Ingredients

  • 1 devil's food or orange cake mix (regular size)
  • 1 teaspoon orange food coloring, optional
  • 4-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Orange food coloring
  • 6 to 7 tablespoons 2% milk
  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2/3 cup baking cocoa, sifted
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 6 to 7 tablespoons 2% milk
  • 10 peanut butter cups, finely chopped
  • Dutch-processed cocoa or confectioners' sugar

Method

  • Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions, using two 9-in. round baking pans. If preparing orange cake, add orange food coloring. Cool as package directs.
  • For bat design, cut a bat pattern from card stock. Wrap with foil.
  • For devil's food cake, prepare orange frosting by beating confectioners' sugar, butter, vanilla, food coloring and enough milk to reach a spreading consistency. For orange cake, prepare chocolate frosting by beating confectioners' sugar, cocoa, butter, vanilla and enough milk for spreading.
  • Using a long serrated knife, trim tops of cakes if domed. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting; sprinkle with chopped candies. Top with remaining cake layer, bottom side up. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
  • Lay bat pattern on top of cake. Using a fine-mesh strainer, sift Dutch-processed cocoa or confectioners' sugar over frosting. Lift pattern carefully to remove.
  • Wrap cooled cake layers in plastic wrap, then cover securely in foil; freeze. To use, thaw cakes before unwrapping. Assemble as directed.