Cinnamon Chai Cake:

      This past weekend I attended a fabulous Halloween party, complete with creepy decor, good friends, and of course, a homemade cake! I couldn't resist the opportunity to get back into the kitchen and get creative and this recipe is no exception. I did take a few short cuts (I wanted the extra time to work on my Halloween costume), and ended up using a box of cake mix that I then doctored up to the fullest! The icing is a pumpkin and cream cheese and the cake is colored dark black and flavored with loads of cinnamon and chai tea! This recipe my appear elaborate but it's really quite simple, here's how:

Magic Ingredients:

(for the cake)

-2 boxes white cake mix (plus all ingredients listed on packaging)

-1 teaspoons black food coloring

-2 bags of loose leaf chai tea, 

-4 tablespoons cinnamon

(for the frosting)

-1 pound cream cheese at room temp.

-2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (found in most chain grocery stores)

-1 tablespoon cinnamon

-2 cups powdered sugar 

*Candy garnishes for decoration (optional)

Directions:
1: Prepare the cake mix per the directions on the box. Add black food coloring, chai tea leaves, and cinnamon to the mix. Divid batter between three nine inch greased cake pans and bake as directed. 
2: After the cake has been baked, allow them to cool and come to room temperature. While you are waiting prepare the icing.
3: In a standard mixer, blend cream cheese, pumpkin pie spice, powdered sugar, and cinnamon together until combined and smooth. 
4: Now assemble the cake. First layer one pan of cake on a plate (or cake stand), then a thick layer of frosting, then another cake until all three layers of cake are stacked together. 
5: Frost the cake entirely with a "crumble layer" of frosting. Place the cake into the fridge until the frosting has hardened. Layer with more frosting and decorate with Halloween candy to finish!

Have you been cooking up any special Halloween treats?

Yours,

Nico