Hi,

My son's party is this coming sunday 23rd Nov 08.!! Ok, I hope have found these answers out much earlier.........Dong!

I have bought a N/Stick pudding steamer trad 2.8L (12 cups, 3 quats or 6 pint OR eq to the volume of a 28cm round tin) tin for the volcano cake. I Couldn't find a dolly varden tin. I will be using a moist mud like mocha cake recipe.

MY questions are:
1) The scientist who will be doing hands on science with the kids (for volcanic eruption effect by pouring boiling water into a glass fills with dry ice) said to put a glass in the middle of the cake.

ok. this doesn't sound that easy to make a hole in the middle of this cake which I only get one chance to do. What is the easiest way to make this hope without the whole cake falling apart? I have found a glass with I think is the same diameter at the top and bottom. I'd imagine if I push this glass into the cake, and since the edge of this glass isn't sharp, it's just going to ruin the cake. Any ideas?


2) I assume I have to bake this cake in low temperature for a longer time or the thickest part of the cake wont cook properly.

So, how long should I bake this cake for and at what temperature? I have a fan-forced oven. This tin comes with a lid. Do you at any stage of baking need to put the lid on? (i know the lid is for steamed pudding just thought whether it will come in handy when use for baking)

Can you find something metal that is the same basic shape as that glass? Put it in the batter & bake it.
If not, then you are going to have to use a knife to mark around the glass once the cake is baked and cut/scrape out cake until the glass fits.
Sorry I can't help you on time/temp for baking as I know nothing about your cake batters or ovens

The Container Store and maybe others sell glass test tubes. To make the effect happen he will not need very much dry ice or water. The test tube size container will not ruin your cake and he can use a funnel to pour in the water.