Eye of Sauron Cake

The amazing thing about in-laws is more birthday parties.  Yesterday, my family threw a little birthday bash for Paul.  He wanted to keep with the Lord of the Rings theme, but for reasons that are still unknown to me, he requested and Eye of Sauron Cake.  Oh boy.  I went all out for this thing.

 Last year, I made a zebra cake (tutorial here).  I thought the results were pretty sweet.

I had the idea to use the same technique but with orange and red batter.  This way, cutting into the cake would reveal a flaming interior.

With three layers, this thing weighed a ton.  Sandwiched between the layers was banana cream pie  buttercream.  I made my typical buttercream (1/2 cup of butter, 1/2 cup of unflavored shortening, 1 tsp. vanilla, pinch of salt, and 3 1/2-4 cups of powdered sugar, 2 tbsp. milk) but substituted one cup of sugar with instant banana pudding mix.

*It was too thick and incredibly hard to spread.  I recommend adding a lot more milk.

I rustically covered the cake with dark chocolate buttercream.

Then I began adding layers of tinted buttercream for the "Eye of Sauron."

I used four different shades to get the effect I wanted.

Twenty-seven candles framed the eye.

Once it was lit on fire (once again feeling like an orc) it really brought out the different shades.

Apparently, the cake of Sauron was so life-like that Paul cowered in fear.

Make a wish!

I got to throw the ring into the fires of Mount Doom cut the cake.

Can you see the flames?

Okay, so the flames inside were a little pink.  Perhaps the next time I make an "Eye of Sauron" cake I will use red velvet.