Chocolate Tsunami Cake: the easy recipe to enjoy a decadent pull me up cake

If you’re looking for a showstopper of a dessert, then make sure you don’t miss this recipe. The Chocolate Tsunami Cake (also called pull me up cake) became popular when the cake trend became viral on TikTok early in 2021.

The cake has frosting or chocolate ganache flowing all around the cake, and once the plastic sheet is removed (“pull me up”), the ganache flows all over the cake like lava. It might look complicated, but it’s a very easy recipe to make. It doesn’t just look good either.

It’s rich in chocolate, while the texture of the chocolate sponge is soft and moist. The ganache is creamy and very chocolatey—it’s got everything you want in a chocolate cake with the added wow factor.

The recipe is super easy to make. In fact, you simply need a few pantry staples and boxed cake mix. You’ll love how exciting this cake is…it’s perfect for special events.

What is a Tsunami cake?

The Tsunami Cake (also called pull me up cake) gets its name from the flowing ganache or frosting. The cake became popular after going viral on TikTok. The cake has frosting or chocolate ganache flowing all around the cake, and once the plastic sheet is removed (“pull me up”), the ganache flows all over the cake like lava. It comes in various flavors, and these days you will even find rainbow sprinkled cakes.

Chocolate Tsunami Cake Ingredients

Boxed cake mix – use a chocolate cake mix made without eggs.

Whipping cream – use full fat.

Sugar syrup – this seals the cake, to make the frosting easier to apply.

300g (1 3/4 cup) premix chocolate egg-free.

Cocoa powder and dark chocolate – add a sweet, chocolatey flavor.

How To Make Chocolate Tsunami Cake

Grease baking pans and line with baking paper.

In a bowl, add together the chocolate premix, water, and oil and whisk until smooth. Pour this batter into the prepared baking pans and bake until cooked through (a skewer will come out clean).

In the meanwhile, prepare the ganache. Beat the whipping cream and mix the cream with chocolate for the ganache. Slice the cake into layers, and stack on top of each other with cream in between.

Wrap plastic wrap around the cake. Make the ganache by mixing together the chocolate pieces and cream. Pour the chocolate ganache on top of the cake, then dust with cocoa powder.  Once you’re ready to serve the cake, remove the plastic quickly and swiftly, using both hands.

How To Assemble Tsunami Cake

Assemble the layers with piped cream in between.

Wrap the cake with a thick plastic sheet (like acetate), make a vertical cylinder, and tie up the corners with tape. It must be tight on the base of the cake.

To serve, hold the plastic sheet and gently pull it up.

Tips For Chocolate Pull Me Up Cake

You can use apricot jam instead of sugar syrup.

This moist cake does not use eggs!

You can also add other toppings like chocolate chips, sprinkles, or cherries.

How To Store Chocolate Tsunami Cake

Store the cake (without ganache) in a cake tin, or another airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How To Make Chocolate Tsunami Cake

In a bowl, add together the chocolate premix, water and oil.

Whisk until smooth.

Pour the batter into two baking pans and bake at 160°C(320°F) for 25 minutes.

In another bowl beat whipping cream. And mix hot cream with chocolate for the ganache.

Cut each prepared cake into 2 pieces.

Spread the cake layers with sugar syrup.

Top each with whipped cream. Continue with the remaining layers.

Fence the cake with a plastic sheet.

Make the ganache by mixing together the chocolate pieces and cream.

Pour the chocolate ganache on top of the cake.

Dust with cocoa powder.

Keep the cake like this until you’re ready to serve it.

Once you’re ready to serve the cake, remove the plastic quickly and swiftly, using both hands.

The ganache will flow all around the cake. Slice, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Don’t skip the sugar syrup. It “seals the cake” and prevents crumbs from getting into your frosting when frosting the cake.