What is a burn away cake?

A burn-away cake is a fun and interactive dessert where an edible image on top "burns" or melts away with gentle heat to reveal a hidden message or design underneath. It’s often used for celebrations like birthdays, proposals, or gender reveals.

What are the ingredients in a burn away cake?

Ingredients include a basic cake (any flavor), buttercream or fondant, edible image frosting sheets (or wafer paper), edible ink for printing, and optional edible markers or food coloring gel for hidden messages.

What do you need to make a burn cake?

You’ll need: a baked and cooled cake, a smooth frosting or fondant layer, a printed edible image, and a safe heat source (like a warm spoon, lighter, or culinary torch). Patience and a little creativity help too!

Can burnaway cakes be refrigerated?

Yes, but refrigerate with care. Use wax or parchment paper to protect the edible image and prevent condensation. Let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before burning the image away.

How to Make a Burn-Away Cake – Amazing Guide With 4 Steps 2025

Name: How to Make a Burn-Away Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 1 cake (serves 8)
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 2 ½ tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temp; 1 ¾ cups sugar; 4 large eggs; 1 tbsp vanilla extract; 1 cup whole milk; 1 edible frosting sheet (custom printed); Fondant for top layer; Edible marker or gel for hidden message

Description

This burn-away cake features a soft vanilla sponge and a hidden surprise message beneath a melting edible image top. Perfect for birthdays, reveals, or fun parties!

Ingredients

Scale

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 ½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¾ cup unsalted butter, room temp

1 ¾ cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 cup whole milk

1 edible frosting sheet (custom printed)

Fondant for top layer

Edible marker or gel for hidden message

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two 8-inch cake pans.

2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

3. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in eggs one at a time.

4. Add vanilla, then alternate adding flour mix and milk until combined.

5. Divide batter between pans and bake for 25–30 minutes.

6. Let cakes cool, then level them and stack with frosting.

7. Cover top with fondant and write your hidden message.

8. Carefully place edible image on top of fondant.

9. At serving, use gentle heat (e.g., warm spoon or lighter) to reveal the surprise.

Notes

Make sure to use only edible ink and high-quality frosting sheets.

Do not refrigerate once the image is applied to avoid condensation damage.

Let the cake sit out at room temperature before performing the reveal.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 350
Sugar: 28g
Sodium: 160mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 49g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 5g
Cholesterol: 95mg