Bonfire Cake

Summer nights aren't complete until you have a bonfire!! So, how about one that you can eat??

This cake is really easy but SUPER impressive! The only things you need for the "fire" are red and butterscotch candies. When you melt them down and give them a swirl with a toothpick, then you have fire.

The base of this cake is chocolate, but you can use any flavor you like. I used chocolate buttercream for the frosting, of course, because I wanted to create a "log" look.

You can find the step out below, and here is the link to the video.

Bonfire Cake

Ingredients

Ingredients for Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter; room temperature
1 pound powdered sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa powder; preferably Dutch-processed
6oz semisweet chocolate melted and cooled (milk and dark chocolate could be used as well)
About 1/4 cup half and half (whole milk works too); room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredients for Candy Flames
Hard Candy (Red, Orange, or Butterscotch)
Parchment Paper
Toothpick
Ingredients for Pretzel Marshmallow Sticks
Pretzel rods
Marshmallows

Instructions

Directions for Frosting
Use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment (and hand mixer works as well) and beat the butter on medium speed to lighten it a bit
In another bowl, combine the powdered sugar with the cocoa power using a whisk
Add the powdered sugar/cocoa mixture into the butter, and carefully start to mix; once it starts to come together then you can raise the speed to medium
Slowly add the vanilla and some of the half and half so that it starts to come together and become smooth
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then add the melted and cooled chocolate; mix together on medium speed to incorporate the chocolate well
Add more half and half of the frosting seems too thick; you are looking for a smooth, spreadable consistency
Tips:
It is important that everything is room temp, otherwise the chocolate will seize up and not mix in
For the chocolate, I like using the baking chocolate that comes in a bar rather than the chocolate chips because it melts better and seems to incorporate into the frosting nicer, but either kind will work
I recommend making the frosting right before you want to frost the cake, for best results. Buttercream can harden if it sits too long, and then it won’t be as easy to work with
Directions for Candy Flames
Crush hard candy and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Arrange the yellow crushed candy in the middle and the orange/red on the outside. This way when you break the candy it will resemble the colors of a real flame.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 6 – 10 minutes or until melted.
Once you remove the melted candy from the oven, use a toothpick to create a swirl or marbled effect. Make sure to do this before the candy begins to harden.
Once the candy has hardened, break candy into jagged pieces and stick in center of cake to look like a camp fire.
Directions for Pretzel Marshmallow Sticks
Place marshmallow over pretzel rod, the way you would a marshmallow roasting stick.
Use a kitchen torch to give marshmallows a toasted look