Rise and shine, folks! There’s a new trend in town; more precisely, a new cake trend ready to blow your mind.
The Internet is currently going gaga over this cake, which first appears to be like any other piece of confectionary, but when you set it on fire, it transforms into a complete spectacle.
Make way for the internet’s newfound obsession – the burn-away cake.
What is a burn-away cake?
Burn-away cakes begin as standard frosting cakes adorned with an image printed on a thin sheet of edible paper, such as rice paper or wafer paper. The magic happens when this top layer is set on fire, causing it to burn away and reveal a second image underneath, which is printed onto an icing frosting sheet.
Speaking about the same, Muskan Ahuja, owner and head chef at New Delhi’s Risata Bakery and Patisserie, said, “A burn-away cake is the latest trending concept in the cake world, wherein the image on the top of the cake is burnt with a long candle. The image burns slowly to reveal another image underneath, catching the eye of everyone at the gathering with its dramatic appeal.”
The appeal of burn-away cakes lies in their dramatic reveal.
How to make burn-away cakes
Burn-away cake, like any other cake, requires the same old cream and sponge. However, there are two key steps involved which actually transform them into something magical.
The process involves two key layers: the primary image printed on the burnable paper and the secondary image on the sugar-based frosting sheet that remains intact after the burn. A frosting border is piped between these layers not only to attach them but also to create a small gap that allows the top layer to burn effectively. This gap is often concealed by an additional ring of decorative frosting around the cake’s edge.
The popularity of burn-away cakes
The trend was popularised by Ontario-based baker Namaya Navaratnarajah (@CakesByNams on TikTok).
Navaratnarajah did not invent the decoration style but became a key figure in its viral spread after she saw a video by Denise Stewart, another baker, who had created a New Year’s-themed burn-away cake in collaboration with the edible ink and paper brand Paper2Eat.
Inspired by Stewart’s creation, Navaratnarajah began crafting her versions of burn-away cakes, featuring designs from pop culture such as “Pokemon”, “The Hunger Games”, and “Spider-Man”.
However, it was Navaratnarajah’s Taylor Swift reveal cake which not just impressed the Swifties but also bowled over several others online.
The cake has an image of Taylor’s Instagram page on top and when that burns, it shows a picture of the star in a black bodysuit from her Eras Tour.
The video continues to have immense popularity with millions of viewers online.
The craze worldwide
The hashtag #burnawaycake itself has racked up over 200 million views on TikTok, which is a clear display of the extensive reach and interest in this cake-decorating technique.
Bakers around the world, from Indonesia to Mexico, have adopted the trend, creating their own unique takes on burn-away cakes for various occasions, including Valentine’s Day, gender reveals, and celebrity birthdays, such as Ellen DeGeneres’s burn-away birthday cake.
Back home in India
Everyone wants to hop on to a new trend sooner than anyone else. If, let’s say, a particular makeup product is on trend, consumers try to lay their hands on it before anyone else does. The same is the case with burn-away cakes in India.
Everyone wants a burn-away cake to celebrate special occasions. Therefore, there’s a lot of demand.
“The cake scenario in India is blooming at the moment. We are at the stage wherein we are wholeheartedly welcoming new changes, trends and concepts, and are willing to experiment with our cakes. Added to this is the unending obsession with the West. Bento cakes, which is a Korean concept, have also taken over India by storm. Next up is the burn-away cake trend,” Muskan said.
Kriti Jindal, the owner of Delhi-based Swirlls Cakery, said, “People want something new, they want some sort of wow factor to add to their celebrations. People in India are going crazy for this cake. Now that Valentine’s Day is around the corner, we have a lot of orders for burn-away cakes where people want to surprise their boyfriends/ girlfriends with this new confectionary.”
The price of burn-away cakes in India
Indians’ new-found obsession with burn-away cakes is pretty evident as more and more people are ordering bakers to make them one.
“Many customers have been enquiring about burn-away cakes. However, this trend will take a while to reach the general masses and common customers. The price at which you can order a burn-away cake varies from bakery to bakery. Any baker can easily charge Rs 300–500 bucks over and above their regular cake cost to provide you with this cake,” Risata Bakery’s Muskan said.
If you are planning to surprise your partner with something special, a burn-away cake could be your go-to this Valentine’s Day.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
