Trick-or-Treat Cake

OK. Thanksgiving is a day away, and Christmas will be here in a flash. Somehow, though, there will be enough time for our homes to fill up with holiday sweets.

So it’s time to let go of all that leftover Halloween candy. Round it up, open the wrappers and bake a cake. The candy goes inside and all around it. Add it to your Thanksgiving dessert buffet, and all that candy will leave your life in one fell swoop.

This was my approach, but there are no rules, so make adjustments based on the candy you have left:

>> The cake: Use any boxed mix. Bake it in two round 9-inch pans. Unmold layers while the cake is still very warm.

>> The frosting: Thinly slice Milky Way bars and spread them over the bottom layer while it’s still holding a lot of heat. The candy will soften enough to spread, giving you a chocolate-caramel filling. Put the top layer in place.

>> The garnish: KitKat and/or Twix bars go around the cake. To make them stick, melt Reese’s peanut butter cups over a double boiler (add a little milk if the mixture is too thick). Stir well to make a “glue” for your candy bars.

>> Topping: Dust with powdered sugar and sprinkle with M&M’s or any other small candy.