Coco in the Kitchen

Treats for the whole family!

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Entree
    • Dessert
    • Gluten Free
    • Armenian
  • Press
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

Campfire Cake

09/18/14 | cake, candy, chocolate, coffee, cookies, cream, kids, sweet

 

Campfire Cake

Technically, summer is almost over, but the heat is here to stay, at least for a while. That means more splashing around the water, movies in the backyard, dinners outside on the back patio and campfires. Campfires set the stage for happy memories. Some of the best ones are at the beach with friends gathered around a roaring fire, listening to the sound of the waves crashing, sharing stories under the moonlight. Even when a trip to the seaside is not on the calendar, there is always plenty of reason to celebrate with a cake, especially one with a touch of whimsy. Vanilla sponge cake,  mocha whipped cream, cookie “logs,” candy “flames,” chocolate pebbles,” butter + graham cracker “sand” are the makings of the cutest Campfire Cake.

Campfire Cake

 

 Campfires take me back to my girl scout days. Every summer, our troop would go for a week-long camping trip in the Santa Barbara mountains. After dinner, everyone walk to the fire pit, listening to the birds chirping along the way. Before long, it grew dark, if not for the sunburst glow of the campfire flames. We would sit on logs in a circle, sipping hot chocolate, counting the stars and singing songs. 
 
 
Campfire Cake
 
At the sight of the first yawn, the troop leaders would send us to our tents. Some poor souls had to fight off the Z’s and stand guard, against what, I don’t know. Standing watch is an age-old tradition and the duty of any good scout. Inevitably, during some lucky person’s shift, a fight would break out. Some boy would raid a girls’ tent and steal someone’s panties. Then, it was on! 
 
Campfire Cake
 

Campfire CakeThose were my rockstar days. I have settled down quite a bit since then, but still know how to get cahrazy, as in baking this cake. Every step is fun. There is so much to do. My little sweetheart was happy to help and she makes everything more special. We sure made a loud racket, bashing the candies to a powder against the kitchen countertops! It was FUN (and cheap therapy). This is how the “flames” for the campfire are made.

The candy is crushed,  then the powder is sprinkled onto a piece of foil and sent to melt in the oven. It morphs into a bubbly goo in no time. Daisy loved watching the candy magic happen.

The hardest part is making the cake. Boxed cake mix works well. You could just grab your keys, zoom to the market and just buy a ready-made sponge cake. I like to make mine from scratch using my favourite sponge cake recipe. Daisy loves to help me and the result is always a winner. Do whatever works best for you. 

Campfire Cake

Serves 10 sweet-toothed scouts
 
Supplies
1 vanilla sponge cake
10 each Jolly Ranchers hard candies – red, yellow, blue
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 tsp instant coffee
5 Tb powdered sugar
splash vanilla
6-8 Pirouette/Pirouline cookies (Pepperidge Farms)
2 Tb chocolate pebble candies 
1/4 cup toasted pecans (optional)
5-6 chocolate mushrooms (optional)
2 Tb cocoa powder
 
 
Steps
Prepare the cake – see recipe. This can be done a day ahead. Be sure to cover the cake to prevent drying. 
 
Unwrap about 30 Jolly Ranchers, red, yellow, blue. I used cherry, watermelon and blue raspberry. 
Separate the colours into 3 plastic bags and give them a good bashing with an old coffee mug.
Sprinkle the crushed candy onto a foil-lined baking tray and melt for about 5-10 minutes at 350*F.
Be careful as the candy will burn very quickly.

Remove from oven and let the candy cool completely til solid, about 15 minutes.
Break into shards and set aside.

Toast pecans in a dry nonstick pan for about 5 minutes.
Set aside to cool.

Pour heavy cream into the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment.
Add coffee, powdered sugar, vanilla and 1 tablespoon cocoa powder.
Whip until fluffy.

Slice each of the 2 cakes into half horizontally to create 4 layers.
Frost with whipped cream in between the layers and around the cake.
Place Piroline cookie “logs” on top, with their tips connecting in the middle
of the cake.
Insert a few shards of candy “flames” in between those tips in the center.
Decorate with candy rocks around the sides of the cake.
Sprinkle crushed graham cracker “sand” around the cake and on top.

Break pecans over the top.
Insert a few chocolate mushrooms here and there.
Sprinkle with cocoa.
Chill until ready to serve.

This mocha-sponge Campfire Cake has it all – looks, class and good taste. Even after summer is long gone, you will look for an excuse to bake it and find everyone rushing to gather around the fire.

Campfire Cake
 

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116083041″ params=”auto_play=true&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Comments | Be the first!

« Orange-Almond Crème Caramel – Updated Recipe !
Cottage Chili (Vegan) »

Comments

  1. Cheri Savory Spoon says

    September 18, 2014 at 16:32

    Hi CoCo, love the theme of this cake and how wonderful to be able to bake together with your little Daisy. Did you change something about your site? maybe you did earlier and I did not notice, anyway looks great!

