• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Easter Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Sign Up
  • About Liz

Sugar Geek Show logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Sign Up
  • About Liz
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Easter Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Sign Up
  • About Liz
×
Home

Blog

roses made out of wafer paper

May 15, 2022 Course Preview

Wafer Paper Roses Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

Guest instructor Shruti Saxena is back for another amazing flower tutorial. In this course, you will learn how to create wafer paper roses, a beautiful arrangement of edible flowers using various wafer paper techniques.

Shruti breaks down how to condition wafer paper, the tools and templates needed to make petal and leaves and how to get the various shapes and folded needed to create ornate flowers that look just like the real thing. If you're looking to another another style of edible flower to your disposal, wafer paper is a great alternative to gumpaste.

57:40 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make wafer paper roses
  • Learn how to create petals, leaves and calyx needed out of wafer paper
  • Shruti's tips and tricks to working with wafer paper and getting the look of the roses just right

Roses made out of wafer paper

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Introduction To Wafer Paper 0:41
  2. Making And Storing The Conditioner 2:22
  3. Applying The Conditioner 4:29
  4. Climate Considerations 6:21
  5. Coloring The Paper With Gel Colors 8:25
  6. Coloring The Wafer Paper With Petal Dust 15:20
  7. How To Use The Petal Templates 18:15
  8. Making The Rose Bases 23:43
  9. Veining The Petals 25:29
  10. Making The Rose 27:23
  11. Making The Rose Bud 47:01
  12. Making The Leaves 52:18
  13. Putting It All Together & Storage 55:12

Downloads

Materials List

Petal and Leaf Template

roses made out of wafer paper

May 15, 2022 Paid Video

Wafer Paper Roses

Skill level: Intermediate

Guest instructor Shruti Saxena is back for another amazing flower tutorial. In this course, you will learn how to create wafer paper roses, a beautiful arrangement of edible flowers using various wafer paper techniques.

Shruti breaks down how to condition wafer paper, the tools and templates needed to make petal and leaves and how to get the various shapes and folded needed to create ornate flowers that look just like the real thing. If you're looking to another another style of edible flower to your disposal, wafer paper is a great alternative to gumpaste.

57:40 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make wafer paper roses
  • Learn how to create petals, leaves and calyx needed out of wafer paper
  • Shruti's tips and tricks to working with wafer paper and getting the look of the roses just right

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Introduction To Wafer Paper 0:41
  2. Making And Storing The Conditioner 2:22
  3. Applying The Conditioner 4:29
  4. Climate Considerations 6:21
  5. Coloring The Paper With Gel Colors 8:25
  6. Coloring The Wafer Paper With Petal Dust 15:20
  7. How To Use The Petal Templates 18:15
  8. Making The Rose Bases 23:43
  9. Veining The Petals 25:29
  10. Making The Rose 27:23
  11. Making The Rose Bud 47:01
  12. Making The Leaves 52:18
  13. Putting It All Together & Storage 55:12

Downloads

Materials List

Petal and Leaf Template

close up of dole whip in a white bowl

May 13, 2022 Blog

Hawaiian Dole Whip

You can re-create the classic Hawaiian Dole whip recipe right in your own home with a few simple ingredients plus some tricks for getting the perfect Dole whip swirl!

close up of dole whip in a white bowl

If you've ever had a Dole Whip straight from the Dole plantations in Oahu, then count yourself as one of the lucky ones! I recently traveled to Oahu to visit some family that lives there and HAD to make a stop at this iconic Dole Plantation to see what it was all about.

I had a feeling I was going to love the Dole whip but I was not expecting to love it so much! Now I know why so many people try to recreate it at home. This recipe is smooth, creamy, and really captures that real Dole pineapple whip flavor.

So stick with me and learn how to make true Dole whip that tastes like it came straight off the island.

What's In This Blog Post.

  • Dole Whip Recipe Ingredients
  • How To Make Dole Whip Step-By-Step
  • How to Make the Dole Whip Swirl
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Recipes You'll Love

Dole Whip Recipe Ingredients

One of the main reasons that Dole whip is SO good is the fresh pineapple picked at its prime. Because I wanted this recipe to be 100% faithful to the original, I went ahead and ordered two Royal Hawaiian pineapples to be shipped from the Dole plantation straight to my house. Of course, you do not have to do this, any ripe pineapple will do!

woman holding pineapple

You can tell a pineapple is ripe if you smell the bottom and it smells sweet. The fruit should look fresh and the leaves should be green.

I'm also using a Dole banana that I've left on the counter for a few days so it gets nice and ripe! Ripe fruit equals sweet fruit.close up of dole banana

The other crucial ingredient is coconut milk. You want to use unsweetened coconut milk that comes in a can. I usually find it in the Asian food section of the grocery store. Coconut milk will add some amazing creaminess and flavor!

Because we are using coconut milk, this makes the dole whip not only super cream by dairy-free!

You'll also need a fresh lime to bump up the flavor.

How To Make Dole Whip Step-By-Step

Before you begin, make sure your pineapple is nice and ripe. When you buy a pineapple, typically it isn't quite ripe yet. You will know your pineapple is ripe when you can smell the bottom of the pineapple and it smells sweet.

Lay your pineapple horizontally on the countertop for a few days while it ripens. Laying the pineapple horizontal keeps the juice evenly distributed throughout the fruit.

  1. Using a sharp chef's knife, chip the top and the bottom of the pineapple off. hand using knife to cut pineapple ends
  2. Trim the outside skin off the pineapple carefully.hand using knife to trim the sides of a pineapple.
  3. Use a potato peeler to remove any of the hard eyes.hand using potato peeling to peel pineapple.
  4. Cut the pineapple in half length-wise and then in half again. hands using knife to cute pineapple.
  5. Use your knife to cut out the core of the pineapple. hands using knife to cut core out of pineapple.
  6. Dice the pineapple into chunks and freeze them (at least 6 hours or overnight).hand using knife to dice pineapple.bowl of diced pineapple
  7. Dice your banana and freeze those pieces as well. hand using knife to dice banana slices.
  8. Place your frozen pineapple, banana, coconut milk and lime into a blender.dole whip ingredients inside blender.
  9. Blend until smooth.blender full of blended dole whip.
  10. This will make a smoothie consistency Dole whip, if you want it pipe-able then you can add this mixture to an ice cream machine as I did with my Bosch ice cream bowl attachment. picture of bosch ice cream attachment.
  11. Or you place the mixture onto a sheet pan and freeze it for 15 minutes, mix with a whisk and freeze again. Keep doing this until it's thick enough to pipe.dole whip on sheet pan.

How to Make the Dole Whip Swirl

  1. Take your dole whip and place it in a piping bag with a 1M metal star tip. ( you can use any piping tip you'd like but the traditional swirl is created by this star tip).dole whip inside piping bag with 1M star tip.
  2. Start at the bottom of your desired bowl and pipe in a swirl motion until you reached your desired height. bowl of dole whip

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't have a blender?

You can use a food processor.

What can I do if I don't have an ice cream machine?

You can pour the Dole whip onto a sheet pan and place it into the freezer for another 30-40 minutes to firm up the filling, then transfer it to a piping bag with a 1M piping tip.

Does it have to be a Dole pineapple?

Technically, yes! You can use any pineapple if you really want to go that route, just know we are all judging you.

More Recipes You'll Love

Margarita Cake

Lemon Tarts

Lemon Blueberry Cake

Mini Pavlovas

Recipe

close up of dole whip in a white bowl
Print Recipe
4.22 from 23 votes

Hawaiian Dole Whip Recipe

Learn how to make the traditianal hawaiian dole whip recipe that you all know and love!
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Freezing Time6 hours hrs
Total Time6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 81kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Equipment

  • 1 Blender
  • 1 Ice cream machine (optional but helps with the swirl)
  • 1 1M metal star piping tip
  • 1 Piping Bag

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces Fresh Dole Pineapple Chopped and frozen (2 cups)
  • 1 medium Dole banana Peeled, chopped and frozen (1 cup)
  • 4 ounces Unsweetened coconut milk (½ cup)
  • 1 teaspoon Lime juice ½ lime
  • 2 Tablespoons Powdered sugar Optional, if your pineapple isn't very sweet
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Making The Hawaiian Dole Whip

  • Using a sharp chef's knife, chip the top and the bottom of the pineapple off.
  • Trim the outside skin off the pineapple carefully.
  • Use a potato peeler to remove any of the hard eyes.
  • Cut the pineapple in half lengthwise and then in half again.
  • Use your knife to cut out the core of the pineapple.
  • Dice the pineapple into chunks and freeze them (at least 6 hours or overnight).
  • Dice your banana and freeze those pieces as well.
  • Place your frozen pineapple, banana, coconut milk and lime into a blender.
  • Blend until smooth
  • This will make a smoothie consistency Dole whip, if you want it pipe-able then you can add this mixture to an ice cream machine as I did with my Bosch ice cream bowl attachment.
  • Or you place the mixture onto a sheet pan and freeze it for 15 minutes, mix with a whisk and freeze again. Keep doing this until it's thick enough to pipe.

How To Make The Dole Whip Swirl

  • Take your dole whip and place it in a piping bag with a 1M metal star tip. ( you can use any piping tip you'd like but the traditional swirl is created by this star tip)
  • Start at the bottom of your desired bowl and pipe in a swirl motion until you reached your desired height.

Video

Notes

Important Things To Note Before You Start
  1. The best investment you can make when you're getting started with baking is a digital kitchen scale! Weighing your ingredients will help you avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
  2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  3. You can add more pineapple if your banana flavor is too strong, or take it out if you want more. Play with it and see what you like.
  4. Make sure your pineapples and bananas are super frozen to ensure a super thick texture. 
  5. This is the original recipe from Dole Whip so it's different than Disneyland Dole Whip. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

9 oz (1.5 hefty cups) of pineapple

4 oz (1 banana)

Cake sculpted to look like an ornate book

May 1, 2022 Course Preview

The Book of Brandon Cake Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

For the book-lovers, this cake tutorial is a total treat! In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an ornate book design, with decorative scrollwork, a cool artistic stencil design, how to make all the subtle details that make this cake really look like a book, how to acheive the book cover overhangs, and how to make the delicious entremet inside.

39:59 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to create a realistic book cake
  • Learn how to make the book cover, spine of the book, the decorative scroll work and distressed texture

Cake sculpted to look like a book

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Overview Of The Entremet 0:39
  2. Cutting Out The Book Cover 4:25
  3. Stacking The Entremet 5:55
  4. Crumb Coating The Entremet 8:06
  5. Adding A Square Buttercream Layer 9:16
  6. Making The Chocolate Side 17:10
  7. Curving The Spine With Buttercream 19:28
  8. Trimming The Side Panels 21:49
  9. Adding The Chocolate Book Cover 23:56
  10. Making The Fondant Details 26:21
  11. Adding Details To The Spine 27:06
  12. Spraying The Cake With Cocoa Butter 31:43
  13. Adding The Gold Title 33:21
  14. Adding The Final Details 35:29

Downloads

Materials List

Cake sculpted to look like an ornate book

May 1, 2022 Paid Video

The Book of Brandon Cake

Skill level: Intermediate

For the book-lovers, this cake tutorial is a total treat! In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an ornate book design, with decorative scrollwork, a cool artistic stencil design, how to make all the subtle details that make this cake really look like a book, how to acheive the book cover overhangs, and how to make the delicious entremet inside.

39:59 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to create a realistic book cake
  • Learn how to make the book cover, spine of the book, the decorative scroll work and distressed texture

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Overview Of The Entremet 0:39
  2. Cutting Out The Book Cover 4:25
  3. Stacking The Entremet 5:55
  4. Crumb Coating The Entremet 8:06
  5. Adding A Square Buttercream Layer 9:16
  6. Making The Chocolate Side 17:10
  7. Curving The Spine With Buttercream 19:28
  8. Trimming The Side Panels 21:49
  9. Adding The Chocolate Book Cover 23:56
  10. Making The Fondant Details 26:21
  11. Adding Details To The Spine 27:06
  12. Spraying The Cake With Cocoa Butter 31:43
  13. Adding The Gold Title 33:21
  14. Adding The Final Details 35:29

Downloads

Materials List

slice of rose cake on a plate

April 28, 2022 Cake

Rose Cake

This Rose Cake tastes like rose bushes blooming in the spring. It's filled with my Raspberry Filling and topped with sweet tangy raspberry buttercream making this cake super light, soft, and overall beautiful. It makes for a perfect gift for mothers day, valentines day, or a gift to family and friends. Photo of a rose cake with a slice coming out

This Rose Cake contains rose water and dried rose petals that give this cake a light, beautiful essence of rose. The dried rose petals look adorable in each slice you cut and it blends wonderfully with the tang of the raspberry filling and the raspberry buttercream. This recipe is based on my famous white velvet buttermilk cake!

