Volcano cakes are appropriate for luau-themed parties as well as prehistoric-themed parties. Making a volcano cake starts by building a cone-shaped cake. Then, choose from one of three methods to replicate the volcano erupting. Although dry ice will achieve realistic smoke, if you want to avoid using dry ice, choose from poured candy, frosting or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.
Prepare two dome-shaped cakes by baking a cake mix in a Bundt cake pan, one in a 10-inch pan and one in a 7-inch pan. (You will need about three boxes of cake mix.) Bake according to package directions. Allow the cakes to cool completely on a cooling rack.
Stack the two cakes on top of one another, starting with the smaller cake on top of the larger cake. Stack them so the flat sides are down and the rounded sides are up.
Use a serrated knife to carve the edges of the two cakes to create a cone shape. Cut a 3-inch circle in the top of the smaller cake that is 3 inches deep.
Mix together 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Monitor the temperature on a candy thermometer until it reaches 295 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turn the heat off. Add red liquid food coloring to the candy mixture. Stir to combine. The amount of food coloring depends on the color lava you want. Leave the mixture for to cool for up to 2 minutes.
Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheets. Use random patterns to pour it, creating swirls or jagged shapes. Once the candy lava cools completely, between 1 to 2 hours, remove it from the foil-lined sheets. Press the lava into the top and sides of the prepared cake to replicate lava.
Mix white canned frosting with 5 to 7 drops red food color. Stir to combine. Add more color for a deeper red.
Pipe the red frosting onto the sides of the cake to create the look of lava.
Idea #3: Sparkling Volcano Cake What’s great about this cake is you don’t need dry ice to get some explosive action. All you’ll need are simple mints, coke, and a soda bottle. Effects you’ll love: exploding lava with fireworks in the form of sparklers!
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Insert a disposable cup into the hole carved into the top of the volcano cake.
Add 1 tbsp. baking soda and 3 drops red food coloring to the disposable cup. Mix the baking soda and food color with 2 tbsp. water. Stir until the baking soda dissolves.
Right before serving, pour 2 tbsp. white distilled vinegar into the cup. The mixture causes a chemical reaction resulting in a baking soda and vinegar explosion that will bubble up and run down the sides of the cake.
The baking soda and vinegar may leave a residue on the outside of the cake, which will affect the flavor. To avoid this, cover the cake in fondant after frosting it. Then, remove the fondant layer before eating.
Edible Erupting Volcano (aka doing Chloe’s homework!)
FAQ
Can you make a volcano erupt without using dry ice?
How to make smoke for volcano cake?
How to make a volcano cake?
Making a volcano cake starts by building a cone-shaped cake. Then, choose from one of three methods to replicate the volcano erupting. Although dry ice will achieve realistic smoke, if you want to avoid using dry ice, choose from poured candy, frosting or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.
How do you make a jello cake with a volcano?
Roll out to ¼ inch and lay over volcano. Gently press down and trim bottom. Cut hole in top over Jar opening. If desired freeze cake for about an 1 and then scrape off store frosting decorations. Add dinosaurs and volcano to top of cake. Right before ready to serve Mix jello with boiling water.
How do you make a volcano cake with chocolate fondant?
Knead chocolate fondant for about 3-5 minutes until soft. Roll out to ¼ inch and lay over volcano. Gently press down and trim bottom. Cut hole in top over Jar opening. If desired freeze cake for about an 1 and then scrape off store frosting decorations. Add dinosaurs and volcano to top of cake.
How do you make a volcano rim cake?
Spread a thin layer of frosting on top. Position top cake layer over the base so that holes are aligned. Trim hole at the center of the cakes with a knife so that it is large enough to fit a tall glass or mason jar. Cut off the top with a serrated knife to create a volcano “rim”. Spread frosting all over stacked cake.