Halloween is one of those holidays that has its own special brand of fun, not the least of which is trick-or-treating. My son will turn 3 a month before the holiday, and he is at the point where he really gets what trick-or-treating is and is very excited about it, even though we don’t let him eat much candy. I think half the fun for him is dressing up and parading around the neighborhood — he’s going to be Tigger this year — and visiting with everyone. He is a very social little guy. I remember last year, we ended up with tons of candy, and he probably got to eat one or two things (who gives a 2-year-old hard candy or Tootsie Rolls?!). This year, at least I know what we can do with some of that extra candy: Make this recipe for Halloween candy cake! It looks delicious, like so many of these fun Halloween recipes.

Halloween Candy Cake

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted roasted peanuts 3/4 cup flour 6 eggs 2 egg yolks 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup butter 5 tablespoon powdered sugar 1/2 cup whipping cream 5 1.8-ounce packages Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, finely chopped 1-1/2 cups chilled whipping cream 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped 3 2.1-ounce Butterfinger bars, cut into 3/4-inch wedges 1/2 cup Reese’s Pieces

Instructions

Cake

Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Grind nuts and 3/4 cup flour in processor until fine. Using mixer, beat eggs, yolks, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until mixture whitens and triples in volume. Fold in nut mixture. Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth tops. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack.

Filling and Topping

Blend peanut butter, butter and sugar in processor until smooth. With machine running, add cream through feed tube and blend until mixture is light and fluffy. Invert cakes onto work surface. Using serrated knife, cut each cake into 2 layers. Place 1 cake layer on platter, cut side up. Spread with 1/3 of filling and sprinkle with 1/3 of chopped peanut butter cups. Top with second cake layer, cut side down. Continue layering with remaining filling, peanut butter cups and cake, ending with cake, cut side down. For topping, beat cream, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until almost stiff. Transfer 1/2 cup to small bowl and reserve for garnish. Spread remaining whipped cream over top and sides of cake. Press nuts around base of cake forming a 1.5-inch high border. Cover top of cake with Butterfingers leaving 1/2-inch border. Spoon reserved whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip; pipe stars around top edge. Garnish with Reese’s Pieces.

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these 15 fun Halloween recipes. Have a spooktacular day!