What's In This Blog Post

  • Rose Cake Ingredients
  • Preparing The Dried Flowers and Petals
  • Making The Rose Cake
  • Making The Raspberry Filling
  • Making The Raspberry Buttercream
  • Assembling The Rose Cake
  • Decorating The Rose Cake
  • More Recipes You'll Enjoy
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Rose Cake Ingredients

picture of ingredients with names

Sour Cream: For this recipe, we are using sour cream instead of buttermilk because it's less tangy than buttermilk but it still gives it enough acidity while adding in extra moisture. 

 Rose Water: Since this is a rose cake we obviously need to add rose flavoring. You can use rose extract also because it's the exact same thing as rose water. I'm using Neilsen Massey , but you can use any brand. You can get them on Amazon or find them usually in a mixer section of the grocery store. Find one you like because each brand has a different strength of flavor and smell.

Dried Rose Petals: We are adding dried rose petals inside the batter because it looks pretty, but this is totally optional. The darker color the rose petals are, the stronger your flavor will be. You can use any that you would like but try and use bright colors because when the cakes bake in the oven, the color will become dull. Rose petals are safe to consume, just make sure you buy them organic to make sure they have no pesticides.

Preparing The Dried Flowers and Petals

  1. Take a plate of your choice and place a paper towel on top. pressed flowers on a plate
  2. Place your rose petals and full flowers on a plate. Spread out the full flowers a little to flatten them out. Use as many as you would like.
  3. Place another paper towel on top of the flowers, then place a second plate on top to weigh the petals down.Flowers in between napkins
  4. Microwave for one minute. 
  5. Use for decoration or crush and use in the cake. Note: if you notice after a minute of microwaving that they are still wet, keep microwaving at 15-second intervals until they are dry to the touch. You can also use the same process for any flowers or even leaves. hand holding dried flowers

Making The Rose Cake

  1. Preheat your oven to 350º F and prepare 3 cake pans with cake goop, or your preferred cake release.hand holding bursh painting pan release on cake pan
  2. Add your cake flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and softened butter into the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Set aside.hand pouring bowl of flour into bowl
  3. Place half of your sour cream and all of your vegetable oil into a measuring cup. Give it a quick mix until the oil and sour cream are combined. Make sure your sour cream, eggs, and butter are all room temperature or a little bit warm. hand pouring oil into measuring cup
  4. Add your rosewater and vanilla extract into your sour cream and oil mix. Set aside.hand holding mini bowl over measuring cup
  5. Place the remaining half of your sour cream into your egg whites and mix until combined. hand holding fork mixing ingredients together in bowl
  6. Mix your dry ingredients in a bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed for 1-2 minutes, or until the texture looks like sand. stand mixer bowl filled with dry mix
  7. Take your oil and sour cream mixture, then stream it into your flour mixture while mixing on medium-low speed (speed 4 on a Kitchen Aid, 2 on a Bosch). Mix for 2 minutes (set a timer!) until the color is pale and the mixture is nice and fluffy.spatula covered in batter
  8. Stream in your egg whites and sour cream mixture in 3 parts while mixing on low speed. Make sure to let each part mix for a couple of seconds before adding in the rest. Don't forget to scrape the bowl!hand pouring bowl of egg whites into stand mixer bowl
  9. Add in your crushed rose petals (optional) and mix on low just to combine. hand sprinkling rose petals into batter
  10. Divide your batter into your 3 cake pans. I'm using three, 6"x2" pans or you can use two, 8"x2" pans. (If making cupcakes add 1-2 spoonfuls of batter into each cupcake liner).spatula folding batter into cake pan
  11. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until you can place a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean. ( If you are making cupcakes bake for 15 minutes.) baked cakes on cooling rack

Making The Raspberry Filling

  1. Combine your cold water and cornstarch or clear gel. Give it a quick mix to combine. hand pouring bowl of cornstarch into bowl of water
  2. Place your raspberries and sugar into a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir once in a while with a spatula. hand pouring bowl of sugar onto stove pot of rasberries
  3. Once your mix starts bubbling, add in your cornstarch and water mixture and cook for 1 minute. The cornstarch mix is what helps to thicken the sauce.hand pouring cornstarch mixture into pot
  4. After it's thickened, add in your lemon zest and lemon juice. Give it a quick stir with a spatula. hand pouring cup of lemon juice into pot
  5. OPTIONAL: Strain the raspberry filling into a bowl to get rid of the seeds. If you like having seeds you can skip this part.Hand holding spatula straining raspberry filling over bowl
  6. Set the mix aside to cool down. You can also place it in the fridge or freezer to cool down faster. It's ready to use when it comes to room temperature or below. raspberry filling inside bowl

Making The Raspberry Buttercream

  1. First, place the egg whites and the powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine the ingredients on low, and then whip them on high for 4-5 minutes (until shiny) to dissolve the powdered sugar.stahnd mixer bowl filled with meringew
  2. Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract. If you are adding in any food coloring, this is the point where you would do that. hand adding chunks of butter into bowl
  3. Next, add in your softened butter piece-by-piece, and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine. It will look curdled at first. This is definitely normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping.bowl of stand mixer with frosting inside
  4. After your buttercream looks like this, remove about 1 cup of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted.
  5. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.hand pouring measuring cup of melted frosting into bowl of frosting
  6. Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until the buttercream is white, light, and shiny. Taste test the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!hand holding whisk covered in frosting
  7. Take ¼ cup of the raspberry filling you just made and add a spoonful at a time while mixing on low speed.hand holding spoon pouring raspberry filling into bowl of buttercream
  8. Mix for about a minute until everything is smooth and combined. We want this batch to be light in color because this will be our buttercream for the outside of the cake. Bowl of buttercream
  9. For the filling between the cake layers, we want a stronger raspberry flavor. Take about 2 cups of buttercream and add it to half of your raspberry filling. hand holding spatula above bowl of frosting
  10. Mix until everything is combined and you have your desired flavor and color.hand holding spatula mixing bowl of buttercream

Assembling The Rose Cake

  1. OPTIONAL: Trim the edges of your cake using a serrated knife. I like to do this because it creates sharp and clean edges, but you don't have to. hand holding knife trimming cake layer
  2. Take the first layer of your cake and place it on a cake board.hand placing cake layer on to cake board
  3. Add a thin layer of the raspberry filling, then add a layer of raspberry buttercream on top.hand holding spatula above cake layer with frosting
  4. Place your second layer of cake on top and repeat the process. hand holding spatula spreading frosting on to cake layer
  5. Stack your third cake layer on top of the second and spread a thin layer of buttercream around the whole cake. Scrape off any excess buttercream to where you can almost see your cake layers through your buttercream with your offset spatula or a bench scraper. This is called a crumb coat.picture of frosted cake
  6. Place your cake in the fridge to chill for about 20 minutes or until the cake is firm to the touch. Learn more about baking, trimming, frosting, and decorating a cake in my beginner tutorial.

Decorating The Rose Cake

  1. Once your cake is chilled, take it out of the fridge and cover it again using the other half of your raspberry buttercream. Spread a thin layer using an offset spatula. I'm using the other half because it has more of a blush pink color, but if you want a deeper color you can add more raspberry filling. cake with frosting around it
  2. Scrape off the excess and smooth it out using a bench scraper or offset spatula. hand holding scaper smoothing cake
  3. Once your cake is smooth, take your dried flowers and petals, then place them wherever you would like on your cake by pressing firmly on the edges to make them stick to the buttercream. If you don't want to decorate with flowers, you can make an extra ½ batch of buttercream and use a 1M piping tip to pipe some pretty rosettes along the side of your cake. hand placing flowers on to cake
  4. Keep placing flowers around your whole cake until you are happy with the design. his cake is best served immediately, but it will last for about 4 days in the fridge. I'd take off the flowers before cutting, but you don't have to. let your cake come to room temperature by taking it out of the fridge for a few hours before serving.decorated rose cake

More Recipes You'll Enjoy

Funfetti Cake

Black Forrest Cake

Charlotte Cake

Pistachio Cake with Raspberry Filling

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rose petals edible?

Yes! Most flowers are. Just make sure they are organic and free of pesticides. Some popular roses that are used in foods are Damask roses (Rosa damascena) and Apothecary rose (Rosa gallica).

Where can I buy rose water?

You can find it in the cocktail section of your grocery store, Mediterranean stores, or online.

What flavors go well with rose?

Some flavors that can pair well with a flora taste are pistachio or any fruit flavors such as strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry. You can also just fill your cake with plain vanilla buttercream.

What is the difference between rose water and rose extract?

Rose extract is made similar to vanilla extract by infusing it with vodka for a certain amount of time. To make rose water, you just infuse water with as many rose petals as you would like depending how strong you want your flavor, then you leave it to sit for a few days to weeks. If you are substituting one or the other, remember that rose extract is more potent, so use 1 teaspoon of extract for about every 2 tablespoons of rose water.

Can you make cupcakes with this recipe?

Yes! it will make 24!

Recipe

slice of rose cake on a plate
Print Recipe
4.81 from 42 votes

Rose Cake

This light and fluffy velvet cake has the perfect hint of rose flavor from rose water. Decorate it with real pressed flowers and raspberry buttercream for the ultimate spring dessert.
Prep Time30 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Decorating Time30 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 6 inch rounds
Calories: 3499kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Equipment

  • 3 6 inch cake pans or two 8 inch cake pans
  • 1 Bench scraper optional

Ingredients

Rose Cake

  • 14 ounces cake flour
  • 13 ounces granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 5 ounces egg whites room temperature
  • 4 ounces vegetable oil
  • 10 ounces sour cream room temperature or slightly warm
  • 6 ounces unsalted butter softened
  • 1.5 teaspoon rose water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons dried rose petals crushed

Raspberry Filling

  • 3 cups raspberries fresh or frozen
  • 5 ounces sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 4 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons Clear Jel or cornstarch

Rasberry Buttercream

  • 16 ounces unsalted butter room temperature or softened
  • 16 ounces powdered sugar sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 ounces pasturized egg whites room temperature
  • 6 ounces raspberry filling

Decoration

  • 2 cups flowers of choice I'm using roses and camellias
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preparing The Dried Flowers and Petals

  • Take a plate of your choice and place a paper towel on top.
  • Place your rose petals and full rosebuds on a plate. Spread out the full flowers a little to flatten them out. Use as many as you would like.
  • Place another paper towel on top of the roses, then place a second plate on top to weigh the petals down.
  • Place in the microwave for one minute.
  • Use for decoration. Note: if you notice after a minute of microwaving that they are still wet, keep microwaving at 15 second intervals until they are dry to the touch. You can also use the same process for any flowers or even leaves.

Making The Rose Cake

  • Preheat your oven to 350º F and prepare 3 cake pans with cake goop or your prefered cake release
  • Add in your flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and softened butter into the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Set aside.
  • Place half of your sour cream and your vegetable oil into a measuring cup. Give it a quick mix until the oil and sour cream are combined.
  • Add in your rose water and vanilla extract into your sour cream and oil mix. Set aside.
  • Place the remaining half of your sour cream into your egg whites and mix until combined.
  • Mix your dry ingredients in your stand mixer on low speed for 1-2 minutes, or until the texture looks like sand.
  • Take your oil and sour cream mixture, then stream it into your flour mixture while mixing on medium - low speed. Mix for 2 minutes or until the color is pale and the mixture is nice and fluffy.
  • Stream in your egg whites and sour cream mixture in 3 parts while mixing on low speed. Make sure to let each part mix for a couple seconds before adding in the rest.
  • Add in your crushed rose petals and mix on low just to combine.
  • Divide your batter into your 3 cake pans. (If making cupcakes add 1-2 spoonfuls of batter into each cupcake liner)
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until you can place a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean. (If you are making cupcakes bake for 15 minutes)

Making The Raspberry Filling

  • Combine your water and cornstarch or clear gel. Give it a quick mix to combine.
  • Place your raspberries and sugar into a medium sized saucepan. Bring to a boil ans stir once in a while with a spatula.
  • Once your mix starts bubbling, add in your cornstarch and water mixture and cook for 1 minute. (The cornstarch mix is what helps to thicken the sauce).
  • Add in your lemon zest and lemon juice. Give it a quick stir with a spatula.
  • OPTIONALS: Strain the raspberry filling into a bowl to get rid of the seeds.
  • Set the mix aside to cool down. You can also place it in the fridge or freezer to cool down faster. It's ready to use when  it comes to room temperature or below.

Making The Raspberry Buttercream

  • Place the pasteurized egg whites and powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine ingredients on low, then whip on high for 4-5 minutes to dissolve the powdered sugar. You do NOT need to whip to a meringue.
  • Add in your salt and vanilla extract.
  • Add in your softened butter in chunks and whip with the whisk attachment on high.
  • Now let the buttercream whip until white and fluffy. This will take 8-10 minutes with a KitchenAid, but taste it to see when it's done. When it no longer tastes like butter and is sweet like ice cream, it's done.
  • Optional: switch to the paddle attachment and mix on low for 15-20 minutes to make your buttercream extra smooth.
  • Take ⅓ of your buttercream and place it in a separate bowl. Add ½ cup or as much as you would like of the raspberry filling to half the buttercream.  This will be used for the filling and crumb coat
  • Now add ¼ of raspberry filling to the rest of your buttercream to create a blush color. This will be used as our final layer of icing around the cake.

