Eyeball Lava Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the pupil and iris: Spray a 3-quart mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the blue gelatin with the boiling water in a small bowl and mix until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Pour 1/4 cup of the gelatin into a second bowl and mix in the black food coloring. Set the remaining blue gelatin aside. Pour the black gelatin into the prepared bowl.
• Place in the refrigerator to set, about 30 minutes. Use a 2 1/4-inch round cutter to cut the gelatin into a circle and carefully remove the excess gelatin from around the outside of the cutter to leave a "pupil" in the bottom of the bowl. Discard the excess gelatin.
• Pour 1/4 cup blue gelatin into the bowl over the black pupil (if the blue gelatin has set before pouring, pop it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds to loosen it). You will have some excess blue gelatin. Place the bowl back in the refrigerator to set another 30 minutes.
• For the eyeball and crust: Combine the cheesecake mixes and milk in a large bowl. Blend with an electric mixer until thick but still pourable, about 2 minutes. Pour the batter into the bowl over the pupil and iris. Gently drop the bowl on your counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Place in the refrigerator and let set for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, mix together the melted butter and red gel food coloring and whisk to ensure that the food coloring is completely blended into the butter. Combine the sugar, red melted butter and 2 bags of the crushed graham crackers that came with the no-bake cheesecake mix in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until the graham cracker crumbs are colored red, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the eyeball from the refrigerator and press the crust on top. Place the entire eyeball cake back in the refrigerator to let the crust harden, about 1 hour.
• To plate and garnish: Place a large round plate or platter over the bowl with the eyeball cake. Flip the bowl over so the bowl is on top of the plate. Gently tap the bowl and plate on the counter to help release the eyeball. Gently remove the bowl to reveal the eyeball cake (if the cake does not release from the bowl, dip the bowl in warm water to help it loosen).
• Use the red writing gel to make branching lines around the eye to resemble the veins of a bloodshot eye. Spoon the cherry pie filling around the entire base of the eyeball (you may not use the whole can).

Steps:

• Spray the inside of a 9-inch springform pan that is at least 2 1/2 inches tall evenly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Process the chocolate wafer cookies, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until the cookies are broken down into fine crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse until just combined and the mixture resembles wet sand. (Do not overmix or the crust will become pasty.) Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, then freeze while you make the cheesecake mixture.
• Combine 1 package gelatin with 2 tablespoons water in a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the confectioners' sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla and a pinch of salt and beat on medium-high speed until incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Microwave the gelatin and water, stirring as needed, until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the gelatin to the cream cheese mixture and beat on medium-high speed to combine, about 30 seconds.
• Pour the cream cheese mixture into the springform pan and smooth out the top. Tap the pan a few times on a tabletop to release any air bubbles in the cheesecake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Once the cheesecake is set, prepare the white wine gelatin. Pour the white cranberry juice into a medium saucepan and sprinkle over the remaining 3 packages gelatin. Let sit until the gelatin is absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and heat over low heat, whisking occasionally, just until the gelatin and sugar dissolve, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the gelatin mixture into a large liquid measuring cup and stir in the white wine. Use a spoon to scoop away any bubbles at the surface. Refrigerate, stirring every 10 minutes, until the gelatin just begins to thicken and is the consistency of thin fruit jelly, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, gently push a blueberry into the cavity of each lychee. Press the eyeballs firmly into the cheesecake layer, creating a spiral design. Dip a toothpick into the red food coloring and paint lines on the lychees to resemble bloodshot eyeballs.
• Gently pour the wine mixture evenly around the fruit, coming up about 1/4 inch. Refrigerate until set, about 10 minutes. Pour the remaining gelatin mixture over the cheesecake and refrigerate until completely set, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Use an offset spatula to carefully loosen the sides of the cheesecake from the pan, then open the clasp and remove the outer ring. Cut into slices and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease and flour four 6-ounce ramekins.
• Place chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Combine eggs and sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Mix in melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and flour until combined. Pour batter into the prepared ramekins and place on a baking tray.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the sides are set but the middle is still jiggly, 10 to 13 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly spray 2 standard cupcake tins.
• In an electric mixer on low speed, combine the sugar and butter until well mixed. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed and beat until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl whisk together the baking powder, salt, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
• In a separate smaller bowl whisk together the vanilla extract and egg whites, mixing well. Stir the pumpkin puree into the whites just until incorporated. In the bowl with the creamed butter and sugar add the flour and pumpkin mixtures about 1/3 at a time, mixing until just incorporated, ending with the pumpkin. Scrape down the bowl and beater and remove the beaters.
• With a rubber spatula fold the batter until it is one even color. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
• Fill the prepared cupcake tin filling until the cups are almost full. Dip your fingers in a little bit of water and use it to pat down the mixture in each cup. Put the tin in the preheated oven and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the tin to a wire rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Divide the buttercream. Leave the majority white for the base frosting and color approximately a quarter of the white in 3 portions with red, blue, and red and blue mixed together coloring (to make a black portion) to pipe the eyes.
• Unmold the cupcakes onto a work surface. Frost the cupcakes with the white buttercream and smooth it out with a knife or a small offset spatula. Fill 3 pastry bags with the blue buttercream (fitted with a ribbon tip) and the black and red butter cream (both fitted with small plain tips). Pipe on the iris of the eyes with blue buttercream. Pipe in the pupil with the black buttercream, also add a couple of black lines to the iris, as well. Pipe on veins using the red buttercream.
• Make sure to have a completely clean and dry bowl when you start your process, any fat or liquid at all in the bowl will stunt the protein development of the albumen (egg white protein) and you will not have a proper meringue at the end, the results could be disastrous. Start whipping the egg whites slowly in the mixer by themselves (no sugar or butter yet) until the whites are foamy.
• Increase the speed of the mixer and slowly start adding the sugar until all the sugar is incorporated.
• Once all the sugar is combined, increase the speed of the mixer even further and whip until the mixture is shiny and stiff. You now have a meringue. You know when your meringue is done when you pull out the whip, hold it horizontally, and you have what looks a "sparrow's beak" on the end of the whip.
• Replace the whip, turn the mixer on medium and start adding the butter a bit at a time, once all the butter is incorporated, turn the mixer on high and leave it for a while. Depending on the weather, the buttercream could take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to form. You will know when it has formed when you hear the motor of the mixer starting to slow down and whine a little bit. Also when you first add the butter, your meringue will break down and look nasty, this is good and is what you want. When the buttercream is done, the mixture will be homogeneous and consistent...and tasty.
• Remove the buttercream from the bowl and put in an airtight container. Buttercream can be kept at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 weeks, but always use warm buttercream when icing a cake. To warm up the buttercream, put it back in the mixer using the whip or the paddle, and apply direct heat to the mixer bowl with a propane torch you can find at any hardware store.
• Food coloring method.

Steps:

• For the cake pops: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Combine the cake crumbs and frosting in a large bowl. Work the frosting into the crumbs with your hands until it forms a thick paste and can be easily rolled into balls.
• Roll the mixture into 12 balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze until almost solid, 20 to 30 minutes.
• For the decoration: When ready to decorate, melt the white chocolate discs in a double boiler and keep warm. Melt the red and black chocolate discs in small bowls in the microwave. Remove the cake pop balls from the freezer and insert a plastic or metal fork into each. Dip the tines of another fork into the red chocolate and wave over the bowl of white chocolate to make flecks and drizzles. Insert cake pops into the white chocolate and swirl to coat completely. Let any excess drip off, then place a green chocolate disc in the center to form the iris of the eye. Set down on the prepared baking sheet and allow to set while you repeat with the remaining cake balls. Dip the back of a skewer into the black chocolate and make a large dot in the center of the green on each pop. Clean the skewer, dip into the white and make a small dot to the side of the black. Allow to set completely at cool room temperature or in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and salt, and whip on low speed until incorporated. Turn the speed up to high and whip until the buttercream is smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice. If it's too wet, add a bit more confectioners' sugar. If it's too stiff, add a bit more butter.
• Use immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for 24 hours or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Rewhip cold buttercream before using it.