Best Chef Mommies Volcano Cake Recipes

VOLCANO CAKES

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.

ERUPTING VOLCANO CAKE

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.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Brush four 6-ounce ramekins with the melted butter and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet.
• Combine the chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each with a rubber spatula until completely melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes total. Add the vanilla, espresso powder and salt into the chocolate mixture and stir to combine.
• Add the eggs, egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk on medium-high until fluffy and pale, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• With the mixer on low, add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture, mixing until just combined. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and gently fold in the flour using a rubber spatula.
• Divide the batter equally among the 4 prepared ramekins. Bake until the sides are firm but the centers are still soft, 12 to 14 minutes. (A cake tester inserted into the center of each cake should not come out clean.) Do not overbake.
• Let the cakes cool for 1 minute. Invert onto serving plates and serve warm.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray four custard cups with baking spray and place on a baking sheet.
• Microwave the butter, bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl on high until the butter is melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until the chocolate is also melted. Stir in the sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs and egg yolks, then add the vanilla. Stir in the flour. Divide the mixture among the custard cups.
• Bake until the sides are firm and the centers are soft, about 13 minutes. Let stand 1 minute. Invert on individual plates while warm and serve with vanilla ice cream.

ERUPTING VOLCANO CAKE

Steps:

• Mix cake mix according to package directions, blending with eggs, oil & water. Spoon the cherries from the pie filling into the chocolate cake mix. Set the remaining cherry pie filling sauce aside for later. Bake in a greased 2 quart glass bowl according to temperature on box-- additional baking time may be necessary. Be sure cake is firmly set.
• Remove cake from oven and cool completely. When cool, invert cake onto a 9x13 pan. Crush graham crakers well and sprinkle around the cake (volcano) as beach sand -- leaving an area off to the side for the blue ocean water.
• In the water area, spoon the partially set prepared blue jello into place. It should be solid enough not to run everywhere.
• Using a glass candle votive holder (or a shot glass), press down into the top of the volcano to create an area for the dry ice to sit. Leave in place.
• Spoon remaining cherry pie filling sauce onto the top of the volcano (around the edges of the votive holder but not into it) and let drip down the sides, for a lava-looking effect. Store cake in fridge until ready to serve.
• Just before serving, prepare the lava for eruption. Scrub the egg shell of the egg until it is clean and towel dry. Separate the egg white and discard yolk. Beat the white with the powdered sugar and red food coloring until peaks form.
• Place a couple small chunks of dry ice (handle dry ice using gloves at all times!) into votive holder on top of cake. Pour 2 oz. of boiling hot water into egg mixture. Pour that hot liquid (the watery part -- not the chunks of whipped egg) onto the dry ice, but don't overflow the votive. The dry ice will cause the egg frosting to bubble out and over the cake. Your eruption will last about 5 minutes and you can repeat if desired!

MINI BUNDT VOLCANO CAKES

Steps:

• For the volcano cakes: Coat 12 mini bundt pans with cooking spray. (If working with fewer than 12 pans, coat the pans with spray between batches.)
• Prepare the chocolate cake batter according to the package directions. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool. Using a 1/4 teaspoon measure, scoop small chunks from the center of each cake to create a "crater."
• For the chocolate lava: Put the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring after each, until the chocolate has completely melted. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir to combine. Continue adding food coloring until desired color is achieved.
• Transfer the cakes to serving plates and pour chocolate lava over each volcano cake. Sprinkle with the rock candy.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE FOR TWO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees and butter a 10-ounce ramekin. Dust the buttered ramekin with granulated sugar.
• 2. Combine the chocolate and 3 tablespoons butter in a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, combine in a bowl and microwave in 30-second blasts, stirring in between, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute.) Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the 3 tablespoons sugar, egg, egg yolk, vanilla and salt. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick, foamy and pale, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour until smooth.
• Using a spatula, add the chocolate to the egg mixture and stir gently until combined.
• Pour the mixture into the ramekin. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are set and puffed, but the center is still soft when lightly pressed. (You can also cover and refrigerate the batter up to a day in advance. Add an additional minute or 2 to baking time if you are baking the cake directly from the refrigerator.)
• Use an offset spatula or small knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the ramekin. Place a plate over the ramekin and carefully invert the warm cake. Use an oven mitt or clean kitchen towel to remove the ramekin, dust the cake with confectioners' sugar and serve with ice cream or whipped cream.