Assembling The Rose Cake

  • OPTIONAL: Trim the edges of your cake using a serrated knife. I like to do this because it creates sharp and clean edges, but you don't have to.
  • Take the first layer of your cake and place it on a cake board.
  • Add a thin layer of the raspberry filling, then add a layer of raspberry buttercream on top.
  • Place your second layer of cake on top and repeat the process.
  • Stack your third cake layer on top of the second and spread a thin layer of buttercream around the whole cake. Scrape off any excess buttercream to where you can almost see your cake layers through your buttercream with your offset spatula or a bench scraper. This is called a crumb coat.
  • Place your cake in the fridge to chill for about 20 minutes or until the buttercream is firm to the touch.

Decorating The Rose Cake

  • Once your cake is chilled, take it out of the fridge and cover it again using the other half of your raspberry buttercream. Spread a thin layer using an offset spatula. I'm using the other half because it has more of a blush pink color, but if you want a deeper color, add more raspberry filling.
  • Scrape off the excess and smooth it out using a bench scraper or offset spatula.
  • Once your cake is smooth, take your dried flowers and petals, then place them wherever you would like on your cake.
  • Keep placing flowers around your whole cake until you are happy with the design. his cake is best served immediately, but it will last for about 4 days in the fridge. I'd take off the flowers before cutting, but you don't have to. let your cake come to room temperature by taking it out of the fridge for a few hours before serving.

Video

Notes

Important Things To Note Before You Start
  1. The best investment you can make when you're getting started with baking is a digital kitchen scale! Weighing your ingredients will help you avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
  2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  3. Need more help with making your first cake? Check out my how to decorate your first cake blog post. 
  4. Make sure all of your cold ingredients (e.g. butter, eggs, milk) are at room temperature or a little warm. Why? Because we want to create an emulsion and allow the ingredients to fully mix together. 
  5. Make your own pan release (cake goop!) The best pan release ever! 
  6. Chill your cakes before frosting and filling. You can cover a frosted and chilled cake in fondant if you wish. This cake is also great for stacking!
  7. If you are using pasteurized egg whites from the fridge then you might notice this rim of cold butter forming. This is normal and can easily be fixed. Simply stop your mixer and remove about ⅓ cup of the buttercream. Melt this in the microwave for about 20 seconds or until it's just barely melted. You don't want it hot! Pour the mixture back into your whipping buttercream and the warmth from the melted buttercream will cause it all to come together and get creamy. This is honestly easier than taking out the egg whites ahead of time and trying to bring them to room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cake | Calories: 3499kcal | Carbohydrates: 438g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 191g | Saturated Fat: 117g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 48g | Trans Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 503mg | Sodium: 1489mg | Potassium: 981mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 328g | Vitamin A: 5828IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 380mg | Iron: 3mg
charlotte cake on a blue plate

April 19, 2022 Cake

Charlotte Cake

This Charlotte Cake is the perfect summer dessert. Made with homemade vanilla ladyfingers, light and creamy bavarian cream, and fresh juicy strawberries. It's also a great make ahead dessert for those last minute get-togethers. charlotte cake on a blue plate

My Charlotte Cake recipe is perfect for spring and summer, while also being a great treat to make for mothers day, galentines, or just something cute to gift to your friends and family for a special occasion. 

What's In This Blog Post

  • Charlotte Cake Ingredients
  • Making Ladyfingers Step by Step
  • Bavarian Cream Step by Step
  • Simple Syrup Step by Step
  • Assembling The Charlotte Cake
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Recipes You'll Love
  • Notes

Charlotte Cake Ingredientsphoto of ingredients with labels

Lady Fingers: We're making my ladyfingers recipe, but you can use store bought if they are available in your area. 

Flour: You can make these lady fingers gluten free by using gluten free flour or almond flour. 

Vanilla Bean: I buy my vanilla beans in bulk because it's way cheaper in the long run this way. If you don't have beans you can also use vanilla paste which is great. For this recipe I would steer away from extract because it won't give you the pure vanilla flavor we want, but if you have no other option it will work ( honestly, you do you. I'm just here for support.). If you want to buy only a few beans or vanilla paste i get mine from Neilson Massey. Be sure to note if you don't use all your vanilla beans, make sure to freeze them or else they will mold pretty quickly.

Strawberry Reduction: I am using my strawberry reduction recipe as a filling for this recipe, but you can make your own or buy any jam at the store.

Making Ladyfingers Step by Step

  1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF 
  2. Place your egg yolks into the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on low and sprinkle in your first measurement of sugar. hand holding spatula scraping bowl of eggs into stand mixer
  3. Once it's combined, increase the speed to medium-high and whip it until the mixture triples in volume, is pale in color, and forms a thick ribbon on the surface of the batter when you drizzle it onto itself. This should take 3-4 minutes.bowl of batter with stand mixer whisk attachment
  4. Combine your flour and salt together in a bowl. 
  5. Sift half the flour mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold it in using a spatula.hand pouring bowl of flour over sifter
  6. Once it's incorporated, sift in the second half of the flour and continue folding until everything is combined. Set it aside.hand holding spatula while folding batter
  7. In a separate mixer bowl, add in your egg whites with your whisk attachment. hand pouring bowl of egg whites into stand mixer
  8. While mixing on medium speed, sprinkle in the second measurement of sugar, then increase the speed to medium high. hand pouring bowl of sugar into bowl of stand mixer
  9. Continue whipping until you reach medium stiff peaks. hand holdng whisk attachment covered in meringue
  10. Fold in ⅓ of the meringue into the egg yolk mixture using a spatula to lighten its density. This might take a few minutes to work all the meringue in but just keep folding. hand holding spatula covered in meringue over bowl of batter
  11. Add in your vanilla extract.
  12. Add in the rest of your meringue and continue folding carefully until its homogeneous. Be careful not to over mix because you will knock out the air inside your batter and your lady fingers will not rise as much.spatula inside bowl of batter
  13. Place your printed templates under parchment paper on 2 sheet pans (one for rounds and one for fingers).
  14. Fit a large piping bag with an 809 piping tip then fill it with the batter. 
  15. Pipe the batter on top of the circle template while holding the tip about ½" away from the pan so that the batter is not too thick. Stop piping about ¼" away from the outline of the circle because the batter will spread. hand holding piping bag while piping batter onto baking sheet.
  16. Place your 8.5"x11" sheet of paper on top of the baking sheet and place some parchment on top. 
  17. Pipe your batter in 8" long lines, leaving about ⅛" of space in between each line. You will have leftover batter, I suggest piping extra cookies or another tray of lady fingers as a backup just in case you have gaps (like I did). hand holding piping bag piping batter onto baking tray
  18. Sift an even layer of powdered sugar over all of the lady fingers including your circular ones and let it soak in for about 2 minutes. Without the powdered sugar the fingers don't rise as much. hand holding sifter full of powder sugar over baking tray
  19. Place the tray in a 350ºF oven for 15-18 minutes. Rotate your tray halfway through baking to ensure even browning. hand placing baking tray of cookies into oven
  20. Remove the ladyfingers from the oven and let them cool.  Once they have cooled gently remove them from the parchment paper to avoid them sticking and tearing later. tray of baked ladyfinger circles

Set the lady fingers aside and begin making your Bavarian cream filling. 

Bavarian Cream Step by Step

  1. Sprinkle the gelatin over the 3oz of cold milk and set aside to bloom. hand holding whisk and bowl of powdered gelatin over bowl of milk
  2. Pour your first measurement of cream, salt, and half of the sugar into a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. hand pouring bowl of sugar into pot of vanilla and cream
  3. Scrape the vanilla seeds out of the pod with a small knife and place them into the cream.pot of cream with vanilla inside
  4. While the cream is heating, whisk together the egg yolks and the other half of sugar in a separate bowl. Whisk immediate or the sugar will make your yolk lumpy.hand pouring sugar into bowl of egg yolks
  5. Once the cream starts boiling, remove it from the heat, then slowly pour ⅓ of your cream into the egg yolk mixture while whisking to prevent the eggs from curdling. This is called tempering your yolks. hand holding whisk and pouring bowl of cream into bowl off egg yolks
  6. Pour your egg yolk mixture back into the pot with the remaining cream, and start heating it again on medium heat while stirring constantly or until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon smoothly (a la nappe). hand holding spoon over pot of cream
  7. Strain the mixture to remove the vanilla pod and fibers (and any cooked bits of egg).hand pouring pot of cream over owl and strainer
  8. While the mixture is still hot, add the bloomed gelatin and stir with a hand whisk  until smooth and combined.hand pouring bowl of gelatin into bowl of cream
  9. Set it in the fridge to cool to room temperature. If you are in a hurry you can also cool the mixture over an ice bath. 
  10. Once the mixture is at room temperature, whip the other measurement of cream in your stand mixer with the whisk attachment until it reaches medium to stiff peaks.hand holding whisk with whipped cream
  11. Fold ⅓ of the whipped cream into the cooled egg mixture until combined to lighten the density. hand holding whisk, whisking batter
  12. Add the remaining whipped cream to the mixture and fold lightly with a spatula until everything is combined. Place it in your fridge until you are ready to use it. hand holding spatula mixing bowl of bavarian cream

Simple Syrup Step by Step

  1. Pour your water and sugar in a medium sized pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. hand pouring sugar into pot
  2. Once the syrup boils, remove from the stove and set aside to cool to room temperature.pot of boiling syrup
  3. Infuse the syrup by placing vanilla beans into your container of choice, then pouring the syrup over leaving to infuse a minimum of 30 min. Store at room temperature. hand pouring syrup into container

Assembling The Charlotte Cake

  1. Cut the lady fingers in half down the middle evenly. hand holding knife cutting lady fingers
  2. On the back of the lady fingers, brush with a layer of simple syrup. hand holding brush painting syrup onto tray of cookies
  3. Place the cake ring on the plate that you will be serving it. Line the interior of the ring with the rows of lady fingers. Place the ladyfinger round in the bottom of the ring. Using the trimming from the ladyfingers to fill any gaps around the bottom edge. hand placing ladyfingers into cake ring
  4. Brush the bottom with a layer of simple syrup. 
  5. Spread a thin layer of strawberry reduction on the first layer of cake. Hand pouring strawberry filling onto layer of cake
  6. Pour half of your Bavarian cream into the cake ring and smooth.hand holding piping bag piping bavarian cream onto cake layer
  7. Add a layer of sliced strawberries on top of the jam.picture of strawberries inside cake
  8. Place the second round of cake and repeat the process of brushing with simple syrup, reduction, sliced strawberries and the second half of the Bavarian cream, smooth the top.hand placing second layer of cake onto fillings
  9. Pipe some Bavarian cream along the wall of the ladyfingers on top.piping bag piping cream on top of cake
  10. OPTIONAL: To make your strawberries topping extra shiny, mix 1 part water and 1 part apricot jam to make a shiny glaze. You can also buy neutral glaze instead.hand holding bowl of water over jam
  11. OPTIONAL: Strain the jam over your bowl of strawberries to get rid of lumps. Mix your strawberries with the jam to make extra shiny.hand straining jam over bowl of strawberries
  12. Arrange your remaining strawberries in a pattern in the middle, or pile them high, whatever you choose. Brush the berries with warm apricot glaze to keep them fresh and shiny. hand placing strawberries on top of cake
  13. Place the Charlotte Cake in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set or overnight. This can be made a day ahead. Keep leftovers covered and refrigerated. 
  14. When ready to display, gently remove the cake ring by lifting up slowly. hand removing cake ring from cake
  15. Decorate by tying a ribbon around the center of the cake and topping with fresh fruit of your choice. Cut and serve the Charlotte Cake as you would any cake. close up of charlotte cake

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a charlotte cake?

 It is a French molded dessert. It can be served hot or cold. Also referred to as an "icebox cake" where bread, sponge cake or cookies are used to line a mold, which is then filled with fruit puree, mousse, or custard.

2. How far in advance should I plan ahead for this cake?

You can make this as far in advance as you like. It actually is preferred to make a day ahead so it can completely firm up overnight. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks

 3. Can I use store-bought ladyfingers?

Yes, they will be harder and more crunchy so make sure you add more layers of simple syrup so they become nice and soft.

 4. Can I add other fillings? 

Yes you can add any filling you want as long as it stays soft in the fridge (Lemon curd, strawberry puree, stabilized whipped cream, bavarian cream). Refrain from anything that will harden such as buttercream or ganache. 

5. Can I freeze this cake?

Yes! Just make sure to put it in the fridge a day before serving so it can thaw properly. 

