The clock is ticking… in Orlando, that means Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is about to be consumed by the fog, vanishing until 2026. This epic event always leaves us with incredible memories, but this year, it also left us with a severe craving.
Our Mission: to capture the flavor of our choice for the most Magically Epic snack of Halloween Horror Nights 2025—the Ramblin’ Rabbit Fried Carrot Cake from the Wyatt Sicks’ Firefly Funhouse food cart. This treat isn’t just delicious, it’s a crispy, sweetly spiced delight that we knew we had to recreate to feel whole again.
So, we retreated to our “Lab of Twisted Delights and Horrors” (aka, our kitchen, fresh off our success with the Gideon’s Bakehouse Frankenstein Cookie COPYCAT recipe! determined to create a version of the Ramblin’ Rabbit that is just as EPIC, while ditching the messy deep fryer. What we conjured is a Beautiful Abomination—an Air-Fried, crunchy carrot cake slice that you can easily make at home! This is the only way to get your fix of that signature Fried Carrot Cake texture until HHN returns.
The Abomination’s Anatomy: Our Air-Fried Homage to HHN
This recipe is simple, utilizing a few Magically Epic Ideas to deliver maximum flavor and crunch with minimal mess. The secret to our success is chilling the cake and choosing the right crunch agent.
| Component | Ingredients | Magically Epic Notes |
| The Core | 8×8″ chilled, pre-baked carrot cake (we used Duncan Hines box mix)& adjusted the cooking time to around 1 hour. | CRUCIAL STEP: Bake the cake, then cool and chill it completely. This prevents crumbling when dipping. |
| The Batter | 1/2 cup King Arthur All-Purpose Flour 1/4 tsp Rumford Baking Powder 1 large Egg (or 3 Tbsp liquid egg whites) 1/2cup 2% Milk 1/4 tsp Sea Salt | We prefer Rumford for an aluminum-free baking powder, and the egg whites work perfectly as a binder! |
| The Crunch | Panko Bread Crumbs OR Crushed Rice Chex Cereal | The secret to a crisp shell without frying. We love the Rice Chex for a unique, almost-cereal-like crunch. |
| The Frosting | Pillsbury Cream Cheese Frosting | Spread generously after baking to complete the dessert. |
The Resurrection Process
- Prep the Cake: Once fully chilled, slice the 8×8″ cake into thick, rectangular portions.
- Mix the Batter: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, egg/egg whites, milk, and salt until smooth. Place the Rice Chex or Panko in a separate shallow dish.
- The Dip: Take a cold cake slice and gently dredge it through the wet batter, ensuring all sides are coated. Let the excess drip off.
- The Crunch Coat: Immediately press the cake slice into your chosen crunch topping (Chex or Panko), patting firmly so the coating adheres completely.
- The Air-Fry: Preheat your convection oven or air fryer to 400∘F. Bake the coated cake slices for 6-10 minutes. They are done when the coating is cooked through and lightly golden brown.
- The Feast: Remove the slices, spread a generous layer of the cream cheese frosting on top, and dig into your Beautiful Abomination!
Epic Riffs: Kitchen Ace Shortcuts
Our first batch for this HHN copycat was a huge success, but in our lab, we never settle! Here are two tips for taking this to the next level:
1. Boxed Cake Upgrades: The Trifecta for a Scratch-Made Taste
Don’t let anyone tell you a boxed mix isn’t Magically Epic! To create a richer, moister crumb that handles dipping perfectly, utilize this famous “Trifecta” of substitutions that serious home bakers swear by:
- Replace the water with an equal amount of milk: The extra fat in the milk provides a richer flavor and a more tender, moist crumb than water alone. (For a tangy twist, you can even use buttermilk!)
- Replace the oil with an equal amount of unsalted melted butter: Butter delivers a more complex, decadent, and authentic flavor that is crucial for a cake that tastes homemade.
- Add an extra egg to the mix: The additional egg, especially the yolk, adds fat and protein, resulting in a denser, moister, and more bakery-style cake structure.
These simple substitutions will instantly grant you Magically Epic Baker status!
2. Next-Level Sweetness
For the next version, we plan to mix a little confectioner’s sugar and a hint of natural vanilla into a bowl and lightly toss the warm, freshly-baked cake slices in it before adding the frosting. This adds that hint of sweet on the crispy shell that sweet monsters like us crave.
And there have it: the Beautiful Abomination—a crunchy, warm, perfectly spiced Fried Carrot Cake slice that brings the chaotic magic of the Firefly Funhouse home. It’s our final, perfect bite of HHN 2025, and a treat we’ll be enjoying long after the fog has lifted.
What’s your vote for the next Magically Epic Eat we should tackle? If you’re craving some copycat Disney Springs treats, check out our take on a fun copycat of the classic Gideon’s Bakehouse PB Crunch Cookie! Let us know in the comments!
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