This is a fun cake to make. I made my first Battenburg cake this past spring, and I've been itching to make another ever since. If you love the bright flavor of almond (like me!), then you'll love this cake. It has plenty of eye appeal, and will give any holiday dessert table an infusion of brilliant color. I couldn't resist baking up a "Batty" version in Halloween hues.
The ghoulish green libation is a very basic party punch recipe. I'm willing to bet that every hostess with the mostess has a version of this dog-eared. On party night, you may want to have ingredients for two batches on hand. It is always guzzled down to the last drop, and refilling the entire punch bowl may be necessary.
The bats are made of gum paste tinted black and rolled 1/4-inch thick. If you have a small bat cookie cutter, you can use it to cut the gum paste into bat shapes. Otherwise, there are scores of free clip art bat silhouettes to choose from online. This is the one I used. You simply lay the template on top of the gum paste and cut out the shape (through the paper) with an X-Acto knife. The bats are brushed with corn syrup diluted in a little water, then sprinkled with black sanding sugar. Two tiny nonpareil eyes are applied with tweezers, and small lengths of floral wire are carefully inserted into the gum paste bats.
Gum paste dries candy-hard, so leave them uncovered to dry. For best results, allow to dry overnight.
Ghoulish Green Party Punch
Serves about 20, more if using small punch cups [click for printable version]
2 cups granulated sugar
8 cups water
2 packages lime flavored gelatin, 3 oz. each
1 can of pineapple juice, 46 oz. size
4 cups ginger-ale
*Lime sherbet, optional
1. In a large punch bowl, stir together sugar and water until sugar is completely dissolved.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients until jello is dissolved.
3. Chill thoroughly before serving.
*Note:
This punch can be topped with lime sherbet just before serving.
Variation: Use your favorite gelatin flavor and sherbet flavor in place of the lime gelatin and sherbet.
Battenburg Cake
Printable Battenburg cake recipe can be found here. Photo tutorial can be found here. Glittery candy bat instructions and batter color variation is explained in the text of this post (above).
Holy Batman Heather! I just love this Halloween version of that cake. I am always so taken with how you create these little masterpieces of delight. xoxo ~Lili
ReplyDeletebattenburg cakes are seriously the coolest ones i've ever seen...how did i not know about them til i read your blog? love this!
ReplyDeleteGOrgeous! That punch sounds YUMMM!
ReplyDeleteI love the orange and purple!
I kind of want a big glass of that punch right now. At 6:30 am. That's okay, right?
ReplyDeleteThe cake looks great.
ReplyDeleteyou are seriously the coolest person! i love this! this punch looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteYour Battenburg cake looks so ghoulish! A wonderful Halloween treats. The punch souds divine too.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
WOW!! Beautiful job, Heather!! I didn't even think the bats were edible!
ReplyDeleteI think I need to have a halloween party. Stat.
ReplyDeleteOoh also... apricot feels a little un-halloweeny to me. Did you use it? Would it be ok to leave it out entirely or perhaps sub it for another flavor? Has to be something that compliments almond... any suggestions? Would orange marmalade work?
ReplyDeleteThe apricot isn't very pronounced in the overall flavor of the cake, but marmalade would work nicely too!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
That cake is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat punch would seriously be my favourite halloween drink...
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Rita
http://bembons.blogspot.com
Love, love, love it!!
ReplyDeleteYou've taken ghoulish to elegant. I love the hovering bats.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME!!!
ReplyDeleteLove it, so want to give it a try now. Maybe in Christmas colours:)
ReplyDeleteAH! I love Battenburg cakes!! Love this Halloween twist :D
ReplyDeletethat is the coolest looking cake ever. you rock a lot
ReplyDeleteWow, I love the colors in the punch and the cake! Great Halloween-y colors! I want some of that punch. now.
ReplyDeleteAdore it!!! You are genius!
ReplyDeleteI have been going a little batty - pun unintended - looking for a Battenburg pan, but it seems one can only get them in the UK. Your idea to separate the pan as you have done is genius!! Your halloween version looks delish and I love the edible bats. You are definitely the hostess with the mostest!! Another masterpiece, Heather!!!!
ReplyDeleteoh my we must have been on the same wavelength this week with our batty cakes! I think we even used the same bat graphic to use as a template!! Great minds think alike i guess? Love the battenburg cake, and pics are gorgeous as always!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so creative! I love the little bats. I remember when you first made the battenburg cake and I fell in love with it. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteBoth the punch and the cake look fantastic! The cake especially looks very festive. And I love the color green that punch is. It's like a goo green :)
ReplyDeleteYour Spring Battenburg cake was beautiful, this Halloween one is fantastic and all the work you did to create this post and take these wonderful photos was certainly worth it. Everything just pops!
ReplyDeleteAwesomely beautiful as always :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that cake is amazing! The bats are super neat too, but I'm in awe of how symmetrical the cake is. Mine always lean and look really crooked. Pretty pictures too. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a fab job!! I love the colours and the cake looks great :) well done on the bats too - everything looks so pro :D
ReplyDeleteWow, I love this cake is very very amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis cake has a WOW factor to the nth degree! Love the huge pop of color against the black!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a cool idea! I love the colours, so halloween-y.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and I love it lots.
Hope you have a great Sunday :)
Ellie xx
Love this Batty Battenburg. The gum paste bats are adorable!
ReplyDeleteGirl I am in complete awe!! And you even made the bats. A stunning cake and punch. Lately I have been loving almond flavor. This would be the biggest hit at any party!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fabulous Battenberg! I love the bats too.
ReplyDeleteThat Battenberg cake is unbelievable! So gorgeous, and perfect with the ghoulish green punch :) Have a fun Halloween!
ReplyDeleteI loved this cake SO much that I made my own!! And boy, it was not as easy as it looked... I'll post pictures on my blog probably by the end of today and link back here! Thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea, so festive!! LOVE your blog, so glad to be a new follower! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHow fun is this cake?! I love the little bats on top! Such an awesome idea for Halloween! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is just too cool! I want to make everything on your blog! :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, I've passed on the Versatile Blog award to you today. Thank you so much for all your recipes and awesome pictures!
http://littlerandomhappiness.blogspot.com/2011/10/feeling.html
I never thought orange and purple could look SO good together! Such a gorgeous cake. :)
ReplyDeleteI am speechless! That cake is beautiful Heather! And the punch sounds delish!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for cake! I will do it for Halloween! Thank you so much! Nice pictures and recipes!!!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteWe bumped into your blog and we really liked it.
We would like to add it to the Petitchef.com.
We would be delighted if you could add your blog to Petitchef so that our users can, as us,
enjoy your recipes.
Petitchef is a french based Cooking recipes Portal. Several hundred Blogs are already members
and benefit from their exposure on Petitchef.com.
To add your site to the Petitchef family you can use http://en.petitchef.com/?obj=front&action=site_ajout_form or just go to Petitchef.com and click on "Add your site"
Best regards,
petitchef.com
hey...bummed!!!!!!totally love the colours and the bats...I am going to do BLUE and orange....wow!
ReplyDeleteAny tips on making the punch alcoholic? Like what kind of liquor and how much?
ReplyDelete