More Recipes You'll Love

Homemade Ladyfingers

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta

Crème Brûlée

Homemade Pastry Cream

Notes

  1. The best investment you can make when you're getting started with baking is a digital kitchen scale! Weighing your ingredients will help you avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
  2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  3. Make sure your ingredients (e.g. butter, eggs, milk) are at room temperature or a little warm. Why? Because we want to create an emulsion and allow the ingredients to fully mix together. 
  4. Make sure to dust a generous amount of powder sugar on top of the ladyfingers before and after baking. This helps them puff up nicely. 
  5. When piping the ladyfingers on the baking tray, pinch the end of the piping bag when finishing because the batter tends to be runny.

Recipe

charlotte cake on a blue plate
Print Recipe
4.85 from 13 votes

Charlotte Cake

My very light melt in your mouth charlotte cake thats the perfect treat for spring and summer
Prep Time7 hours hrs
Cook Time18 minutes mins
Total Time7 hours hrs 18 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Servings: 1 cake
Calories: 6280kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Equipment

  • 1 Piping Bag
  • 1 Metal Piping Tip 806 optional
  • 1 Funnel optional
  • 2 Circular Paper Templates optional

Ingredients

Simple Syrup

  • 8 ounces water
  • 8 ounces sugar
  • 2 beans vanilla split

Ladyfingers

  • 7 large eggs seperated yolks and whites
  • 6 ounces sugar seprate 1 oz of sugar
  • 7 ounces all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5 ounces powdered sugar

Bavarian Cream

  • 1 bean vanilla split and seperated
  • 12 ounces heavy cream
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3.5 ounces granulated sugar
  • 6 egg yolks
  • ½ ounce powdered gelatin
  • 3 ounces cold milk
  • 12 ounces whipped cream whipped to medium-stiff peaks

Berry Filling

  • 24 ounces strawberry jam
  • 30 ounces strawberries sliced

Toppings

  • 10 ounces strawberries
  • 3 ounces apricot jam
  • 1 ounce water
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Making Ladyfingers Step-by-Step

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF
  • Place egg yolks into the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on low and sprinkle in your first measurement of sugar. 
  • Once it's combined, increase the speed to medium-high and whip it until the mixture triples in volume, is pale in color, and forms a thick ribbon on the surface of the batter when you drizzle it onto itself. This should take 3-4 minutes.
  • Combine your flour and salt together in a bowl. 
  • Sift half the flour mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold it in using a spatula.
  • Once it's incorporated, sift in the second half of the flour and continue folding until everything is combined. Set it aside.
  • In a separate mixer bowl, add in your egg whites with your whisk attachment. 
  • While mixing on medium speed, sprinkle in the second measurement of sugar, then increase the speed to medium-high. 
  • Continue whipping until you reach medium stiff peaks. 
  • Fold in ⅓ of the meringue into the egg yolk mixture using a spatula to lighten its density. This might take a few minutes to work all the meringue in but just keep folding.
  • Add in your vanilla extract.
  • Add in the rest of your meringue and continue folding carefully until its homogeneous. Be careful not to over-mix because you will knock out the air inside your batter and your ladyfingers will not rise as much.
  • Place your printed templates under parchment paper on 2 sheet pans (one for rounds and one for fingers).
  • Fit a large piping bag with an 809 piping tip then fill it with the batter. 
  • Pipe the batter on top of the circle template while holding the tip about ½" away from the pan so that the batter is not too thick. Stop piping about ¼" away from the outline of the circle because the batter will spread. 
  • Place your 8.5"x11" sheet of paper on top of the baking sheet and place some parchment on top. 
  • Pipe your batter in 8" long lines, leaving about ⅛" of space in between each line. You will have leftover batter, I suggest piping extra cookies or another tray of lady fingers as a backup just in case you have gaps (like I did). 
  • Sift an even layer of powdered sugar over all of the lady fingers including your circular ones and let it soak in for about 2 minutes. Without the powdered sugar the fingers don't rise as much. 
  • Place the tray in a 350ºF oven for 15-18 minutes. Rotate your tray halfway through baking to ensure even browning. 
  • Remove the ladyfingers from the oven and let them cool.  Once they have cooled gently remove them from the parchment paper to avoid them sticking and tearing later. 
  • Set the lady fingers aside and begin making your Bavarian cream filling. 

Bavarian Cream Step-by-Step

  • Sprinkle the gelatin over the 3oz of cold milk and set aside to bloom.
  • Pour your first measurement of cream, salt, and half of the sugar into a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat. 
  • Scrape the vanilla seeds out of the pod with a small knife and place them into the cream.
  • While the cream is heating, whisk together the egg yolks and the other half of sugar in a separate bowl. Whisk immediate or the sugar will make your yolk lumpy.
  • Once the cream starts boiling, remove it from the heat, then slowly pour ⅓ of your cream into the egg yolk mixture while whisking to prevent the eggs from curdling. This is called tempering your yolks.
  • Pour your egg yolk mixture back into the pot with the remaining cream, and start heating it again on medium heat while stirring constantly or until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon smoothly.
  • Strain the mixture to remove the vanilla pod and fibers (and any cooked bits of egg).
  • While the mixture is still hot, add the bloomed gelatin and stir with a hand whisk until smooth and combined.
  • Set it in the fridge to cool to room temperature. If you are in a hurry you can also cool the mixture over an ice bath.
  • Once the mixture is at room temperature, whip the other measurement of cream in your stand mixer with the whisk attachment until it reaches medium to stiff peaks.
  • Fold ⅓ of the whipped cream into the cooled egg mixture until combined to lighten the density.
  • Add the remaining whipped cream to the mixture and fold lightly with a spatula until everything is combined. Place it in your fridge until you are ready to use it.

Simple Syrup Step-by-Step

  • Pour your water and sugar in a medium sized pot over medium heat and bring to a boil.
  • Once the syrup boils, remove from the stove and set aside to cool to room temperature.
  • Infuse the syrup by placing vanilla beans into your container of choice, then pouring the syrup over leaving to infuse a minimum of 30 min. Store at room temperature.

Assembling The Charlotte Cake

  • Cut the lady fingers in half down the middle evenly.
  • On the back of the lady fingers, brush with a layer of simple syrup.
  • Place the cake ring on the plate that you will be serving it. Line the interior of the ring with the rows of lady fingers. Place the ladyfinger round in the bottom of the ring. Using the trimming from the ladyfingers to fill any gaps around the bottom edge. 
  • Brush the bottom with a layer of simple syrup.
  • Spread a thin layer of strawberry reduction on the first layer of cake. 
  • Pour half of your Bavarian cream into the cake ring and smooth.
  • Add a layer of sliced strawberries on top of the jam.
  • Place the second round of cake and repeat the process of brushing with simple syrup, reduction, sliced strawberries and the second half of the Bavarian cream, smooth the top.
  • Pipe some Bavarian cream along the wall of the ladyfingers on top.
  • OPTIONAL: To make your strawberries topping extra shiny, mix 1 part water and 1 part apricot jam to make a shiny glaze. You can also buy neutral glaze instead.
  • OPTIONAL: Strain the jam over your bowl of strawberries to get rid of lumps. Mix your strawberries with the jam to make extra shiny.
  • Arrange your remaining strawberries in a pattern in the middle, or pile them high, whatever you choose. Brush the berries with warm apricot glaze to keep them fresh and shiny. 
  • Place the Charlotte Cake in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set or overnight. This can be made a day ahead. Keep leftovers covered and refrigerated. 
  • When ready to display, gently remove the cake ring by lifting up slowly.
  • Decorate by tying a ribbon around the center of the cake and topping with fresh fruit of your choice. Cut and serve the Charlotte Cake as you would any cake. 

Video

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a charlotte cake?
 It is a French molded dessert. It can be served hot or cold. Also referred to as an “icebox cake” where bread, sponge cake or cookies are used to line a mold, which is then filled with fruit puree, mousse, or custard.
2. How far in advance should I plan ahead for this cake?
You can make this as far in advance as you like. It actually is preferred to make a day ahead so it can completely firm up overnight. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
 3. Can I use store-bought ladyfingers?
Yes, they will be harder and more crunchy so make sure you add more layers of simple syrup so they become nice and soft.
 4. Can I add other fillings? 
Yes you can add any filling you want as long as it stays soft in the fridge (Lemon curd, strawberry puree, stabilized whipped cream, bavarian cream). Refrain from anything that will harden such as buttercream or ganache. 
5. Can I freeze this cake?
Yes! Just make sure to put it in the fridge a day before serving so it can thaw properly. 

Notes

  1. The best investment you can make when you're getting started with baking is a digital kitchen scale! Weighing your ingredients will help you avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
  2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  3. Make sure your ingredients (e.g. butter, eggs, milk) are at room temperature or a little warm. Why? Because we want to create an emulsion and allow the ingredients to fully mix together. 
  4. Make sure to dust a generous amount of powder sugar on top of the ladyfingers before and after baking. This helps them puff up nicely. 
  5. When piping the ladyfingers on the baking tray, pinch the end of the piping bag when finishing because the batter tends to be runny.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cake | Calories: 6280kcal | Carbohydrates: 963g | Protein: 105g | Fat: 240g | Saturated Fat: 137g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 67g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2010mg | Sodium: 1877mg | Potassium: 2917mg | Fiber: 23g | Sugar: 752g | Vitamin A: 9584IU | Vitamin C: 510mg | Calcium: 978mg | Iron: 20mg
Cake decorated to look like the Encanto house and cupcake toppers

April 15, 2022 Paid Video

Encanto Cake with Cupcake Toppers

Skill level: Intermediate

Guest instructor Kyong Bell joins us for this awesome Encanto-themed birthday cake project! Learn how to create every character from the movie as a cupcake topper with fondant, how to make patterned fondant and panel a cake with it, and how to make a light-up candle on the cake.

In addition to all of this, you will also learn how to create the special doors on the house from the film, and how to draw and paint details on fondant.

There's a lot to cover in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

2:03:17 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • Learn how to create an Encanto birthday cake with cupcake toppers of every character from the film
  • How to make a patterned fondant panel and panel a cake
  • Learn how to make a light-up candle topper
  • How to paint and draw details on fondant

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Making Isabela 0:49
  2. Making Abuela 14:47
  3. Making Bruno 26:46
  4. Making Luisa 33:53
  5. Making Dolores 42:10
  6. Making Mirabel 46:38
  7. Adding Details To Bruno 52:05
  8. Adding Details To Abuela 56:37
  9. Making The Butterflies 1:12:29
  10. Rolling Out The Fondant 1:18:36
  11. Making The Flower Pattern 1:22:24
  12. Paneling The Fondant 1:26:35
  13. Covering The Cake Board 1:34:04
  14. Making The Doors 1:37:33
  15. Adding The Doors And People 1:47:18
  16. Making The Candle Topper 1:53:02
  17. Finishing Touches 2:02:05

Downloads

Materials List

Cake decorated to look like the Encanto house and cupcake toppers

April 15, 2022 Course Preview

Encanto Cake with Cupcake Toppers Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

Guest instructor Kyong Bell joins us for this awesome Encanto-themed birthday cake project! Learn how to create every character from the movie as a cupcake topper with fondant, how to make patterned fondant and panel a cake with it, and how to make a light-up candle on the cake.

In addition to all of this, you will also learn how to create the special doors on the house from the film, and how to draw and paint details on fondant.

There's a lot to cover in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

2:03:17 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • Learn how to create an Encanto birthday cake with cupcake toppers of every character from the film
  • How to make a patterned fondant panel and panel a cake
  • Learn how to make a light-up candle topper
  • How to paint and draw details on fondant

Cake decorated to look like the house from Encanto with cupcake toppers

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Making Isabela 0:49
  2. Making Abuela 14:47
  3. Making Bruno 26:46
  4. Making Luisa 33:53
  5. Making Dolores 42:10
  6. Making Mirabel 46:38
  7. Adding Details To Bruno 52:05
  8. Adding Details To Abuela 56:37
  9. Making The Butterflies 1:12:29
  10. Rolling Out The Fondant 1:18:36
  11. Making The Flower Pattern 1:22:24
  12. Paneling The Fondant 1:26:35
  13. Covering The Cake Board 1:34:04
  14. Making The Doors 1:37:33
  15. Adding The Doors And People 1:47:18
  16. Making The Candle Topper 1:53:02
  17. Finishing Touches 2:02:05

Downloads

Materials List

lady fingers on a plate

April 14, 2022 Biscuits and Scones

Homemade Ladyfingers

Ladyfingers are a great recipe to learn how to make because they are a main ingredient in many popular desserts such as tiramisu, charlotte cake, and trifles. They are super light and fluffy, making them a perfect snack during your next coffee break.lady fingers on a plate

Ladyfingers are meringue-based cookies which makes them super spongey. That makes them great cookies for soaking up any kind of liquid they come into contact with. They are way softer than the ladyfingers you'd find at a store, so they can hold more liquid to enhance your desserts.

