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Friendly Flaming Ghost Cake

This is just so cute! It's not a recipe so much as a method of presentation. Any cake flavor and any frosting (as long as it's white) will work nicely.





List of Ingredients



• 1 9 by 13-inch cake, removed from pan
  
• 1 recipe Waldorf-Astoria Frosting (recipe is below!) OR any white frosting
  
• 7 small candies for mouth (your choice:M&Ms, jelly beans, candy corn, etc.)
  
• 1 eggshell, halved, washed, membrane removed
  
• 2 sugar cubes
  
• 1/4 tsp. lemon extract (freshly opened, please, or it may not flame*)
  
• WALDORF-ASTORIA FROSTING:
  
• 5 tablespoons flour
  
• 1 cup milk
  
• 1 cup butter
  
• 1/2 cup solid shortening (white (original), not butter-flavored, which is pale yellow)
  
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• Pinch of salt
  






Instructions



1. Place the cake in front of you so that it's tall rather than wide. Shape the cake by cutting 2 pieces off the top to form a primitive ghost shape. These cut pieces will be used to form the ghost's upheld arms; a bit of the frosting will help to keep them attached to the body.
   
2. Frost the entire ghost. If you add frosting peaks at the top he'll look like he has some hair. Each ghost will look unique! Place the candies to represent the mouth. Position the eggshells to represent eyes and place a sugar cube in each shell.
   
3. Just before serving, pour the lemon extract equally over the 2 cubes, making sure you don't spill any on the cake. Ignite the cubes and serve! It's a really nice effect, especially with the lights out!
   
4. WALDORF-ASTORIA FROSTING:
   
5. Place flour in a small saucepan and slowly stir in milk until a paste forms. Add remaining milk and heat over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
   
6. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, solid shortening and sugar together for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Stir in cooled milk and flour mixture and salt. Place in refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Beat for a few seconds again before using.
   






Final Comments


* This is the warning that came with the recipe. I suppose if you have an ancient bottle of lemon extract there's a possibility of it not flaming, but I've used the same bottle a few years in a row. I just test it for flammability before I'm ready to light the cake so that we aren't disappointed.