Chocolate Halloween cake recipe
 We're not going to lie, you will get sticky making this Halloween chocolate cake with its marshmallowy cobwebs. But it's perfect for a kids party where things shouldn't be too spooky! 250g/9oz unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing250g/9oz caster sugar4 free-range eggs, lightly beaten1 tsp vanilla extract½ tsp black gel food colour (optional)50g/2oz cocoa powder200g/7oz self-raising flour200g/7oz dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), chopped into small pieces200ml/7fl oz double cream10 white marshmallowsedible candy eyes 250g/9oz unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 250g/9oz caster sugar 4 free-range eggs, lightly beaten 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp black gel food colour (optional) 50g/2oz cocoa powder 200g/7oz self-raising flour 200g/7oz dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), chopped into small pieces 200ml/7fl oz double cream 10 white marshmallows edible candy eyes Method Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.To make the cake, grease and line a 20x30cm/8x12in rectangular cake tin with baking paper.Beat together the butter and sugar with a hand-held mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well between each addition. Add the vanilla extract and the black gel food colouring, if using, with the last of the egg.Sift together the cocoa powder and flour into a bowl. Fold the flour into the butter mixture until fully combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon.Bake for 30 minutes, or until springy to the touch (a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean). Leave to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.To make the chocolate ganache icing, put the cream into a saucepan and bring just to the boil. Pour into a heatproof bowl. Add the chopped chocolate, a little at a time, and stir until completely melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy. Leave to cool for a few minutes until it feels just warm to the touch. Place the cake (on the cooling rack) onto a large sheet of newspaper or baking paper. Pour half the ganache onto the centre of the cake and spread out evenly to coat the top and sides, adding more as needed, to make a nice even coat. Allow to cool and set. Meanwhile, lightly butter a non-stick saucepan, add the marshmallows and melt over a low heat, stirring frequently (or place in a lightly buttered heatproof bowl and microwave in 10 second bursts until melted, stiring often). The marshmallows don't need to melt completely before you remove them from the heat - they will continue melting on their own - but don't burn or overheat the marshmallow. Check the marshmallow isn't too hot before taking a pinch between your fingers and pulling it apart so it makes thin strands. Drape the strands all over the cake in an irregular zig zag fashion. When the marshmallow in your fingers cools too much to pull, rinse your fingers in warm water and start again with another pinch. Place the edible eyes in pairs in the gaps between the marshmallow cobweb. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. To make the cake, grease and line a 20x30cm/8x12in rectangular cake tin with baking paper. To make the cake, grease and line a 20x30cm/8x12in rectangular cake tin with baking paper. Beat together the butter and sugar with a hand-held mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well between each addition. Add the vanilla extract and the black gel food colouring, if using, with the last of the egg. Beat together the butter and sugar with a hand-held mixer until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well between each addition. Add the vanilla extract and the black gel food colouring, if using, with the last of the egg. Sift together the cocoa powder and flour into a bowl. Fold the flour into the butter mixture until fully combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Sift together the cocoa powder and flour into a bowl. Fold the flour into the butter mixture until fully combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Bake for 30 minutes, or until springy to the touch (a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean). Leave to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Bake for 30 minutes, or until springy to the touch (a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean). Leave to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. To make the chocolate ganache icing, put the cream into a saucepan and bring just to the boil. Pour into a heatproof bowl. Add the chopped chocolate, a little at a time, and stir until completely melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy. Leave to cool for a few minutes until it feels just warm to the touch. To make the chocolate ganache icing, put the cream into a saucepan and bring just to the boil. Pour into a heatproof bowl. Add the chopped chocolate, a little at a time, and stir until completely melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy. Leave to cool for a few minutes until it feels just warm to the touch. Place the cake (on the cooling rack) onto a large sheet of newspaper or baking paper. Pour half the ganache onto the centre of the cake and spread out evenly to coat the top and sides, adding more as needed, to make a nice even coat. Allow to cool and set. Place the cake (on the cooling rack) onto a large sheet of newspaper or baking paper. Pour half the ganache onto the centre of the cake and spread out evenly to coat the top and sides, adding more as needed, to make a nice even coat. Allow to cool and set. Meanwhile, lightly butter a non-stick saucepan, add the marshmallows and melt over a low heat, stirring frequently (or place in a lightly buttered heatproof bowl and microwave in 10 second bursts until melted, stiring often). The marshmallows don't need to melt completely before you remove them from the heat - they will continue melting on their own - but don't burn or overheat the marshmallow. Meanwhile, lightly butter a non-stick saucepan, add the marshmallows and melt over a low heat, stirring frequently (or place in a lightly buttered heatproof bowl and microwave in 10 second bursts until melted, stiring often). The marshmallows don't need to melt completely before you remove them from the heat - they will continue melting on their own - but don't burn or overheat the marshmallow. Check the marshmallow isn't too hot before taking a pinch between your fingers and pulling it apart so it makes thin strands. Drape the strands all over the cake in an irregular zig zag fashion. When the marshmallow in your fingers cools too much to pull, rinse your fingers in warm water and start again with another pinch. Place the edible eyes in pairs in the gaps between the marshmallow cobweb. Check the marshmallow isn't too hot before taking a pinch between your fingers and pulling it apart so it makes thin strands. Drape the strands all over the cake in an irregular zig zag fashion. When the marshmallow in your fingers cools too much to pull, rinse your fingers in warm water and start again with another pinch. Place the edible eyes in pairs in the gaps between the marshmallow cobweb.