What's In This Blog Post

  • LADYFINGER INGREDIENTS
  • LADYFINGERS STEP BY STEP
  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE

LADYFINGER INGREDIENTS

The best part about this recipe is that there are no special ingredients you need to go hunting for to make this recipe. There are only five ingredients and they are probably already in your pantry if you are a regular baker. ( PHEW! No extra trip to the store necessary.)

picture of ingredients with ingredient names

Vanilla: For this recipe we are using extract, but you can use a vanilla bean or vanilla paste. I am using vanilla extract from Neilson Massey.

LADYFINGERS STEP BY STEP

  1. Preheat your oven to 350º F.
  2. Prepare a sheet pan with some parchment paper
  3. Place your egg yolks into the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on low and sprinkle in your first measurement of sugar. Hand pouring sugar into mixing bowl
  4. Once the egg yolks are combined, increase the speed to medium-high. Whip until the mixture triples in volume, is pale in color, and forms a thick ribbon on the surface of the batter when you drizzle it onto itself. This may take about 3-4 minutes.Whisk attachment covered in lady finger batter over mixing bowl
  5. Combine your flour and salt together in a separate bowl.
  6. Sift half of the flour mixture over the egg mixture, then gently fold it using a spatula.Sifter on top of bowl with flour inside
  7. Once your flour and egg mixture is incorporated, sift in the second half of the flour. Continue folding until everything is combined. Set aside.spatula inside bowl of batter.
  8. In a separate mixer bowl, add in your egg whites with your whisk attachment.
  9. While mixing on medium speed, sprinkle in the second measurement of sugar, then increase the speed to medium-high.Hand pouring sugar into mixing bowl.
  10. Continue whipping until you reach medium-stiff peaks. 
  11. Fold ⅓ of the meringue into the egg yolk mixture using a spatula to lighten its density. This might take a few minutes to work all the meringue in but just keep folding. hand holding spatula covered in batter over mixing bowl
  12. Then add in the rest of your meringue and continue folding carefully until it's homogeneous. Be careful not to over mix because you will knock out the air inside your batter and your lady fingers will not rise well.Spatula inside mixing bowl filled with batter.
  13. Fit a large piping bag fitted with an 806 piping tip then fill it with the batter. ( If you don't have a piping tip you can just cut a decent sized hole in the piping bag.)
  14. Pipe your batter in 4" long lines, leaving about 1" of space in between each line.hand holding piping bag filled with batter piping cookies onto tray.
  15. Sift an even layer of powdered sugar over all of the ladyfingers and let it soak in for about 2 minutes. Without the powdered sugar, the fingers don't rise as much. 
  16. Place the tray in a 350" oven for 15-18 minutes. Rotate the tray halfway through baking to ensure even browning. Tray filled with lady finger cookies.
  1. Remove the ladyfingers from the oven and let them cool.  Once they have cooled gently remove them from the parchment paper to avoid them sticking and tearing later. 

They are now ready to eat!

hand holding cookie dipping in cup of coffee.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are they called Lady Fingers?

They are called ladyfingers because their shape resemble fingers of a woman.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes! You just need to replace the flour with an extra part of cornstarch or almond flour.

Is the texture supposed to be soft or crunchy?

It can be either! Typically store bought ladyfingers are very crunchy, so making them homemade is ideal if you want them super soft and able to soak up more moisture.

What can I use ladyfingers for?

They are great to absorb any liquid which makes for a great soft and flavorful dessert. You can also eat them on their own and dip them in your coffee or hot chocolate.

MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE

Elegant Lemon Tartes

Macaron Recipe

Mini Pavlova With Berry Chantilly Cream

Charlotte Cake

Recipe

lady fingers on a plate
Print Recipe
4.50 from 8 votes

Homemade Ladyfingers

These are easiest and softest homemade ladyfingers you can make from scratch. They will soak up a lot of moisture, and they are perfect to dip in your coffee or add into your next dessert.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time18 minutes mins
Total Time28 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 86kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Equipment

  • 1 Piping Bag
  • 1 Sifter
  • 1 Round Piping Tip

Ingredients

  • 7 Large Eggs (Separate the yolks and whites)
  • 6 ounces Granulated Sugar (Separate 1 ounce of the sugar)
  • 7 ounces All Purpose Flour
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1.5 ounces Powdered Sugar (Used for dusting)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350ºF.
  • Place your egg yolks into the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on low and sprinkle in your 1 ounce measurement of sugar and the vanilla.
  • Once it's combined, increase the speed to medium high and whip until the mixture triples in volume, is pale in color and forms a thick ribbon on the surface of the batter when you drizzle it onto itself. This will take about 3-4 minutes.
  • Combine your flour and salt together in a separate bowl.
  • Sift half of the flour mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold it using a spatula.
  • Once it's incorporated, sift in the second half of the flour and continue folding until everything is combined. Set aside.
  • In a separate mixer bowl, add in your egg whites with your whisk attachment.
  • While mixing on medium speed, sprinkle in the second measurement of sugar, then increase the speed to medium high. Continue whipping until you reach medium-stiff peaks.
  •  Fold ⅓ of the meringue into the egg yolk mixture using a spatula to lighten its density. This might take a few minutes to work all the meringue in but just keep folding. 
  • Then add in the rest of your meringue and continue folding carefully until it's homogeneous. Be careful not to over mix because you will knock out the air inside your batter and your lady fingers will not rise well.
  • Place your printed templates under parchment paper on 2 sheet pans (one for rounds and one for fingers) 
  • Fit a large piping bag fitted with an 806 piping tip then fill it with the batter. ( If you don't have a piping tip you can just cut a decent sized hole in the piping bag).
  • Pipe the batter on top of the circle template while holding the tip about ½ away from the pan so that the batter is not too thick. Stop piping about ¼" away from the outline of the circle because the batter will spread.
  • Place your 8.5"x11" sheet of paper on top of the baking sheet and place some parchment on top. Pipe your batter in 8" long lines, leaving about ⅛" of space in between each line. You will have leftover batter, I suggest piping extra cookies or another tray of lady fingers as a backup just in case you have gaps (like I did).
  • Sift an even layer of powdered sugar over all of the lady fingers and let it soak in for about 2 minutes.
  • Without the powdered sugar the fingers don't rise as much. Place the tray in a 350" oven for 15-18 minutes. Rotate the tray halfway through baking to ensure even browning. 
  • Remove the ladyfingers from the oven and let them cool.  Once they have cooled gently remove them from the parchment paper to avoid them sticking and tearing later. 

Video

Notes

Important Things To Note Before You Start
  1. The best investment you can make when you're getting started with baking is a digital kitchen scale! Weighing your ingredients will help you avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
  2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  3. Make sure your ingredients (e.g. butter, eggs, milk) are at room temperature or a little warm. Why? Because we want to create an emulsion and allow the ingredients to fully mix together. 
  4. Make sure to dust a generous amount of powder sugar on top of the ladyfingers before and after baking. This helps them puff up nicely. 
  5. When piping the ladyfingers on the baking tray, pinch the end of the piping bag when finishing because the batter tends to be runny.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
cake sculpted to look like a football, soccer ball, baseball, golf ball and baseball

April 1, 2022 Course Preview

Sportsball Cake Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

Batter up! This online course features something I know almost nothing about- SPORTS!!

For this cake, I wanted to try putting together all of the sports-related balls and make a gravity-defying project with a twist... all of the chocolate spheres except the bottom are hollow, made from tempered chocolate, with candy inside for a smashing surprise.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to mold a football, basketball, baseball and golf ball out of chocolate, how to fill them with candies and provide support, how to make the soccer ball out of cake and decorate it to look just like the real thing.

50:44 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make a gravity-defying cake that looks like a realistic basketball, soccer ball, football, golf ball and baseball
  • Learn how to make several balls out of tempered chocolate with candy inside like a pinata
  • How to create an internal structure that supports the gravity-defying structure

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Molding The Chocolate 0:29
  2. Stacking The Cakes 1:57
  3. Assembling The Soccer Ball Cake 3:57
  4. Coloring The Chocolate 9:13
  5. Molding The Basketball 10:52
  6. Painting The Basketball 11:43
  7. Putting The Basketball Together 12:21
  8. Molding The Chocolate Football 15:12
  9. Unmolding The Football 17:29
  10. Painting The Football 17:55
  11. Putting The Football Together 19:26
  12. Molding The Baseball 21:08
  13. Coloring The Chocolate 22:09
  14. Putting The Baseball Together 23:11
  15. Making The Golf Ball 24:45
  16. Making The Chocolate Pipes 26:07
  17. Covering The Cake Board In Fondant 27:19
  18. Adding The Threaded Rod 29:45
  19. Covering The Soccer Ball In Fondant 31:31
  20. Adding The Chocolate Pipe 37:47
  21. Adding The Fondant Panels 40:48
  22. Adding The Buttercream Grass 45:06
  23. Putting It All Together 46:58

Downloads

Materials List

cake sculpted to look like a football, soccer ball, baseball, golf ball and baseball

April 1, 2022 Paid Video

Sportsball Cake

Skill level: Intermediate

Batter up! This online course features something I know almost nothing about- SPORTS!!

For this cake, I wanted to try putting together all of the sports-related balls and make a gravity-defying project with a twist... all of the chocolate spheres except the bottom are hollow, made from tempered chocolate, with candy inside for a smashing surprise.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to mold a football, basketball, baseball and golf ball out of chocolate, how to fill them with candies and provide support, how to make the soccer ball out of cake and decorate it to look just like the real thing.

50:44 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make a gravity-defying cake that looks like a realistic basketball, soccer ball, football, golf ball and baseball
  • Learn how to make several balls out of tempered chocolate with candy inside like a pinata
  • How to create an internal structure that supports the gravity-defying structure

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Molding The Chocolate 0:29
  2. Stacking The Cakes 1:57
  3. Assembling The Soccer Ball Cake 3:57
  4. Coloring The Chocolate 9:13
  5. Molding The Basketball 10:52
  6. Painting The Basketball 11:43
  7. Putting The Basketball Together 12:21
  8. Molding The Chocolate Football 15:12
  9. Unmolding The Football 17:29
  10. Painting The Football 17:55
  11. Putting The Football Together 19:26
  12. Molding The Baseball 21:08
  13. Coloring The Chocolate 22:09
  14. Putting The Baseball Together 23:11
  15. Making The Golf Ball 24:45
  16. Making The Chocolate Pipes 26:07
  17. Covering The Cake Board In Fondant 27:19
  18. Adding The Threaded Rod 29:45
  19. Covering The Soccer Ball In Fondant 31:31
  20. Adding The Chocolate Pipe 37:47
  21. Adding The Fondant Panels 40:48
  22. Adding The Buttercream Grass 45:06
  23. Putting It All Together 46:58

Downloads

Materials List

naked wedding cake decorated with flowers

March 28, 2022 Blog

How to Bake, Assemble, and Deliver a Naked Wedding Cake

This trendy naked wedding cake has a classic rustic style and tastes delicious thanks to my popular easy vanilla cake recipe and easy buttercream frosting. You can learn to make this even if you've never made a wedding cake before! Plus tips and tricks for stable stacking and applying fresh flowers safely. No one will know how easy this naked wedding cake was to make because it looks so beautiful and professional!

A naked wedding cake is much easier to put together than a standard wedding cake because you don't have to worry about that final layer of buttercream. Overall, the key to a beautiful naked wedding cake is using good cake pans to make nice straight cake layers and using a bench scraper to get the sides nice and straight.

Here is a link to all the tools and equipment you will need to make a naked wedding cake. Nothing fancy but you'll definitely need a few things before you get started.

equipment on table

What's In This Blog Post

  • Naked Wedding Cake Ingredients
  • Cake Terminology
  • How to Calculate How Much Cake You Need
  • Making The Cake Layers
  • Easy Buttercream Instructions
  • Preparing Cake Tiers
  • Assembling the Naked Wedding Cake
  • Packaging the Wedding Cake for Delivery
  • Decorating Your Cake with Fresh Flowers Safely
  • FAQ
  • Expert Tips
  • More Posts You'll Love

Naked Wedding Cake Ingredients

Buttermilk: This cake calls for buttermilk. Why does it use buttermilk? Buttermilk works to break down the gluten in the all-purpose flour and is what will give your naked wedding cake a velvety, soft texture.

If you do not have buttermilk, you can create your own buttermilk substitute to achieve a tender, naked wedding cake texture.

Pasteurized egg whites: This easy buttercream frosting recipe calls for pasteurized egg whites. Pasteurization is what makes eggs safe to eat without cooking.

If you can't find pasteurized egg whites, you can pasteurize them yourself and just use the egg whites. NOTE: all eggs in the USA are already pasteurized so you can use shelled egg whites separated from the yolk as well.

Cake Terminology

If you've never made a naked wedding cake or any kind of cake, you might be curious about some of these terms we are about to talk about. I hope I covered them all but if not, feel free to leave me a comment and I'll try to answer your question as soon as I can.

