Make these spooky chocolate and peanut spider sponges for a fun treat this Halloween.

Fluffy chocolate sponge laced with crunchy peanut butter and topped with a chocolate, peanut treat and crunchy pretzel legs. Great for a kids party!

Ingredients

120g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
120g golden caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
100g self raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
50g cocoa powder
2 eggs
60g crunchy peanut butter
1 tablespoon milk

TO DECORATE

300g chocolate spread
5 Reese’s cups
10 edible eyes
20 pretzels

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C Fan/ Gas Mark 4.
In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl sieve together the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder.
When the butter and sugar mixture is light and fluffy, crack in one of the eggs and add a tablespoon of the flour mixture. Whisk until the egg is well incorporated. Repeat again with the second egg.
Once both eggs are added, pour in the remaining flour along with the peanut butter and milk. Whisk until a smooth, thick batter forms.
Take 5 petite casseroles and grease with a little butter. Divide the cake batter between the casseroles, place on a baking tray and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to fully cool.
To decorate, divide the chocolate spread between the cakes and smooth over the top of each using a palette knife. Stick one Reese’s cup in the middle of each iced cake and stick on two edible eyes using a little chocolate spread.
Using pieces of pretzel, add 8 legs (4 either side) to the spider body and serve.

Cook’s Notes - The sponges will release effortlessly from the petite casseroles; if you are making a larger batch of spider sponges but don’t have the number of petite casseroles, simply bake, turn out when cool to touch, wash and re-grease the petite casseroles. You can then bake the remaining batter. Ensure you use plain or salted pretzels for these sweet treats.

We love these classic Le Creuset Petite Casserole Dishes, but if you want a real Halloween/Autumn feel why not try these Pumpkin Petite Casserole Dishes.