Fruit Volcano Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 2 (8-inch) cake pans, 2 (10-inch) cake pans and 1 (6-inch) Bundt pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• Beat cake mix, water, oil, and egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Divide batter equally between prepared cake pans.
• Bake 8-inch cakes and 6-inch Bundt cakes in oven for 35 to 40 minutes and 10-inch cakes for 45 to 50 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. Remove and cool completely.
• To assemble, use a serrated knife to slice off the tops of the 8 and 10-inch cake so the surface of each cake is flat. Place the cut tops into a large bowl and break up to from large crumbs. The crumbs will be used a "lava rocks" at the base of the volcano. Slice the bottom off the 6-inch bunt cake so it sits flat.
• Spread a thin layer of chocolate frosting between the 10-inch cake layers and stack. Spread a thin layer of chocolate frosting between 8-inch cake layers and stack. Place another thin layer of frosting on top of the 8-inch layer cake and place the bunt cake cut side down on top. Place a dollop of frosting on top of the 10-inch cake and carefully, place 8-inch cake on top and center of 10-inch cake.
• Use a serrated knife to trim edges around the tops of both cakes to create a cone shaped cake. (Make angled cuts downward and leave a round base on top for icing to "flow" from.)
• To decorate, frost outside of entire cake with remaining chocolate frosting. Place the cake crumbs around the base of the cake. Pipe green icing around the entire bottom of the cake for "grass". To create "flowing lava" pipe red icing a quarter from the top of cake in downward strokes to the middle of the cake with ribbon tip. Repeat technique with orange icing, starting almost at top of cake and ending where red icing begins with slight overlap. Repeat technique with yellow icing starting at the very top of cake and overlap orange icing. Drizzle yellow and red gel coloring around the very top of cake.
• For the smoke effect place a few pieces of dry ice into glass candle votive. Place the votive into the hole of the bunt cake. Pour a small amount of warm water into the votive and watch it smoke.

Steps:

• Combine the raisins, currants, apricots, figs, prunes, dates, walnuts, pecans, orange zest, lemon zest, candied ginger, pumpkin pie spice and cloves in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add 1 cup of the brandy, orange liqueur and molasses and stir to coat. Cover and set aside to macerate overnight. (Alternatively, cover the bowl and microwave 2 minutes, or until very hot. Leave covered and let sit until almost all the liquid has been absorbed into the fruit and nuts, about 2 hours.)
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and line each with 2 pieces of parchment, one lengthwise and one crosswise, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the soaked fruit mixture and toss to coat. Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Cream the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the flour mixture until the batter is blended and smooth. Pour the batter over the fruit mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until all the fruit is coated in batter.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans, the tops spring back slightly when pressed and a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons brandy. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove each cake from its pan using the parchment overhang and place on the rack to cool completely.
• To store, wrap each loaf tightly in plastic and then foil. The wrapped fruitcakes can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 1 angel food cake pan for the base cake layer and 1 fluted tube pan (such as Bundt®) for the top cake layer.
• Combine 1 cake mix, 1 1/3 cup water, 3 eggs, and 1/2 cup melted butter in a large bowl to make base cake layer. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and continue to beat, scraping bowl occasionally, until batter is smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour into prepared angel food cake pan.
• Combine 1 cake mix, 1 1/3 cup water, 3 eggs, and 1/2 cup melted butter in a large bowl to make top cake layer. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and continue to beat, scraping bowl occasionally, until batter is smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour into prepared fluted tube pan.
• Bake cakes in the preheated oven until toothpicks inserted into the centers come out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pans, about 5 minutes. Invert onto wire racks.
• Sift confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder together in a large bowl.
• Combine 1 cup softened butter and vanilla extract together in another large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until creamy. Gradually beat in sifted sugar mixture until well-blended. Add heavy cream; beat until frosting is well-blended and spreading consistency.
• Place base cake layer on a large serving platter. 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. Arrange cake trimmings as "lava rocks" around the base. Refrigerate until frosting sets.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Combine white sugar, light corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook until syrup reaches 310 degrees F (155 degrees C) or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads. Remove from heat and stir in 2 drops red food coloring and cinnamon flavoring.
• Pour streams of red syrup carefully onto the lined baking sheet to create candy "lava". Cool until set, about 5 minutes. Peel off the baking sheet and place around the sides and top of the frosted cake.
• Place marshmallow cream, 1/4 cup water, 1 drop red food coloring, and yellow food coloring in a small saucepan over low heat; cook and stir until marshmallow lava is melted and even in color, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Place glass or mason jar inside the frosted cake. Add a small amount of dry ice, marshmallow lava, and remaining 1/4 cup water. Dry ice will create a "smoke" effect and cause marshmallow lava to bubble over cake rim.

