Inspiration: A few months back, whilst perusing a new independent kitchen shop, I uncovered a bite-sized cake pan just waiting for me (and my pocketbook) in their clearance section. After I brought it home, it sat next to my mixer for a month while I got distracted by one thing and another. Then, a request for something sweet came from my husband’s coworkers, and I decided to give the kull pan a whirl!

Aware, from previous disasters, that the first recipe baked in a novelty pan should be the one provided by the manufacturer and knowing Nordicware’s test kitchen churns out reliable recipes — I set about whipping up some mini skull cakes.

The only change I made to the ingredients was swapping the called for cayenne for ancho chili powder (because I was out of the former). And, due to ancho being milder than cayenne, I added a full teaspoon rather than the half teaspoon called for in the recipe.

All the spices, flour, and such required by the recipe ready to be sifted!

Then, because not everyone is as excited for any sort of heat (sweet or otherwise), I dipped the skulls in melted 72% dark chocolate to help mitigate the burn.

They were a hit!

Christie: I can easily see these tiny cakes gracing the festive snack table in Christie’s mystery, Hallowe’en Party. They are bite-sized, not particularly messy (after the chocolate cools & hardens), and not particularly sugary! Making them ideal for a kid’s party. 

My 52 Weeks With Christie: A.Miner©2025