  • Cake Layer - One single layer of cake.
  • Cake Tier - Usually made up of two or three layers of cake with frosting or filling in between and then covered in more frosting and sometimes other decor on the outside.
  • Cake cardboard - A cardboard round that is the same size as the cake tier and is placed under the tier to help support the weight of the cake if stacked and to allow you to move the tiers around as you're working on the cake.
  • Cake Supports - Thick milkshake straws or sometimes dowels that are cut to the same height as the cake tier and are used to support the weight of the cake teir stacked on top. Without cake supports, the cake tier above will crush the cake tier below.
  • Cake Board - A thick cardboard drum or cake platter that is used to support all the wedding cake tiers. A thin cardboard will not suffice and could bend during transport and also doesn't look that great.

How to Calculate How Much Cake You Need

styrofoam cake tiers numbered

Not sure how many servings of cake you will need? No problem, you can download my free cake calculation guide and cake cutting chart or take a look at the image above. Each number represents roughly how many servings of cake you will get from each tier.

Making The Cake Layers

  1. First, preheat the oven to 335ºF (168ºC).
  2. Prepare two 8" cake pans with cake goop or another pan release.
  3. Then, measure out all of your ingredients using a digital kitchen scale and make sure your eggs, milk and butter are all room temperature or even a little on the warm side so everything mixes together properly.ingredients in clear bowls surrounding digital kitchen scale
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine together the buttermilk, melted butter, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Your wet ingredients should all be slightly warm. I microwave my buttermilk for about 30 seconds and place my eggs (still in the shell) in a bowl of warm water.easy vanilla cake wet ingredients
  5. Next, in the bowl of your stand mixer using a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Let the mixer slowly combine for a few seconds.easy vanilla cake dry ingredients
  6. While the mixer is on low, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.adding wet ingredients into dry ingredients
  7. Then, turn the mixer up to medium speed and mix until the batter is combined. Scrape the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are combined.
  8. Let the batter mix on medium speed for 1 minute. It should look kind of like pancake batter.close up of easy vanilla cake batter
  9. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and place them into the oven on a middle rack.pouring cake batter into the cake pan
  10. Bake the cakes for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  11. Finally, allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes and flip out onto a cooling rack. If you plan to frost and decorate the cake on the same day, you can place the cakes into the freezer unwrapped for about an hour or until they are cold (but not frozen). PRO TIP: If you plan to decorate your cake at a later date, then you will wrap the cakes in plastic wrap first before placing them in the freezer.two vanilla cakes cooling on a rackcake wrapped in plastic wrap

Easy Buttercream Instructions

This is my favorite buttercream recipe. It is a mock swiss meringue recipe and isn't too sweet. It doesn't crust and is a huge hit with people who say they don't even like buttercream!

  1. First, place the egg whites and the powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine the ingredients on low, and then whip them on high for 4-5 minutes (until shiny) to dissolve the powdered sugar.close up of egg whites and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl
  2. Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract. If you are adding in any food coloring, this is the point where you would do that. PRO TIP: Use a toothpick to transfer 1-2 drops of food coloring to your frosting to avoid putting too much color in your buttercream.
  3. Next, add in your softened butter piece-by-piece, and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine. It will look curdled at first. This is definitely normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping.adding butter to buttercream mixture
  4. If your buttercream looks curdled, remove about 2 cups of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.close up of cold buttercreampouring melted buttercream back into the mixer
  5. Optional: Add in 2 tiny specks of purple food coloring to make the buttercream whiter. You can use any food coloring you want, but if you want my recommendation, I use Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!
  6. Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until the buttercream is white, light, and shiny. Taste test the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!close up of whipped buttercream
  7. Finally, switch to a paddle attachment and mix the buttercream on low speed for up to 15-20 minutes to make the buttercream ultra smooth and remove any air bubbles. Ultimately, this step is optional. But, if you want really creamy frosting, then you don't want to skip this final step.close up of mixed buttercream

Preparing Cake Tiers

  1. First, trim off the dome of your cake layers. Do not trim off the sides of the cake. If you trim off the sides of the cake, then your cake will lose moisture quicker since this is a naked cake and the sides won't be covered in buttercream.trimming cake dome
  2. Then, trim your cake boards to be a little bit smaller than the width of the cake. I made mine ½" smaller.trimming cake board with scissors
  3. Apply a small amount of tape to your turntable, and then place your cake board on top. This will keep the cake board from sliding around.hands placing a piece of tape down
  4. Next, place your cake on top of the cake board.hands holding cake
  5. Spread a thin layer of buttercream on top of the cake using an offset spatula. The layer of buttercream should be between ¼″ to ½" thick. When smoothing out the buttercream onto the cake, keep the buttercream as level as possible (i.e. avoid large bumps of buttercream).spatula smoothing buttercream on top of cake
  6. Then, repeat this process with the second cake layer, and then add your final layer of cake on top.hands placing the second cake layerhands touching top cake layer
  7. Spread a very thin layer of buttercream around the sides and top of the cake. This thin layer will seep into the small air bubbles of the cake and help seal in the moisture.hand holding cake tier partially frostedcake tiers covered in buttercream frosting
  8. Next, use a bench scraper to remove the buttercream from the sides of the cake.bench scraper removing buttercream from sides of cake tiers
  9. Finally, use a spatula to smooth out the buttercream on top of the cake.spatula on top of frosted cake
  10. Repeat this process as needed for any additional layers of cake you have left depending on how many tiers your naked wedding cake has.
  11. Place your cake tiers into the fridge for at least an hour before stacking. I typically refrigerate my cakes overnight before assembly to give them time to settle which can help prevent cracking in your buttercream later.

Assembling the Naked Wedding Cake

  1. Download my cake support guide to help get you started!
  2. Begin with your bottom cake tier in front of you.
  3. Grab the cake pan you used that is the same size as the smaller cake tier you want to stack on top of your bottom cake tier. Place the smaller cake pan right on top of the bottom tier so that the cake pan is sitting on top of the buttercream.
  4. Use a spatula to trace along the edge of the cake pan to mark a line. This will show you where you need to place your straws and skewers to support the weight of the next cake tier.cake pan on top of cake tier and knife tracing the cake pan
  5. Place a straw through the top of the bottom tier cake right in the center. After you've placed the straw through the cake tier, move your thumb to the spot where the top of the cake ends and then use scissors to trim off the excess straw. You don't want to see any straw popping out of the top of the cake.inserting a straw into the center of the top of a caketrimming a straw with scissors
  6. Then, use the trimmed straw as a guide to cut all of your remaining straws so they are all the same height as the cake tier.trimming the height of straws with scissors
  7. Next, stick your straws through your cake about ¼″ inward from the line you created using the cake pan in a circle. If you're unsure how many straws you need, generally, you need 1 straw per inch of cake you're needing to support (i.e. for a 6" cake, you need 6 straws as supports beneath it to keep the top cake from collapsing).pushing straw into cakestraws inserted all the way down into top layer of cake
  8. Then, after you've placed the straws, use a spatula to smooth buttercream over the top to hide the straw holes.
  9. Now you are ready to place your smaller cake tier on top of the bottom (larger) cake tier.hands placing cake tiers on top of cake
  10. Make sure the cake tier is centered, and then insert a skewer through the center of the top cake tier. Place the skewer all of the way inside the cake (it will puncture the cake board and that is okay). Cover the spot where the skewer is with a little bit of buttercream and smooth it out.placing skewer into center of cake
  11. Repeat as needed until all of your cake tiers are stacked onto your cake.naked wedding cake on cake plate
  12. Place the cake in the refrigerator overnight until you need to deliver the cake to the wedding or event.

Packaging the Wedding Cake for Delivery

  1. You will need a box that is the same width as the the cake board. So if your cake board is 12" then you will need a 12" square box that is tall enough to fit your stacked cake. I usually get my boxes in bulk from ULINE in common sizes so I have them on hand or you can buy one at a time from FedEX.
  2. First, you trim your box to create a flap on one side. Use an X-acto blade to cut downwards along 2 corners of the box, and then bend that side downward to create a flap where your cake will enter in and out of the box. hand trimming cardboard box with knife
  3. If you have a piece of cardboard on the bottom that is sticking up where your cake is going to be, use a piece of tape to stick it down. placing tape inside of cardboard box
  4. Next, carefully slide your cake on top of the flap and into the cardboard box. naked cake inside cardboard box
  5. If your cake is taller than your cardboard box, then you can move the box flaps upward and use tape to join the flaps with the corners so the box becomes taller. tape on cardboard box
  6. Want additional coverage on top? You can cover the exposed top of the box with some plastic wrap to protect the cake. This is especially helpful if it's a windy day and you're worried about dust, debris, or rain getting on the cake.
  7. Now your cake is ready to travel to the venue! When you arrive at the wedding and it's time to unbox your cake, remove the tape from the box and slide it out and move it to the cake table. 

Decorating Your Cake with Fresh Flowers Safely

Interested in what types of flowers are best for a wedding cake? Check out my friend Shani's very comprehensive downloadable book on the subject.

  1. Now that you've arrived at the wedding venue and it's time to decorate the cake with flowers. Flowers are typically provided by the florist and are aleady at the venue by the time you arrive. If you are buying your own flowers, I like to get mine from places like Trader Joes that have a big assortment of flowers for making bouquets.
  2. Use a small amount of buttercream to fill in any gaps where the cake tiers meet and along the bottom of the cake tier on the cake plate. Smooth out the buttercream you added. piping buttercream on bottom of cakehand smoothing buttercream on cake
  3. First, prepare your fresh flowers by trimming them down so that you have about 2"-3" of stem. Remove any of the bad petals that appear bruised. fresh flowershand holding fresh flower stemshand holding small flower by the stem
  4. Then, wrap all of your flower and plant stems in plastic wrap. This will keep the water from the flower trapped inside of the stem which will not only keep the flowers fresh for longer, but it will protect the cake from being contaminated by the plant. wrapping flower stem with plastic wrap
  5. Next, insert your flower that is wrapped in plastic wrap into a straw. pink flower inside a straw next to cake
  6. Insert the straw into the cake where you want the flower to sit. If you find yourself hitting the cardboard, take the straw out of the cake and remove the flower from the straw and trim it down and try again. close up of flower on naked wedding cake
  7. Then, repeat until you have decorated your cake with flowers and plants to your liking.close up of flowers on naked wedding cakenaked wedding cake decorated with flowersnaked wedding cake decorated with flowers

FAQ

What is inside a naked cake?

Naked cakes are made up of layers of cake stacked between buttercream or ganache.

What is the difference between a naked cake and a semi-naked cake?

A naked cake is made up of cake layers that are entirely exposed on the sides. A semi-naked cake has a thin layer of buttercream along the sides added and then scraped off to have a semi-transparent edge exposing the sides of the cake.

Will naked cakes dry out?

No, they will not dry out. If you are baking your cakes and storing them until you are ready to frost and stack them, wrap them in plastic wrap to trap the moisture and keep the cakes moist. You can also brush a layer of simple syrup on the outside of the cakes before frosting them to help keep them moist.

How do I cut and serve a wedding cake?

Start by removing all of the flowers and set them aside. Then, take the top cake tier off of the bottom tier and place it in front of you. PRO TIP: Keep your cake cutting knife warm by warming it up with a glass of warm water. Your cake will cut a lot easier if the knife is hot.

Slice the front of the cake about 1" thick. Let the slice fall onto a plate or cutting board. Cut into 2" Thick pieces. Watch my video on how to cut a wedding cake.

Expert Tips

  • Download my straw support cake guide to get started! 
  • Bake your cakes 2 days before the wedding or event. For instance, if your event is on Saturday, then bake your cakes on Thursday. On Friday, focus on frosting and stacking the cakes. Then, when Saturday comes, all you'll need to focus on is delivering the cake to its final destination and then adding in any fresh flowers after you arrive at the venue. 
  • In the long run, a chilled cake is going to transfer much easier than a freshly frosted cake. Ultimately, this is why it's crucial to take several days to prepare the wedding cake so you can freeze or refrigerate your frosted and stacked cake until it is ready to travel to the event. 
  • Generally speaking, when you are choosing what flowers to use to decorate your cake, think about how big the cake is. If you don't have a huge cake, then you don't want huge flowers. Think about the ratio of how big a flower looks on a cake tier, and use a little bit of greenery in addition to colorful flowers. Ultimately, use the bouquet/boutonniere as your guide to decide what flowers to include and how much. When in doubt, stick with the rule of 3s (three of the same flower, three types of flowers/plants, groups of three grouped together, etc).
naked wedding cake decorated with flowers

More Posts You'll Love

Easy Vanilla Cake (One Bowl Recipe)

Easy Buttercream Frosting

White Cake Recipe from Scratch

How to Decorate Your First Cake

Recipe

naked wedding cake decorated with flowers
Print Recipe
4.73 from 40 votes

Naked Wedding Cake

In this recipe tutorial, I will walk you through step-by-step how to bake, assemble, decorate, and transport a naked wedding cake! This naked wedding cake is made using my easy vanilla cake recipe and my easy buttercream recipe!
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time40 minutes mins
Decorating1 hour hr
Total Time2 hours hrs
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 36 servings
Calories: 680kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Equipment

  • turntable (or a large lazy susan)
  • cake boards for each size tier that you're making (for this tutorial, we're using 8" and 6")
  • Cake Pans
  • Bench scraper
  • Offset Spatula
  • milkshake straws
  • skewers
  • If you are decorating the cake with flowers, you will also need plastic wrap, straws, and scissors to safely add the flowers to the cake. 

