A simple Hawaiian-themed cake design inspiration is at your local supermarket.
Hawaii is suggestive of beautiful and terrifying volcanoes, delicious tropical fruits, and pampered relaxation in an island locale. Your Hawaiian-themed cake may represent any of these things alone, as well as a combination. As with all cake designs, personality and imagination of both the receiver and the cake designer are paramount. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Volcakeno
A "volcakeno" does not need to be a molten chocolate lava cake, although that can be worked into the design if the receiver of the cake is a confessed chocoholic. Volcakenos are simply cakes made to look like volcanoes. Whether or not they actually erupt, such as with judicious use of a chocolate fountain, is up to you. Since the Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanoes, this may just be the most Hawaiian cake of all. Your cake can be designed to look just like Kilauea, if the receiver of the cake is an avid geologist, or it may be a less complicated representation of a volcano for a less exacting audience. A volcakeno need not be a specific flavor, but dark chocolate or devil's food cake with a red berry filling is color-appropriate.
Pineapple Cake
Pineapple upside-down cake is one option for a pineapple cake, but there are many other ways to suggest this theme. Carve a sheet cake in the shape of a pineapple and frost accordingly, or bake layer cakes and stack them together with frosting to form a 3-D pineapple. Use a dowel in the middle to support a 3-D cake, if you choose this option, or it may topple over very easily. If the cake's recipient is a Spongebob Squarepants fan, this cake is the obvious Hawaiian-inspired choice.
Black Sands of Hawaii
A visit to the cake decorating section of your local crafts store (national options include Michael's, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Hobby Lobby; check your local phone book for local specialty stores) will reveal a wealth of supplies not found in your supermarket baking aisle. Black sanding sugar is particularly useful for a black sand cake, although you may wish to integrate other colors such as purple or blue as highlights, as well. Use blue gel icing to represent water, and consider molding figures of happy sunbathers or sea life out of fondant or marzipan to populate your waterscape.
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