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Stir in pineapple and walnuts. Pour 2 cups into a greased and floured 9-in. round baking pan and 2 cups into a greased and floured 8-in. round baking pan. Pour remaining batter into a greased and floured 1-1/2-qt. ovenproof bowl., Bake the layer cakes at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Bake the bowl cake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar alternately with enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Beat in vanilla. Set aside 3/4 cup frosting. Add cocoa to the remaining frosting; beat until smooth. , Place the 9-in. layer on a serving plate; frost with chocolate frosting. Top with 8-in. layer and bowl cake, frosting between layers. Spread remaining chocolate frosting over top and sides of cake., Divide reserved white frosting in half; tint half orange and half red. Drop by spoonfuls over the top and down the sides of cake.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Grease and line 4 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper. Note: If you only have 2 8-inch (20 cm) pans, bake the cakes in batches.
• Add 4 teaspoons of red food coloring to one bowl of batter, the remaining teaspoon of red food coloring and 1 teaspoon of yellow food coloring to the next bowl of batter, and the remaining 2 teaspoons of yellow food coloring to the last bowl of batter. Whisk until fully incorporated.
• Pour ½ cup (85 G) of each color batter into each of the 4 cake pans. Repeat, alternating colors, until all of the batter is used. Gently swirl a toothpick through the batter to blend the colors in each pan.
• Bake the cakes according to the box instructions, 25-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean. Let cool completely. Keep the oven on.
• Make the hard candy flames, lava and water puddles, and lava drips: Grease 3 baking sheets with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
• For the flames, on the left side of a prepared baking sheet, arrange 12 red hard candies, about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) apart, in 4 rows of 3. On the right side of the same baking sheet, place the butterscotch candies in 3 rows of 3, about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) apart. Bake for 4-6 minutes, until the candies are entirely melted together, but not bubbling too much. Let cool completely, then break into large shards. Set aside.
• For the lava and water puddles, arrange 4 evenly spaced clusters of 3 blue and 1 green hard candies on a baking sheet. Place 4 red hard candies at least 1 inch (2 ½ cm) from the clusters and the edges of the pan. Place the remaining 4 butterscotch candies directly next to each red candy. Bake for 4-6 minutes, until melted into pools. Let cool completely.
• For the lava drips, position the remaining 8 red hard candies at least 1 inch (2 ½ cm) apart along a long side of the baking sheet, at least 1 inch (2 ½ cm) from the edge. Bake for 4-6 minutes, until melted. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and very carefully tip the pan so the melted candy slides down, creating a drip effect. Let cool completely.
• Trim the domed tops off the cakes. Use a 3-inch (7 cm) round cookie cutter to punch out holes in the centers of 2 of the cakes. Reserve the cake scraps.
• Assemble the cake: Place a 9-inch (22 cm) cardboard round on a cake turntable.
• Spread a dab of chocolate frosting in the center of the cardboard. Place a whole cake on the round. Using an offset spatula, spread about ½ cup (85 G) of frosting evenly over the top of the cake. Place the other whole cake on top and repeat frosting. Repeat with the remaining 2 cakes with the holes in the center. Place an 8-ounce mason jar in the hole in the center. Use your hand to lightly push the mason jar in until the top is level with the cake. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes, up to 1 hour.
• Carve the volcano: Using a sharp serrated knife, carefully trim down the sides of the cake at an angle so that the base is wider than the top. Make sure to leave a layer of cake at least 1-inch (2 ½ cm) thick around the jar. Reserve the cake scraps.
• Frost the outside of the cake with 4 cups (460 G) of frosting. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, up to overnight.
• Make the volcanic crumbles: Add 2 cups (230 G) of frosting to the bowl of cake scraps and mix with an electric hand mixer until coarsely crumbled.
• Assemble the volcano cake: Carefully transfer the cake to a platter at least 12 inches (30 cm) wide, positioning it near one corner. Place the melted blue-green candy puddles around the edges of the platter.
• Add the volcanic crumble around the base of the cake, and partially covering the candy puddles. You may not need to use all of the crumble. Sprinkle the chocolate peanut butter candies, mini chocolate peanut butter cups, and chocolate-coated caramel bites evenly over the crumble.
• Place the red hard candy drips around the sides of the cake, positioning them near the top. Place the red candy puddles on top of the crumble under the drips.
• Place the red and yellow candy shards along the top rim of the cake, surrounding the mason jar.
• Position the dinosaur figurines around the volcano, if using.
• When ready to present the cake, carefully use tongs to place a piece of dry ice in the mason jar. Pour room temperature water over the dry ice to create a smoke effect.
• Use tongs to carefully remove the mason jar before slicing and serving.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Place a sheet pan in the middle of the oven for at least 15 minutes at 350 degrees F.
• Combine the butter and chocolate in a mixing bowl on top of a pot of simmering water. If you don't have experience melting chocolate then be very careful not to burn the mixture. Never melt chocolate directly over the cooking element. Heat the chocolate mixture until melted and set aside to cool slightly.
• In a mixer on medium-high speed, beat the eggs, the egg yolks and the sugar for about 5 minutes, or until they are thick and a light yellow color. On low speed gradually add the flour and then the chocolate-butter mixture.
• Butter 6 (6 to 8-ounce) ramekins and dust with the cocoa powder. Tap out the excess but make sure they are well coated. Pour the batter into the ramekins, filling them about 7/8 of the way to the top. Place on the preheated sheet tray and bake for 15 to 18 minutes. The consistency when done should be where the edges of the cake are firm and the top is still soft to the touch. This dessert has very thin line between being under and overdone!
• Remove from the oven and let sit on a cool surface for 3 to 5 minutes. Run a paring knife between the cake and ramekin to loosen the sides. Invert your dessert plate over the ramekin (be careful, they're hot) and flip over. Tap the plate lightly and lift off the ramekin. Serve with vanilla ice cream and garnish with raspberries and strawberries, if desired.
• If the cake runs all over the plate you need to increase the cooking time. If the cake is hard and does not ooze chocolate, lessen the cooking time. If the cake does not come out then make sure the ramekins are well buttered and covered in the cocoa.