    Reply
  2. COCO intheKitchen says

    September 18, 2014 at 21:55

    Hi, Cheri.
    Yes, I love baking w my li'l sweetheart!
    You have a good eye – I changed the header w a new sketch I did. Daisy was the inspiration for the “twins.” Hope you like it. xo

    Reply
  3. Janine Waite says

    September 19, 2014 at 14:04

    Howdy Coco,
    Wow, what a great idea for a cake. Gosh, my kiddos would've loved making this when they were Daisy's age!! Although, I don't think any of the candy would've made it on the cake but, rather into their plump toddler tummies. You're such a creative baker… I'll just have to try making your Vanilla Sponge cake. Have a great weekend!
    J

    Reply
  4. vanillasugarblog says

    September 19, 2014 at 23:52

    What a stunning cake Ms Coco!
    I just adore that topping of fire!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Reply
  5. Cocoa and Lavender says

    September 21, 2014 at 21:48

    This has got to be one of your cutest ideas! Love the logs and flames… It must be so much fun being Daisy… having you as her mum!

    Reply
  6. Guru Uru says

    September 22, 2014 at 06:24

    Ooft this is such a creative idea 😀
    I would totally be up for it any time of the day though, not just night 😛
    Delicious!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
  7. Erica says

    September 23, 2014 at 14:34

    What a fun idea!My kids would love this cake!

    Reply
  8. Lori says

    September 29, 2014 at 10:48

    Cute idea. I was a girl scout for 8 years! Loved it. Had the best leaders which makes all the difference. I actually led a girl scout troop when I was in my early twenties- to give back. Had a blast!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I’m Coco!

Welcome to Coco in the Kitchen! I am a proud Wife and Mommy cooking up some delicious meals and treats for my family. Follow along and collect some great dishes inspired by my Armenian roots and chocolate cravings! Get to know me more...

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter

Keep up with Coco in the Kitchen

Popular Posts

Guinness Stew

Guinness Stew

Easy Day of the Dead Make-up Tutorial

Easy Day of the Dead Make-up Tutorial

Chocolate Cauldron Cake

Cauldron Cake, a Chocolate Treat for Halloween

Almost Famous Martino’s Bakery Tea Cakes Recipe

Check out my Instagram!

Instagram post 2192406197462499613_1208463977 Rendang in the works for tonight’s dinner! This is an Indonesian classic, a beef coconut curry served as ceremonial occasions and to honor guests even on an ordinary Thursday like this one. Some of the tropical ingredients may be hard to find. So I’ll post my rendition using pantry items. What are you having for dinner?
#rendang #beef #coconut #curry #dinner #cooking #indonesian #asianfood #ribeye #coconutmilk #lemongrass #ginger
Instagram post 2191607077198002744_1208463977 Guinness Stew takes 20 mins to prep, then the slow cooker does all the work for you while you wrap prezzies, bake cookies or just put your feet up and sip a glass of vino. 🍷Recipe for the stew and Shawn’s Irish ☘️ Soda Bread are both on the blog.  #stew #stout #guinness #slowcooker #instapot #soup #coldweatherfood #irish #sodabread
Instagram post 2190979762881447544_1208463977 The weather has turned and there’s a crisp chill in the air! Now is the perfect time for GUINNESS STEW, especially since the slow cooker does all the work for you while you wrap prezzies, bake cookies or just put your feet up and sip a glass of vino. 🍷Recipe for the stew and Shawn’s Irish ☘️ Soda Bread are both on the blog.  #stew #stout #guinness #slowcooker #instapot #soup #coldweatherfood #irish #sodabread
Instagram post 2190456032757500889_1208463977 Getting ready for the holidays with my little hot chocolate bar! We’ve got cocoa, marshmallows. peppermint melts, festive mugs... I’m thinking of adding some more items. Any suggestions? #holidays #coco #christmas #chocolate #hotchocolate #festive #drinks
Instagram post 2189715984172748742_1208463977 Nazook fresh out of the oven! I ran out of sour cream, so I used labne. The cookies turned out tender and crumbly as always. Standard baking sheets (I think 15” long) don’t fit side by side in my oven. I got these smaller ones so I can bake two trays at once. #nazook #baking #hye #armenian #cookies #gata #pastry
Instagram post 2189689956360537916_1208463977 Stuff it, roll it, cut it, bake it! Nazook ready for the oven! Standard baking sheets (I think 15” long) don’t fit side by side in my @bertazzoni_official oven. I got these smaller ones so I can bake two trays at once. #nazook #baking #hye #armenian #cookies #gata #pastry #tiis #tricks
Follow on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest!

Tweets by @cocoinkitchen

Get the latest

Get all of my latest recipes right to your inbox!

My favorite Pie Recipes

Bastilla: Moroccan Chicken Pie

fruit mince pies

Fruit Mince Pies

Connect with Coco

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Archives

Categories

Copyright © 2019 · Coco in the Kitchen

Copyright © 2019 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in