WITH JUST a few weeks to go until Halloween, I think as usual I would share with you something apt, but with a little difference.

This cake is based on the idea that when you cut into it, your favourite Halloween sweets fall out, and woo your guests with not only cake, but treats too!

I have been thinking of holding a little Halloween gathering for the kids. Outfits, decorations, Halloween-themed food and also, a centrepiece-style cake for the table.

It had to be different and it had to be fun, to be able to keep the kids' attention!

This recipe that I have chosen is a dense, dark and delivishly delicious cake that will be gone before you know it, and I imagine the sweets hidden inside will be gone just as quick too!

The two flavours, chocolate and orange go together really well too. The flavouring from the orange gives the chocolate an incredible zesty yet mellow taste, beautifully well-balanced.

This ensures the layers of buttercream in between the cake really spread out the flavours.

A pinata is a container often made of papier-mâché, pottery or cloth. It is decorated, and filled with small toys or sweets, or both, then broken as part of a ceremony or celebration.

Piñatas are commonly associated with Mexico. The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th century, where the name, from the Italian 'pignatta' was introduced.

Although piñatas are uniquely thought of as a fun activity for parties nowadays, they have a long, rich history.

The tradition arrived in Europe in the 14th century where it was associated with the Christian celebration of Lent; in Spain the first Sunday of Lent, Piñata Sunday, became a celebration known as the Dance of the Piñata.

Overall, they are fun and about enjoyment for all ages!

So how about your guests at Halloween cut into a normal-looking sponge cake to reveal a surprise that it's packed full of sweets?

But how is it done, I hear you cry?

It's actually quite easy to hide a hidden centre in your cake, and below I've explained how. You can choose jellied sweets like Haribo or chocolate sweets like M&Ms (Halloween-themed of course!), just remember to make sure your cake is completely cooled before you add the sweets otherwise they’ll melt inside.

The cake is named after a classic pinata which kids beat to make the sweets fall out, but I wouldn't advise taking a stick to it, it's far too tasty to waste!

Simply slice into the pinata cake to reveal the surprise. Little eyes will light up seeing the sweets tumble out the middle of this extra special bake!

Hope you enjoy this cake as much as we did. Enjoy!

Have you missed any of Michelle’s previous Slice of Life articles? Then visit keighleynews.co.uk, click on What’s On then Food & Drink, and lots of her recipes can be found under the Slice of Life heading.