Chocolate 'BBQ Grill' Cake

A chocolate cake decorated to look like a barbeque grill, complete with burgers and shish kabobs. Makes 1 - 9x13" cake.

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Line 13x9x2" baking pan with aluminum foil; grease and flour sides and bottom.
  3. Place water, butter and cocoa in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture boils; then boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; set aside.
  4. Stir together sugar, flour, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, sour cream and cocoa mixture; beat just until blended (batter will be thin). Pour into prepared pan.
  5. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake completely in pan on wire rack.
  6. Carefully invert cake onto serving tray; peel off foil.
  7. Place peanut butter chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 30 to 45 seconds or until mixture is melted when stirred.
  8. Place mixture in recloseable small plastic bag; cut off tiny section of corner. Squeeze mixture onto cake, forming grids like top of grill. Allow to firm up before slicing. Top with "burgers" and "shish kabobs", if desired.

  9. To make Cocoa Fudge Burgers: Beat 1/4 cup softened butter or margarine in medium bowl; add 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup Cocoa, 2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until all ingredients are moistened and has a consistency to form patties (Add additional milk or powdered sugar, if necessary, to get proper consistency.)
  10. Form burger-shaped "patties" and place on top of cake.
  11. To make Shish Kabobs: Place red, green, and tan colored jelly candies on plastic decorative skewers to form shish-kabobs. Place on top of cake.

(jeskids)