticks in half and insert four on each side of the body. Either place gumboils in the face to make eyes, or paint on red eyes with icing.
Store in the refrigerator until it's time to serve. When you cut into the body the jelly will spurt out, to gruesome effect.
