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"This full moon will bring out an animal appetite in everyone."

midnight moon cake

submitted by: Bright Ideas
  • Prep Time: 25 min.
  • Bake Time: 50-55 min.
  • Decoration Time: 10 min.
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Yield: Makes 16 servings.

ingredients

  • 23 chocolate wafers (reserve 3 wafers for the bat wings)
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2/3 cup chopped TWIX® Cookie Bars
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup chopped MILKY WAY® Bars
  • 1/4 cup lowfat milk
  • 3 packages (8 oz. each) fat free cream cheese, room temperature
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Yellow food coloring
  • 3 M&M’S® Brand Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies
  • 1 8-inch round spring form pan(s)

directions

  • 1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare the baking pan. Line the bottom of an 8-inch round spring form pan with heavy-duty foil. Grease the pan’s sides and bottom. Wrap foil around the outside of the pan; set aside.
  • 2. Process 20 chocolate wafers, 2 tablespoons of sugar and TWIX® Cookie Bars in a food processor fitted with a metal blade until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until combined. Press the mixture evenly around the bottom of the prepared pan. Place that pan into a larger pan, such as a shallow roasting pan. Set aside.
  • 3. Prepare the batter by heating MILKY WAY® Bars and milk in a microwave until melted, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
  • 4. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition
  • 5. Divide the batter between two mixing bowls. In one bowl, add cocoa powder and the chocolate mixture; stir until blended. Pour chocolate batter into the bottom of the prepared cake pan. Tint the remaining bowl of batter yellow. Gently spoon this yellow batter on top of the chocolate layer, covering it completely.
  • 6. Before baking, create a water bath to keep the top of the cheesecake from badly cracking. Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan until it comes halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until the cheesecake sets with a 2-inch jiggly circle in the center. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake remain inside for 30 minutes with the door ajar. At this time, remove the roasting pan to a wire rack, and allow the cheesecake to cool in the water bath until it lowers to room temperature. Remove the cheesecake pan from the water bath and loosely cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before cutting into wedges.
  • 7. To unmold the cake, gently run a small knife around the pan’s edges; loosen the hinge, and remove the cake. Place on a serving platter.
  • 8. To make the bats, cut the 3 reserved cookie wafers in half. Either leave the edges jagged or, using a small cookie cutter, press out a scalloped edge. Arrange pairs of the cookie halves close together to resemble bat wings, pressing the inside tips slightly into the top of the cake. Place black M&M’S® Brand Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies in between for the bats’ bodies.
  • Tip: Get the kids involved. There are many steps children will love to do in this recipe. For example, they can measure and add ingredients, then add them to the food processor and mixing bowl. Depending on the child’s age, an adult may need to be the operator! Roll up their sleeves and let them press the crust into the bottom and sides of the pan. They can make the batter, pour it in, and then decorate the top! Remember, there’s no right or wrong when cooking with children. Every result is a masterpiece.

nutrition facts

  • Calories per serving 219
  • Total Fat 8 g
  • Saturated Fat 5 g
  • Trans Fat 0 g
  • Cholesterol 67 mg
  • Sodium 335 mg
  • Carbohydrates 28 g
  • Dietary Fiber 1 g
  • Sugars 20 g
  • Protein 9 g
  • Vitamin A 0%DV
  • Vitamin C 0%DV
  • Calcium 0%DV
  • Iron 0%DV