Ditch the sprinkles and forget frosting flowers. The latest cake decor sensation is lit! (l'm being quite literal.) Brace yourselves for the burn-away cake, a dessert with a side of theatrical pyrotechnics. Picture this: a seemingly normal cake adorned with an image is set on fire. As it burns-away it reveals a hidden design beneath, leaving jaws on the floor and phones scrambling to take video.
The secret to a burn-away cake lies in clever layering and special ingredients. A regular cake serves as the base, adorned with an edible image encased in a thick border of frosting. A second layer tops that border, and that's where the magic happens. The top layer is printed on wafer paper, a thin, flammable edible sheet. Once the top layer is (carefully) set ablaze, it burns away slowly, creating a suspenseful reveal of the hidden design below.
The beauty of the burn-away cake lies in its versatility. Bakers have unleashed their creativity, crafting cakes inspired by everything from pop culture icons like Taylor Swift to beloved movie scenes. Even gender reveals and marriage proposals get a fiery twist. While the flaming reveal is undeniably mesmerizing, the trend's true magic lies in its potential to create truly memorable moments.
Nobody's claiming to be the sole inventor, but two bakers deserve a shoutout for fanning the flames. Denise Steward (@denises_delights93 on TikTok) got things rolling with a New Year's cake that went from "2023" to "In My 2024 Era" in a fiery flash. Then, Namaya Navaratnarajah (@cakesbynams on TikTok) took things viral with pop culture masterpieces, like a cake revealing Taylor Swift's "Reputation (Taylor's Version)" album art.
So, how do you achieve this fiery reveal at home? Online tutorials offer guidance, but the key ingredients are edible ink for printing and wafer paper. While some bakers invest in edible ink printers, local grocery stores might offer image printing services for the home baker looking to experiment. You can also order burn away cake images online. Remember: Safety first! Always handle flames responsibly and follow proper fire safety guidelines when attempting this trend.