Creepy-Crawly Halloween Cake

Crunchy malt balls in the ganache center of this chocolate cake will leave you wondering if the “cockroaches” are real.

prep: 40 mins
total time: 2 hours
servings: 8
Ingredients
For the Cake

Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
1 teaspoon baking soda
Salt
1 stick plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
5 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled

For the Ganache

2 cups heavy cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups chocolate malt balls, coarsely chopped
Rubber cockroaches, for garnish (fakebugs.com)

Cook’s Note
Decorated cake can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, but the ganache will not be as shiny. Bring to room temperature before serving.

via: marthastewart