Ingredients

Naked Wedding Cake

  • 32 ounces all purpose flour
  • 32 ounces granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 6 large eggs room temperature
  • 10 ounces vegetable oil
  • 20 ounces buttermilk room temperature
  • 8 ounces melted unsalted butter (melted, but not hot)
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Easy Vanilla Buttercream

  • 48 ounces unsalted butter room temperature. You can use salted butter, but it will affect the taste and you need to leave out additional salt.
  • 48 ounces powdered sugar sifted if not from a bag
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 ounces pasteurized egg whites room temperature
  • 2 TINY drops purple food coloring (optional) for whiter frosting
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Making the Naked Wedding Cake Batter

  • First, preheat the oven to 335ºF (168ºC).
  • Prepare two 8" cake pans with cake goop or another pan release.
  • Then, measure out all of your ingredients using a digital kitchen scale. You can mix the wet and dry ingredients separately for a finer texture, or just measure and add directly into the bowl of your stand mixer for fewer dishes.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine and mix together the buttermilk, butter, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Your wet ingredients should all be slightly warm. I microwave my buttermilk for about 30 seconds and place my eggs (still in the shell) in a bowl of warm water.
  • Next, in the bowl of your stand mixer using a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Let the mixer slowly combine for a few seconds.
  • While the mixer is on low, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
  • Then, turn the mixer up to medium speed and mix until the batter is combined. Scrape the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are combined.
  • Let the batter mix on speed 2 for 1 minute. It should look kind of like pancake batter.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and place them into the oven on a middle rack.
  • Bake the cakes for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Finally, allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes and flip out onto a cooling rack. If you plan to frost and decorate the cake on the same day, you can place the cakes into the freezer unwrapped for about an hour or until they are cold (but not frozen). PRO TIP: If you plan to decorate your cake at a later date, then you will wrap the cakes in plastic wrap first before placing them in the freezer.

Easy Buttercream Instructions

  • First, place the egg whites and the powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine the ingredients on low, and then whip them on high for 4-5 minutes (until shiny) to dissolve the powdered sugar.
  • Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract. If you are adding in any food coloring, this is the point where you would do that. PRO TIP: Use a toothpick to transfer 1-2 drops of food coloring to your frosting to avoid putting too much color in your buttercream.
  • Next, add in your softened butter piece-by-piece, and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine. It will look curdled at first. This is definitely normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping.
  • If your buttercream looks curdled, remove about 1 cup of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.
  • Optional: Add in 2 drops of purple food coloring to make the buttercream whiter. You can use any food coloring you want, but if you want my recommendation, I use Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!
  • Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until the buttercream is white, light, and shiny. Taste test the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!
  • Finally, switch to a paddle attachment and mix the buttercream on low speed for up to 15-20 minutes to make the buttercream ultra smooth and remove any air bubbles. Ultimately, this step is optional. But, if you want really creamy frosting, then you don't want to skip this final step.

Preparing the Naked Wedding Cake Tiers

  • First, trim off the dome of your cake layers. Do not trim off the sides of the cake. If you trim off the sides of the cake, then your cake will lose moisture quicker since this is a naked cake and the sides won't be covered in buttercream.
  • Then, trim your cake boards to be a little bit smaller than the width of the cake.
  • Apply a small amount of tape to your turntable, and then place your cake board on top. This will keep the cake board from sliding around.
  • Next, place your cake on top of the cake board.
  • Spread a thin layer of buttercream on top of the cake using an offset spatula. The layer of buttercream should be between ¼″ to ½" thick. When smoothing out the buttercream onto the cake, keep the buttercream as level as possible (i.e. avoid large bumps of buttercream).
  • Then, repeat this process with the second cake layer, and then add your final layer of cake on top.
  • Spread a very thin layer of buttercream around the sides and top of the cake. This thin layer will seep into the small air bubbles of the cake and help seal in the moisture.
  • Next, use a bench scraper to remove the buttercream from the sides of the cake.
  • Finally, use a spatula to smooth out the buttercream on top of the cake.
  • Then, repeat this process as needed for any additional layers of cake you have left depending on how servings of cake you are making.
  • If you need to transfer your cake from your turntable to your cake stand, then use an offset spatula to carefully and gently lift one side of the cake so that you can get your fingers underneath it. Then, you can lift the cake by the cake board to move it to wherever it needs to go like the freezer for storage or moving it onto a cake stand.

Assembling the Naked Wedding Cake

  • Download my cake support guide to help get you started!
  • Begin with your bottom cake tier in front of you.
  • Grab the cake pan you used that is the same size as the smaller cake tier you want to stack on top of your bottom cake tier. Place the smaller cake pan right on top of the bottom tier so that the cake pan is sitting on top of the buttercream.
  • Use a spatula to trace along the edge of the cake pan to mark a line. This will show you where you need to place your straws and skewers to support the weight of the next cake tier.
  • Place a straw through the top of the bottom tier cake right in the center. After you've placed the straw through the cake tier, move your thumb to the spot where the top of the cake ends and then use scissors to trim off the excess straw. You don't want to see any straw popping out of the top of the cake.
  • Then, use the trimmed straw as a guide to cut all of your remaining straws so they are all the same height as the cake tier.
  • Next, stick your straws through your cake about ¼″ inward from the line you created using the cake pan in a circle. If you're unsure how many straws you need, generally, you need 1 straw per inch of cake you're needing to support (i.e. for a 6" cake, you need 6 straws as supports beneath it to keep the top cake from collapsing).
  • Then, after you've placed the straws, use a spatula to smooth buttercream over the top to hide the straw holes.
  • Now you are ready to place your smaller cake tier on top of the bottom (larger) cake tier.
  • Make sure the cake tier is centered, and then insert a skewer through the center of the top cake tier. Place the skewer all of the way inside the cake (it will puncture the cake board and that is okay). Cover the spot where the skewer is with a little bit of buttercream and smooth it out.
  • Repeat as needed until all of your cake tiers are stacked onto your cake.
  • Place the cake in the refrigerator overnight until you need to deliver the cake to the wedding or event.

Packaging the Wedding Cake for Delivery

  • You will need a box that is the same width as the bottom (largest) tier of your cake. For instance, if your bottom cake tier is 10" x 10", you will use a 10" x 10" width cardboard box.
  • First, you trim your box to create a flap on one side. Use an X-acto blade to cut downwards along 2 corners of the box, and then bend that side downward to create a flap where your cake will enter in and out of the box.
  • If you have a piece of cardboard on the bottom that is sticking up where your cake is going to be, use a piece of tape to stick it down.
  • Next, carefully slide your cake on top of the flap and into the cardboard box.
  • If your cake is taller than your cardboard box, then you can move the box flaps upward and use tape to join the flaps with the corners so the box becomes taller.
  • Want additional coverage on top? You can cover the exposed top of the box with some plastic wrap to protect the cake. This is especially helpful if it's a windy day and you're worried about dust, debris, or rain getting on the cake.
  • Now your cake is ready to travel to the venue! When you arrive at the wedding and it's time to unbox your cake, remove the tape from the box and slide it out and move it to the cake table.

Decorating Your Cake with Fresh Flowers Safely

  • Now that you've arrived at the wedding venue and it's time to decorate the cake with flowers, use a small amount of buttercream to fill in any gaps where the cake tiers meet and along the bottom of the cake tier on the cake plate. Smooth out the buttercream you added.
  • First, prepare your fresh flowers by trimming them down so that you have about 2"-3" of stem. Remove any of the bad petals that appear bruised.
  • Then, wrap all of your flower and plant stems in plastic wrap. This will keep the water from the flower trapped inside of the stem which will not only keep the flowers fresh for longer, but it will protect the cake from being contaminated by the plant.
  • Next, insert your flower that is wrapped in plastic wrap into a straw.
  • Insert the straw into the cake where you want the flower to sit. If you find yourself hitting the cardboard, take the straw out of the cake and remove the flower from the straw and trim it down and try again.
  • Repeat until you have decorated your cake with flowers and plants to your liking.

Video

Notes

Important Things To Note Before You Start:
  1. Download my straw support cake guide to get started! 
  2. Bake your cakes 2 days before the wedding or event. For instance, if your event is on Saturday, then bake your cakes on Thursday. On Friday, focus on frosting and stacking the cakes. Then, when Saturday comes, all you'll need to focus on is delivering the cake to its final destination and then adding in any fresh flowers after you arrive at the venue. 
  3. In the long run, a chilled cake is going to transfer much easier than a freshly frosted cake. Ultimately, this is why it's crucial to take several days to prepare the wedding cake so you can freeze or refrigerate your frosted and stacked cake until it is ready to travel to the event. 
  4. Generally speaking, when you are choosing what flowers to use to decorate your cake, think about how big the cake is. If you don't have a huge cake, then you don't want huge flowers. Think about the ratio of how big a flower looks on a cake tier, and use a little bit of greenery in addition to colorful flowers. Ultimately, use the bouquet/boutonniere as your guide to decide what flowers to include and how much. When in doubt, stick with the rule of 3s (three of the same flower, three types of flowers/plants, groups of three grouped together, etc).
  5. The best investment you can make when you're getting started with baking is a digital kitchen scale! Weighing your ingredients will help you avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
  6. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  7. Need more help with making your first cake? Check out my how to decorate your first cake blog post. 
  8. Make sure all of your cold ingredients (e.g. butter, eggs, milk) are at room temperature or a little warm. Why? Because we want to create an emulsion and allow the ingredients to fully mix together. 
  9. Make your own pan release (cake goop!) The best pan release ever! 
  10. If you want to add food coloring to this frosting, then you will add in any food coloring while you are mixing the egg whites with the powdered sugar (before you add in the butter). PRO TIP: Use a toothpick to transfer 1-2 drops of food coloring to your frosting to avoid putting too much color in your buttercream.
  11. You can use whichever food coloring you have, but if you want a recommendation I would suggest the Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 346mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 1250IU | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg

Cakes stacked and sculpted to look like books

March 15, 2022 Course Preview

Stacked Books Wedding Cake Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

Guest instructor Shani Christenson joins us to make this beautiful stacked book wedding cake. In this tutorial, you will learn how to imprint book titles into the covers, how to hand-paint the lettering and binding details for the greatest visual effect, how to create and arrange sugar rose flowers, variegated foliage. In addition, Shani breaks down how to decorate your cake boards to compliment the design with decorative paper, making the board stain-proof and how to finish the edges.

There's a lot to cover in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

2:34:43 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make a cake sculpted to look like a stack of books
  • Learn to make floral arrangements out of gumpaste and edible materials
  • How to decorate and add features to your cake board to elevate the entire design
  • Learn how to dowel this tall-standing cake to provide support and structure

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Making The Cake Board 0:56
  2. Cutting Out The Cake Boards 13:05
  3. Carving The Cakes 15:15
  4. Covering The Cakes In Butter Cream 19:13
  5. Rolling Out The Fondant Book Spines 27:44
  6. Adding The Book Titles 37:08
  7. Decorating The Spines 40:55
  8. Making The Book Covers 44:49
  9. Painting The Spines 52:24
  10. Making The Fondant Pages 56:37
  11. Covering The Books In Fondant 59:40
  12. Stacking The Cakes 1:13:15
  13. Painting The Pages 1:22:09
  14. Making The Sugar Roses 1:25:01
  15. Making The Rose Leaves 1:41:33
  16. Making The Filler Flowers Pt.1 1:46:40
  17. Making The Filler Flowers Pt.2 1:55:03
  18. Making The Ivy Leaves 2:02:04
  19. Making The Filler Flowers Pt.3 2:08:57
  20. Color Dusting The Flowers 2:12:14
  21. Color Dusting The Leaves 2:17:47
  22. Making The Bundles And Posies 2:23:44
  23. Finishing Touches 2:39:10

Downloads

Materials List

Cake Layer Template 01

Cake Layer Template 02

Cake Cutting Guide

Cake Cover Size Chart

Cakes stacked and sculpted to look like books

March 15, 2022 Paid Video

Stacked Books Wedding Cake

Skill level: Intermediate

Guest instructor Shani Christenson joins us to make this beautiful stacked book wedding cake. In this tutorial, you will learn how to imprint book titles into the covers, how to hand-paint the lettering and binding details for the greatest visual effect, how to create and arrange sugar rose flowers, variegated foliage. In addition, Shani breaks down how to decorate your cake boards to compliment the design with decorative paper, making the board stain-proof and how to finish the edges.

