S'more Zombie Chesecake W/ Maple Bacon Chessecake Spine Bites

These are the recipes for two cheesecakes. The first one is S'mores flavor; it is a chocolate (I used Nutella) cheesecake, on a Graham Cracker crust, and Jet Puffed Marshmallow Creme filling. The other one is a Maple Cheesecake on Maple Bacon cookie with a slice of bacon in between and covered with Maple Bacon frosting and candied bacon.

If you don't have the pans I use, you can substitute any other pans. They will look different. They will taste just as good!

The first step is to make a Marble cake. This is one with two batters, such as vanilla and chocolate. To save money, I used a Marble cake mix that already had Halloween food colors included in it. Add a tablespoon of honey and a 1/4 cup of graham crackers that have been crushed up to the white batter. Then split it in two and add food coloring to your preference. Add a tablespoon of cinnamon and a 1/4 cup of graham crackers that have been crushed up to the brown batter. Alternating between batters, add then to your pan and cook it by the instructions on the cake box. St that point, a toothpick or butter knife inserted into the middle of the cake should come out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan. Invert the cake onto a plate, then freeze.

If you do not have a pan like mine, you can use a 10-inch tube / bundt pan or the equivalent.

If you want to make the cake from scratch:

Ingredients

1 cup butter (2 sticks), plus more for the pan

2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour, plus more for the pan

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 cup of graham crackers that have been crushed up / blended until sandy

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Optional: Food Coloring

Directions

Butter and flour your pan. If you do not have a pan like mine, you can use a 10-inch tube / bundt pan or the equivalent. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue to mix well. Add the eggs 1 at a time and beat until incorporated.

In a bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.

Reduce the mixer's speed to low. Alternately add the flour and milk mixture until a smooth batter is formed. Continue mixing for 5 minutes. (It's important to mix for the full 5 minutes.)

Transfer 1/3 of the batter to a bowl and whisk in the cocoa powder, cinnamon, and half the graham cracker bits.

Stir the honey and the remaining graham cracker dust into the remaining batter. If you choose to add food coloring, divide this part of the batter into how many colors you want to add. All food coloring is different, so follow the instructions on it if you choose to add it.

Pour the coconut batter into the pan; then spoon the chocolate batter around. Run a knife through the batter, cutting the batters together to create a marbled effect. (Do not stir.) Bake until a toothpick or butter knife inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Let the cake cool in the pan. Invert the cake onto a plate, then freeze.

My Cheesecake recipe for this:

1 block creme cheese

1 egg

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 container sweeten condensed milk

13 Oz. chocolate spread (I used a small jar of store brand Nutella because it was what I had on hand)

Bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit until you can put a butter knife in it and it come out clean, at least an hour and a half.

First, don't worry about how it looks, icing can cover a lot of flaws.

Freeze the marble cake and the cheesecake. Remove some of the inside of the cake. Add as much marshmallow creme as you can. Then stack the cheesecake on top and refreeze.

You want to cover the entire cake in the same icing to help keep it together and to make sure that everything is covered. Then decorate as you see fit. I used a bag with pink icing and a frosting kit. Then refreeze and serve cold.

Bake the bacon till it's fully cooked but not burnt. Save the bacon drippings.

I used a Maple Bacon cookie mix, and substituted the bacon drippings for the oil. Use the bacon drippings to grease the pan. Add the batter to your pan and smooth it out because you want it to evenly cover the pan.Then lay the strips of bacon on top of the cookie dough. If you cannot find a Maple Bacon cookie dough mix, here is a recipe:

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

5 strips bacon (1/3 pound)

1/2 cup bacon drippings

4 tablespoons butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Line your baking sheet with parchment paper if you do not have a nonstick pan like mine. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large bowl.

Beat the butter and bacon drippings in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in the brown sugar until creamy, about 4 minutes, then add the egg and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 more minutes.

Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 2 additions, scraping down the bowl as needed, until just combined. Break up the bacon into little bits, and then stir in the bacon bits.

Use the bacon drippings to grease the pan. Add the batter to your pan and smooth it out because you want it to evenly cover the pan. Then lay extra strips of bacon on top of the cookie dough.

My Cheesecake recipe for this:

2 blocks creme cheese

2 eggs

1 container sweeten condensed milk

1/2 cup Maple Syrup

Bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit until you can put a butter knife in it and it come out clean, at least an hour and a half.

Note: I would normally add 1/2 cup sugar to this recipe, but I think that's too sweet with the Maple Syrup, but feel free to experiment. I have substituted Pancake Syrup and Brown Sugar when I didn't have any Maple Syrup.

I then used a Maple Bacon frosting to cover them. Afterwards I sprinkled Candied Bacon Bits on top.

If you can't find Maple Bacon frosting or Candied Bacon, here are the recipes:

Frosting Ingredients:

1 pound cream cheese

4 tablespoons bacon drippings

4 ounces Maple syrup

Candied Bacon bits (recipe below)

Candied Bacon bits Ingredients:

cooked bacon

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup brown sugar

Maple Bacon Frosting:

Whip the cream cheese, bacon drippings, and maple syrup in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until fully incorporated.

Candied Bacon bits:

Take the rest of your cooked bacon and put it in a nonstick skillet on medium-low heat. Mix the maple syrup and brown sugar, drizzle the syrup over the bacon. Continue to cook, turning the bacon often, watching closely that the syrup does not burn. You want the bacon to be coated with the syrup and caramelized, but not soggy. Let cool then break into little bits.

Preparation:

Coat the cheesecake bites with the frosting and then sprinkle the candied bacon bits over it.

This is what it looked like while at the party. I took a photo of the bacon one before I took a bite, then I tried to just eat it where a bacon "Spine" was showing. The S'mores cheesecake was so good it was quickly devastated by people at the party!

If you have any questions, feedback, etc... please leave it in the comments below. I love getting comments and I try to answer them all. I would also appreciate votes for the Halloween Food contest.