Chocolate Squid Gelatin

It should come as no surprise that I’m a tremendous fan of Christine McConnell’s work – her pinup-meets-Tim-Burton aesthetic and incredible attention to detail are unbeatable – and I’ve had her new cookbook, Deceptive Desserts: A Lady’s Guide to Baking Bad, pre-ordered since last December. Christmas came early for me this week when the book finally hit my doorstep, timed perfectly with Pinup Girl Clothing’s WonderCon preview of their brand new Pinup Couture Dee Dee Dress in Baby Cthulhu Print (illustrated by comic book artist and writer Evan Dorkin). It seemed only fitting, then, for my first foray into recreating McConnell’s delectably spooky creations to be her Chocolate Squid Gelatin, in tribute to Lovecraft’s ominous sea monster. I’m not going to transcribe her recipe here, because I believe everyone needs to own this book. Suffice it to say this was a labor of love involving a walnut brownie base, a chocolate-gelatin torso, modeling chocolate-constructed tentacles (one of which met its maker by way of my kitchen floor before final assembly), and a whipped cream-gelatin-cornstarch ocean. The result is both magical and delicious – and my only remaining challenge is carving out enough space in my refrigerator in which to store this diabolical dessert!

Dress: Pinup Couture Dee Dee Dress in Baby Cthulhu Print
Lips: Black Moon Cosmetics Sanguis Lipstick
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in Ebony
Shoes: Pinup Couture Cutiepie Mary Jane in Red Patent