How to Make a Halloween Coffin Cake

A coffin cake makes an appropriate centerpiece for a Halloween buffet, and when your guests peer under the lid, they'll be pleasantly surprised at what's inside. Instead of a vampire, the Halloween coffin cake is filled with chocolate candy bars and assorted candies.

Things You'll Need

• Oiled, rectangular baking pan
• 2 boxes yellow pound cake mix
• Eggs, as directed on cake mix package
• 2 wire racks
• 1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• Flour
• Rolling pin
• Oiled cookie sheet
• Large tray
• Sharp knife
• Fork
• 1 bag mini-chocolate candy bars
• 2 bags assorted wrapped mini-candies
• Skewers or popsicle sticks
• 2 cans chocolate frosting

Instructions

1. Oil a rectangular baking pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Prepare both pound cake mixes as directed on the box. Mix them in one bowl and bake them in the same pan for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cake and allow it to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Invert the cake pan and allow it to finish cooling on a wire rack.
   Leave the oven on.

3. Oil a cookie sheet. Put the chilled sugar cookie dough on a lightly floured surface, and roll it into a 8 by 12-inch rectangle. Bake the rectangle on the oiled cookie sheet for 15 to 20 minutes or until it's lightly browned. Let it cool on a wire rack. This will be the coffin lid.

4. Place the cooled cake on a large tray and measure approximately 1 inch in from all four sides of the cake, marking a line with the tip of a sharp knife. Carefully scoop out the center of the cake with a fork.

5. Fill the the hollowed area with unwrapped chocolate candy bars and small wrapped candies.

6. Put the rectangular cookie "lid" on top of the hollowed out area and prop up one side of the lid with popsicle sticks or skewers.

7. Frost the entire cake with chocolate frosting, and decorate the lid with the candies of your choice.