Does anyone know how I can make a volcano cake and have it actually erupt with something other than baking soda and vinegar? I keep thinking of possibly using PVC pipe and some kind of hand pump, with strawberry filling as the lava?? We are invited to the party so I would be there if I needed to do something...

It doesn't really have to erupt, but I just thought it would be cool for the birthday boy.

Thanks!
Courtney

yep pvc will work.

yes, can fill it w/ jam, tho' may have to strain out big chunks

smaller diameter better -- easier to hide in cake.

big trick will be to get the pressure to expel the jam -- enough but not too much (or could get it on the ceiling!)

I have done one that really erupts. It involves eggwhites that are colored red and whipped till slightly fluffy. Fill a tube with that and at the desired time drop in a few chunks of dry ice. works really well. Taste ok, a little sugar in the egg whites would help.

I have a special effects cookbook- It says you make a well in the cake and line it with foil. . Then beat 1 egg white w/ 1 1/2 tsp sugar and 2-3 drops red food coloring until foamy. Then add 2-3 pieces of dry ice to well, pour egg mixture over it and then add 1-2 ounces of hot tap water when you are ready for the eruption and it will erupt w/ foam (lava) and smoke. If you need more I could probably scan the pages and email them to you. Hope this helps

I don't have anything valuable to add here, but can I please just say: this sounds SO cool! Would love to see a link to a video or something after this is made.

This sounds more like a science project than decorating lol - staycd where did you get the special effects cookbook? That sounds really interesting; I would love to get one.

Here is a websit I got one from.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-136731-volcano.html

I got the book as a gift for my birthday. They ordered it from Current Magazine.

thanks!

stacyd - I have that catalog on my coffee table! I've actually been debating whether or not I should get that cookbook. Do you love it?

I am doing this bizzarely (is that a word?? LOL) cool wedding cake with a volcano on it.. they want it to seem like it's errupting. So I am going to put a big votive candle holder into the volcano part of the cake with dry ice and water to make it smoke.. I don't think they'd appreciate the actual eggwhites lava like a kid would.. .. but that sounds cool!

I did a volcano cake for an 80th birthday party-Hawaiian theme
I didn't have an eruption, but did have an 8-10" flame coming out of the top--pretty cool--for the singing happy birthday part

if I'd known about the dry ice and egg white......
is the egg white safe to use raw?

Thanks for the help everyone. Someone I lost this post, LOL. I have until next weekend to figure this out.

Where do you typically get dry ice? Also, Does it have to be egg whites? Do they not freeze for some reason? I like the idea of the dry ice, but I would prefer to use a tastier filling to erupt on the cake. I was thinking those bakery sleeve fillings, they are not too chunky.

Also, Doug, any idea about how to actually rig up a pump and where the heck would i even get one if I decide to do it that way??

Courtney

pump options:

get one of those big wilton dessert shooters and load it full and then just have someone pump away.

another option (from world of theatre)--
get two boards about 6 in long and 4 in wide and hinge them together on narrow edge-- then fill a pastry bag full. coupler on end to connect to tube. bag is placed between boards and then placed on floor. Use foot to push boards closed. best to double the bag so it doesn't burst.

another option -- get empty caulk gun tube
http://www.freundcontainer.com/product.asp?pn=BC528&EID=FD010107pop152&gclid=CIjj8rrwoI0CFR_ygAoduwtw2g&bhcd2=1184204191
clean it, fill it, attach to tubing. then put in caulk gun and pump. (do google search on "empty caulk tubes" for more sources

in all cases will want to prefill the tube completely full too.

only other method would involve compressed air and that's not as easy to control.

I get dry ice at the grocery store where I live- You just tell the cashier you need to pay for it, it is where the big bags of ice are. In the book there is also this method that does not include eggs (no smoke either)- 1 small box jello- 1 small bottle of lemon juice and 1 tbs baking soda. Make jello according to directions- cool for 15 minutes, when still warm, fill glass 1/2 full with warm jello. Pour in enough juice so it is almost full or 1/2 inch from the top. Place glass in the hole in the cake. When ready add 1 tbs into glass and stir briefly. Foam will immediately pour out of cake.

I do like the book, but I haven't made anything yet! It has some great ideas in it.