Cake Decorating Guide
How to Make a Burn-Away Cake
Step-by-Step
What paper to use, how to assemble it so the burn goes cleanly, and where to get custom edible image printing in Culver City, CA.
A burn-away cake uses a thin sheet of wafer paper placed over a custom-printed edible icing sheet on top of a frosted cake. Touch a flame to the wafer paper, and it burns away in seconds to reveal whatever's printed underneath.
The effect looks like fire magic. The actual mechanism is material science: wafer paper is made almost entirely of potato starch, which ignites at low heat without melting or dripping. The icing sheet below is sugar-based and won't catch fire. That material difference is the entire trick.
Gloria's Cake and Candy Supplies at 11117 Washington Blvd in Culver City, CA stocks wafer paper, edible icing sheets, and prints custom edible images in-store — typically ready within one business day. We've been supplying Westside bakers since 1972. If you need a custom print for the reveal layer, call ahead at (323) 289-8807 (Tues–Sat, 10am–6pm) and we'll size and print your image before you arrive.
Burn-Away Cake Supplies
Three core supplies plus a frosted cake. Here's what each one does.
Goes on top — this is what you light. Use 0.25mm to 0.35mm thickness. Thinner burns faster; 0.35mm gives a more theatrical spread. A pack runs $6–$10 at Gloria's.
⚠ Do not substitute: no rice paper, parchment, or frosting sheetsGoes underneath — holds your image. Thicker, non-flammable sugar sheet. The reveal layer. For a photo or logo, you need a custom-printed sheet.
Custom prints: in-store at Gloria's from $8–$15Piped in a ring around the icing sheet edge — minimum ½ inch tall. This air gap is structural: it lets the flame spread cleanly without scorching the reveal image.
A kitchen torch gives the most control. A BBQ lighter also works and keeps your hand farther from the initial flare. A pocket lighter works in a pinch.
On wafer paper: the one substitution that kills the effect
Rice paper from an Asian grocery store is much thicker and won't burn the same way. Frosting sheets — despite looking similar to wafer paper — are self-extinguishing and will not burn at all. If you're not certain what you have, hold a small piece over a sink with a lighter before using it on the cake.
On the buttercream border: don't skip it, don't go thin
Before placing the wafer paper, pipe a ring of buttercream around the outer edge of the icing sheet. At minimum ½ inch tall. This border is structural: it lifts the wafer paper slightly above the icing sheet, creating an air gap that lets the flame spread cleanly. Thin borders cause the most common failure — the flame reaches the icing sheet edge and stalls or singes the image.
How to Make a Burn-Away Cake
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Frost your cake with a flat, smooth top
The icing sheet needs full contact with the frosting to adhere. Bumpy or wavy frosting creates air pockets that bubble and lift the image. After frosting, chill the cake for 20–30 minutes so the top surface is firm to the touch — not tacky, not frozen.
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Size and print your edible icing sheet
For a 6-inch round cake, your image should be sized to roughly 5.5 inches diameter to leave room for the border. If you're printing at Gloria's (11117 Washington Blvd, Culver City), bring your image on your phone or email it ahead — we'll crop and scale it in-store. If you've ordered online, check the print against your cake top before removing the backing.
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Peel the backing and place the icing sheet
Peel the plastic backing off carefully — it's thin and the sheet can crease if you rush. Lay the icing sheet gently onto the frosted surface and press from the center outward to release any air. The frosting acts as adhesive.
If the sheet slides, the frosting surface was too cold. Let the cake warm slightly for 5 minutes and try again. -
Pipe your first frosting border around the icing sheet edge
Using a round or star tip, pipe a ring of buttercream around the outer perimeter of the icing sheet. At least ½ inch tall. This is what the wafer paper rests on — it's your air gap layer.
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Lay the wafer paper on top of the piped border
The wafer paper rests on the frosting border, hovering above the icing sheet. If the paper extends beyond the cake edge, trim it with scissors. The paper should not be touching the icing sheet directly — the border holds it elevated.
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Pipe a second border on top of the wafer paper perimeter
Pipe another ring of frosting over the edges of the wafer paper to anchor it in place. This also gives you a tidy finish and hides the paper's edge. Decorate the sides of the cake however you want — this is the last step before the reveal.
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At the reveal, light one edge of the wafer paper
Touch the flame to a corner or edge — not the center. The paper will catch within one or two seconds. Step back slightly and let the flame spread inward from the edges. The full burn takes 15–30 seconds on a standard 6-inch cake.
