Raisin the Dead Cakes

Venom keep Metal what it should be: loud, rebellious, angry, & shocking. Basically, the Devil's music. They are the original Rock 'N Roll sinners.

When bassist Cronos played Venom's music for his parents, and they hated it, he knew he was doing something right!
Venom released their first record Welcome to Hell in 1981, sparking a metal mutiny. Cronos plugged his bass into a guitar amp, and his signature "bulldozer bass" sound, was born. Then with the release of Black Metal in 1982, they unknowingly created an entire genre. The genre of Black Metal has evolved a lot over the years, but every Black Metal band in existence owes a priceless debt to Venom.
Also, there definitely would be no "Hot For Teacher" without Venom's much naughtier "Teacher's Pet." Class Dismissed!!
Make as many Spinal Tap jokes as you want, Venom are fucking great and we'd be nothing without them.

This recipe was inspired by the song "Raise The Dead." It features what is probably the Devil's favorite fruit: Raisins!

Venom:
Raisin The Dead Cakes




Makes 24

Metal Constituents:

• 1 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup rum
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup half and half

For the Cinnamon Swirl filling:

• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

For the frosting:

• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 stick butter, room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Merciless Instructions:

1. In a small sauce pan, bring raisins and rum just to a simmer over medium heat, allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake tin with baking cups, and set aside.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.
5. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
6. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.
7. Add vanilla.
8. Alternately add flour mixture and half and half, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
9. Drain raisins and fold 1 cup into the batter.
10. Fill baking cups about 2/3 full.
11. Make the filling: Whisk melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
12. Make a small well in the middle of each cup of batter with a chopstick.
13. Spoon about a teaspoon of filling into each cup.
14. Use same chopstick to swirl the filling and batter together.
15. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into one of the cakes comes out clean.
16. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
17. To make the frosting: Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl.
18. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined.
19. Add powdered sugar, a little at a time, blend­ing with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well incorporated.
20. Add the cinnamon, then increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until frosting is light and fluffy.
21. Frost completely cooled cakes.
22. Top each cupcake with remaining rum-soaked raisins and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
23. Raisin the Dead, make the world unclean.

Here is some really great live footage of Venom playing "Black Metal." Enjoy!



And here's "Raise the Dead" to listen to while you're baking.