Kitchen science activity: Make a volcano cake

Kids' recipes can also be a fun craft activity of sorts. This fun oozy volcano cake might even get boys interested in baking.

What you need:

For the volcano:

• 180g butter
• 3/4 cup castor sugar
• 1½ cups self-raising flour
• 3 tsp cocoa

For the lava:

• 3 tbs golden syrup
• 2 tbs butter
• a few drops of red food colouring
• 1 tbs warm water
• 1 tsp baking soda

Number of players:

Activity:

Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in between.

Now add the flour and cocoa a little at a time until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Grease and line a deep rounded oven-proof pudding bowl and then pour the mixture in.

Bake at 180°C (160° for fan-forced) for 35 minutes. 

Leave it to cool for 10 minutes.

Turn it out, upside down and cut a crater in the top of the volcano. (See video.)

While it's cooling, make your lava:

Melt the golden syrup and butter in a small saucepan and then add the food colouring.

In a cup mix the warm water and baking powder together and then tip the baking soda mixture into the lava mixture and quickly pour it into the top of the volcano.

When you cut the volcano open, you will see the lava oozing out.