Do not hover the torch in one spot. Let the fire spread on its own — chasing it causes uneven burns and risks scorching the icing sheet. -
Brush off any ash, then present and slice
Wafer paper leaves fine, food-safe ash flakes after burning. Use a soft pastry brush or piece of paper towel to sweep them off the icing sheet before serving. The reveal image underneath is completely intact. Cut and serve as normal.
⚠ If the wafer paper won't light
- It's absorbed moisture — this is by far the most common failure.
- Assemble the cake fully, then add the wafer paper layer within 2–3 hours of the reveal.
- Keep the assembled cake at room temperature — not in the fridge.
- If you refrigerate the filled cake, add the wafer paper right before the party.
- In humid weather (think LA in August), that window shrinks to 2 hours or less.
The Hidden Layer: Getting Your Custom Edible Image
The reveal image is the payoff. A piped message looks nice; a full-color photo of the guest of honor, a gender reveal design, or a personal graphic is what earns a video replay.
Gloria's Cake and Candy Supplies prints custom edible images in-store using food-safe edible ink on edible icing sheets — the same sheets used as the reveal layer in burn-away cakes. We've been doing in-store edible printing for local bakers long before it became a trend. Most orders are ready within one business day. Call ahead at (323) 289-8807 to confirm turnaround for your visit.
Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
10 am – 6 pm
Phone
Pricing
$8–$15 per standard sheet
size and price confirmed in-store
How to order your edible image print
- Walk in with your image on your phone, a USB drive, or email it ahead of your visit
- We'll size the image to your cake top and adjust the crop — no Photoshop required on your end
- High-contrast images with vivid colors print best; tell us if you need true pink or blue for a gender reveal
- Call ahead to confirm wait time or send your file before you arrive
About 10 minutes from Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood, and Playa Vista. Listed in Yelp's top edible image printers in Los Angeles.
Best Occasions for a Burn-Away Cake
Gender Reveals
The burn-away format fits perfectly — the whole event is built around a hidden reveal. Top layer holds a neutral question ("boy or girl?"), the burn reveals pink or blue beneath. Have the reveal image print-ready before assembly.
Milestone Birthdays
A 40th, 50th, 70th — anything that earns a real reaction. The burn layer can show the honoree's face at a younger age, burning away to show their current photo and a big age callout. Or let "SURPRISE" appear in full color underneath.
Proposals
The top layer holds an innocent-looking question or message. Ask your partner to "light the cake" — they have no idea what's underneath. We've printed many "Will you marry me?" reveals on icing sheets at the store, most ordered day-of.
Graduations
A cap-and-gown photo or school logo on the reveal layer works well. Culver City, Inglewood, and Mar Vista area schools finish spring graduation in late May — that's when print orders at Gloria's pick up. Think about ordering a week ahead.
Anniversaries
A wedding photo from 10, 25, or 50 years ago makes a meaningful reveal — especially when kids or grandkids are watching. We've printed 1970s wedding photos (grain and all) that still came out sharp enough to recognize on a 7-inch cake.
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Using the wrong paper for the burn layer
This causes more failures than anything else. Regular rice paper from a grocery store doesn't burn like edible wafer paper — it's too thick and often won't catch cleanly. Frosting sheets are self-extinguishing and won't burn at all. If you're not certain what you have, hold a small piece to a flame over a sink before committing it to your cake.
Assembling too far in advance
Wafer paper is hygroscopic — it pulls moisture from the air and from the frosting below. After 3–4 hours, it can become soft and reluctant to catch. In humid or warm weather (LA in August), that window shrinks to 2 hours or less. Build the full cake, then add the wafer paper layer last, as close to party time as you can manage.
Frosting the top too wet
Fresh buttercream is tacky. Wafer paper placed on wet frosting will stick and soften before you even get to the party. Chill your frosted cake until the top is firm — you should be able to press it lightly without leaving a mark. Then place the icing sheet.
Holding the flame too long in one spot
The wafer paper catches fast. Touch the edge, pull back, let it spread. Hovering a torch in the center causes the paper to burn unevenly — you end up chasing it with the flame and scorching the icing sheet underneath. One light touch at one edge is all you need.
Not planning for the ash
The ash is food-safe, but it looks like ash sitting on top of your beautiful reveal. Have a clean pastry brush or paper towel ready before you light it. One sweep after the burn and the image is clean for photos.
Printing on a regular home printer
Standard inkjet ink is not food-safe. If you're printing your own icing sheets at home, you need a dedicated edible printer with food-safe edible ink cartridges — not your regular paper printer. These run $150–$300+. If you don't have one, bring your file to Gloria's (11117 Washington Blvd, Culver City — (323) 289-8807) and get it printed in-store.