Harry Potter Cauldron Cakes Recipe

These cupcakes are made in several basic steps. If you work them one part at a time, they are fairly east to construct. Don't be overwhelmed with the length of the instructions. It is really quite fun!

Cauldron Cakes Recipe Supplies

• Chocolate Cake Mix
• Cupcake Tin
• Cupcake Liners

To start, bake your favorite chocolate cupcakes. I typically use a box mix, but then doctor it up a bit to make it extra tasty. I replace the oil with butter and the water with milk. Then add 1/2 cup of sour cream to make the cakes really moist and rich. Bake according to the directions on the box. You can tell when cupcakes are ready to come out when you press your fingers lightly onto the top and the cake bounces up against your fingers in a nice spongy way.

Making Chocolate Handles

• Guittard Milk Chocolate Chips
• Microwavable Dish
• Ziplock Bags
• Wax Paper

Let the cupcakes cool completely. In the meantime, begin making the chocolate cauldron handles. They are made from melted chocolate chips. I like to buy the Guittard brand of milk chocolate chips. They melt really well in the microwave and the flavor is nice and chocolatey without any waxy residue. Pour about 1/3 cup of chips into a microwaveable dish. Melt them in 15 second increments. Stir between each time to prevent scorching. It will probably only take about 30 seconds. Place the chocolate into a small ziplock bag or a frosting bag. Snip off the end to make a small hole. Press the chocolate onto a wax covered baking sheet. You want the handles to look like the photo below. They look kind of like a letter U. Place the cookie sheet into the fridge or freezer to set the chocolate.  

Chocolate Frosting Recipe

• Storebought Chocolate Frosting

or

• 1 Stick Butter
• 1/4 C Cocoa Powder
• 2 C Powdered Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Evaporated Milk
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Salt

Now, it is time to make the frosting. You can simply buy chocolate frosting in a tub at the grocery store, or make your own. I suggest making it from scratch. It is so tasty!  Combine 1 stick of soft butter, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons evaporated milk (or regular milk will do), 1 tsp vanilla extract, and a few shakes of salt. Stir it all together until it is smooth and creamy. Place it in a ziplock bag or a frosting bag and cut off a corner or the tip.  Set aside for a few minutes.

Chocolate Mousse Filling

• Instant Chocolate Pudding
• Milk
• Whipping Cream

The mousse filling is a combination of instant chocolate pudding, milk and a pint of whipping cream. Follow the instructions on the box to make the pudding. I would recommend using the "pie" version of the recipe instead of the "pudding" recipe. It requires less milk and makes the pudding a little more firm. Then, whip a pint of whipped cream with 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla. Beat it until the cream forms soft peaks.  

Making Your Harry Potter Cauldron Cakes

Now that all of the elements of the cakes have been prepared, the final step is to combine them to create the cauldrons.  

Start by unwrapping each cupcake. Then, melt 1 cup of milk chocolate chips into a small glass bowl. Stir it every 15 seconds during the process to prevent scorching--just like you did when making the cauldron handles. When the chocolate is smooth and soft, dip the top end of the cupcakes into the the melted chocolate to create a chocolate bottom. Let the excess chocolate drip off before placing it onto some wax paper to set.