There's a lot to cover in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

2:34:43 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make a cake sculpted to look like a stack of books
  • Learn to make floral arrangements out of gumpaste and edible materials
  • How to decorate and add features to your cake board to elevate the entire design
  • Learn how to dowel this tall-standing cake to provide support and structure

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Making The Cake Board 0:56
  2. Cutting Out The Cake Boards 13:05
  3. Carving The Cakes 15:15
  4. Covering The Cakes In Butter Cream 19:13
  5. Rolling Out The Fondant Book Spines 27:44
  6. Adding The Book Titles 37:08
  7. Decorating The Spines 40:55
  8. Making The Book Covers 44:49
  9. Painting The Spines 52:24
  10. Making The Fondant Pages 56:37
  11. Covering The Books In Fondant 59:40
  12. Stacking The Cakes 1:13:15
  13. Painting The Pages 1:22:09
  14. Making The Sugar Roses 1:25:01
  15. Making The Rose Leaves 1:41:33
  16. Making The Filler Flowers Pt.1 1:46:40
  17. Making The Filler Flowers Pt.2 1:55:03
  18. Making The Ivy Leaves 2:02:04
  19. Making The Filler Flowers Pt.3 2:08:57
  20. Color Dusting The Flowers 2:12:14
  21. Color Dusting The Leaves 2:17:47
  22. Making The Bundles And Posies 2:23:44
  23. Finishing Touches 2:39:10

Downloads

Materials List

Cake Layer Template 01

Cake Layer Template 02

Cake Cutting Guide

Cake Cover Size Chart

chocolate mini cake shaped as a tiffany box

March 14, 2022 Blog

Tiffany Gift Box Mini Cake Recipe

This mini cake recipe is made with super moist, decadent chocolate cake and paired with light and creamy buttercream frosting! Decorated to look like a gift box from Tiffany & Co, this mini cake recipe is the perfect dessert for engagement parties, bridal showers, and weddings!chocolate mini cake shaped as a tiffany box

These mini cakes are made with a mold so covering with fondant is WAY easier (no more frosting individual cakes). Don't want to make square mini cakes? You can use any shape! So so easy. 

The best part about this mini cake recipe is that both the easy chocolate cake recipe and the easy buttercream frosting that are used here are simple recipes that ANY baker can master! Follow this step-by-step recipe and decoration tutorial to create these beautiful, delicious mini cakes decorated to look like wrapped gift boxes! 

What's In This Blog Post

  • Mini Cake Recipe Ingredients
  • Making the Chocolate Cake
  • Easy Buttercream Frosting Instructions
  • Assembling the Chocolate Mini Cakes
  • Preparing the Mini Cake Molds
  • Covering the Mini Cakes with Fondant
  • Decorating the Mini Cakes
  • FAQ
  • Expert Tips
  • More Recipes You'll Love

Mini Cake Recipe Ingredients

ingredients from above
ingredients from above

Buttermilk: The buttermilk not only adds moisture to the cake, but it's also acidic which breaks down the gluten in the all-purpose flour. Buttermilk is what gives this cake its tender and moist crumb!

If you do not have buttermilk, you can create your own buttermilk substitute. 

Hot coffee (or hot water): The chocolate cake used to make this mini cake recipe calls for hot coffee. Hot coffee intensifies the flavor of the chocolate, and it doesn't make the cake taste like coffee at all. 

If you do not want to use coffee, you can substitute a dark beer like Guinness (heated) or just use hot water. 

Pasteurized egg whites: For this frosting recipe, you will need pasteurized egg whites. Pasteurization is what makes eggs safe to eat without cooking. 

If you can't find pasteurized egg whites, you can pasteurize eggs yourself and just use the egg whites. NOTE: all eggs in the USA are already pasteurized, so you can use shelled egg whites separated from the yolk as well.

Don't want to use my buttercream recipe? You can use American buttercream, Swiss meringue, or even French buttercream but stay away from cream cheese frosting or whipped cream because it will melt the fondant.

White Fondant: You can use any kind of white fondant you have, but I would recommend you use my marshmallow fondant recipe. 

Vegetable Shortening: If you are working with fondant, then you will need shortening. Why? Because if you apply shortening to your hands, then you will keep the fondant from sticking to you while you are kneading and pulling it and the shortening keeps the fondant from drying out.

Purple food coloring: Purple food coloring is optional for this recipe. Professional bakers have a hack where they add 1 tiny drop of purple food coloring to make their frosting appear more white! But, you do not have to do this step if you don't want to. 

You can use any purple food coloring you have, but if you would like my recommendation, I would suggest the Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!

Making the Chocolate Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prepare two 9"x 13' sheet pans with parchment paper and cake goop.hand placed on parchment paper inside baking sheet
  2. Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix everything on low speed for about 5 seconds, or just until everything is combined.pouring ingredient into mixing bowl
  3. Then, add in the room temperature eggs, room temperature buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.pouring ingredient into mixing bowl
  4. Mix on medium speed withthe paddle attachment for 2 minutes and then scrape the bowl.stand mixer mixing cake batter
  5. Turn the mixer down to low speed, and then add in the hot coffee and mix it in until it's just combined.pouring ingredient into mixing bowl
  6. Next, pour the cake batter into the prepared pans about halfway full.pouring cake batter into a baking sheet
  7. Bake the cakes at 335ºF for 15 minutes, or until it is fully baked. While your cake is baking, you can prepare the easy buttercream frosting.hand smoothing out cake batter using a spatula

Easy Buttercream Frosting Instructions

  1. First, place the egg whites and the powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine the ingredients on low.hand pouring egg whites into bowl of stand mixer
  2. Whip them on high for 4-5 minutes (until shiny) to dissolve the powdered sugar.
  3. Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract.hand pouring ingredient into bowl of stand mixer
  4. Next, add in your room temperature butter piece-by-piece, and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine. It will look curdled at first. This is definitely normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping.hand holding a piece of butter showing it's softfrosting inside mixing bowl with whisk attachment
  5. If your buttercream continues to look curdled, remove about 2 cups of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.hand scooping frosting into large, tall measuring cuppouring warm buttercream into mixing bowl
  6. Optional: Add in 1 drop of purple food coloring to make the buttercream whiter. You can use any food coloring you want, but if you want my recommendation, I use Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!
  7. Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until the buttercream is white, light, and shiny. Taste test the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!spatula inside bowl of buttercream
  8. Ultimately, this step is optional. But, if you want really creamy frosting with no bubbles, then you don't want to skip this final step. Switch to a paddle attachment, and then mix the buttercream at low speed for up to 15-20 minutes to make the buttercream ultra smooth and remove any air bubbles.bowl of buttercream

Assembling the Chocolate Mini Cakes

  1. Once the cakes have finished baking and are fully cooled, place it in the freezer for about an hour so that it is very cold but can still be cut.taking chocolate cake out of the oven
  2. Trim the dome off the cake so that it is level. I use the cake pan as my guide.hand holding a bread knife next to chocolate cakecutting off dome of cake
  3. Remove the cakes from the pan, and then cut the sheet cake in half. You want to have 2 even pieces of cake because you are going to layer them together.trimming cake in half
  4. Do the same thing to the other cake. Then, spread buttercream on one half of the cake, and then place the other half of the cake on top.smoothing buttercream on top of chocolate cake2 layers of chocolate cake together with buttercream
  5. Next, place the prepared cake in the freezer for about an hour.stacking 2 layers of chocolate cake together with buttercream
  6. The size of your silicone molds will determine the size of the square you cut from the cake. We are using 2" square silicone molds, so I am cutting my layered cake in 1-½" cubes. Using a metal ruler, I cut down one direction of the cake to make 1-½" strips, and then the other direction to make cubes.trimming cake down to fit into square moldtrimming cake down to fit into square moldhand holding up a chocolate mini cake
  7. Then, place the cut cake cubes in the freezer while you prepare the mold.hand grabbing a chocolate mini cake

Preparing the Mini Cake Molds

  1. First, fill a piping bag with buttercream fitted with a medium plain tip.filling a piping bag with buttercream
  2. Pipe soft buttercream into the corners of the square mold to avoid pockets of air trapped in the corners. I gave my mold a little tap to be sure. Then, continue to pipe around the inside of the square mold, leaving the center hollow to place the cake.piping buttercream into square mold
  3. Then, once your molds are coated with buttercream and your cake cubes are fully chilled, carefully place a cube into the center of the mold and press down until the bottom is flush. Repeat with the remaining cubes.placing cake into square mold on top of buttercreamcake inside of mold filled with buttercream
  4. Next, use a spatula to clean off the excess buttercream that may have pushed out. The silicone mold is soft and can bulge out as you push the cake down. Gently reshape the exterior of the cubes so the sides are straight.
  5. Place the mold in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes (or overnight is okay, too).hand holding square cake mold filled with frosted cakes
  6. Gently peel the cake out of the mold. You will want to work quickly so that the buttercream doesn't have a chance to soften.removing cake from square cake mold
  7. Place the mini cakes on a single serving board or a platter and finish decorating them with fondant. See my video for the full tutorial. Store them in the refrigerator to keep them cool while you work with your fondant.

Covering the Mini Cakes with Fondant

  1. First, add 1 drop of neon bright blue food coloring to your white fondant and 1 drop of teal. This is the food coloring combination I've found that is closest to the iconic Tiffany Blue®. You can use any food coloring you have, but if you would like to know what I used for these mini cakes I used Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!adding food coloring to fondant
  2. Then, put on a pair of gloves and apply some shortening to your hands.
  3. Using your hands, work the food coloring into the fondant. Knead the fondant and pull it like taffy until it is smooth and the color is evenly distributed. If there are still rough spots or the fondant is tearing, you can warm it up in the microwave for 30-40 seconds to make it hot and pull like taffy. Then, with shortening on your hands, you can continue to knead and pull it without it breaking.food coloring added to fondant
  4. Sprinkle a little bit of powdered sugar onto your fondant, and then roll your fondant out so that it's thin (about 1/16th of an inch). The thinner your fondant, the sharper your corners will be!hands holding fondant to show it is thin
  5. Next, place the fondant over your cake cube. Smooth out the top, and then work your way down by pressing the fondant up against the cake.covering a square cake with fondantfinger pressing down on fondant on top of cakehands pressing edges of cake covered fondant
  6. Once you're happy with how your fondant looks, trim the excess fondant while leaving about ¼ inch of fondant around the base of the cake.trimming off excess fondant
  7. Then, flip the fondant-covered cake upside down.
  8. Fold the excess fondant over the bottom.tucking fondant into place on top of cake
  9. Repeat this process as needed until all of your cake cubes are covered with fondant.

Decorating the Mini Cakes

  1. Start by making the fondant bows. Add a little bit of vegetable shortening to your white fondant. Then, sprinkle your bow mold with some powdered sugar.
  2. Press the fondant into the mold so that it's flush to the surface.hand pressing fondant into mold
  3. Next, flip the mold over and then peel off the mold to reveal the bow-shaped fondant.taking fondant bows out of mold
  4. Now you will roll out more white fondant to create your ribbons. Roll out the fondant so that it's thin and about 1/16th of an inch. Then, cut out long pieces of fondant that are about ¼ inch wide. I like to use this tool to quickly cut strips of fondant. Fun fact: this tool is also used to make croissants! Or, if you don't have it, you could use a ruler and an x-acto knife to cut out ribbon fondant.rolling out the fondanttrimming fondant
  5. Now we are going to wrap our cake cubes to make them look like presents! Start by laying a strip of fondant down on the table horizontally. Then, layer another strip of fondant on top going the other way (vertically) so that it resembles a plus sign.fondant ribbons on top of one another in the shape of a plus sign
  6. Place the fondant-covered mini cake on top of the fondant ribbons at the center where the ribbons meet with the unfinished bottom facing upwards.hand placing mini cake covered in fondant on top of fondant ribbons
  7. Apply a small amount of water onto the strips of ribbon fondant, and then carefully wrap the fondant up around the cake so that it appears to look like a ribbon-wrapped box.painting fondant with water using a brushfolding ribbon fondant over mini caketrimming fondant ribbon
  8. Finally, apply a small amount of water onto the bottom of the fondant bow. Place it onto the top of the cake where the two seams of ribbon fondant meet. Repeat these steps as needed to decorate all of your mini cakes.brushing water onto back of fondanthand wearing a glove with hand above mini cake decorated in fondant
  9. Optional: Next, as an added decoration, you will add some flash dust or edible glitter to the mini cake using a brush. This is totally optional, but it will give your decorated cakes a radiant sparkle detail!hand sprinkling edible glitter onto a cake using a brushsquare mini cake on a round platesquare mini cake on a round plate with more mini cakes in the background

FAQ

What kind of square molds are you using?

I used a 2" square mold to create these mini cakes. 

What is the difference between petit fours and mini cakes?

Petit fours are usually bite-sized, and mini cakes are one cake serving. Another difference between petit fours and mini cakes is that petit four is a broader concept than just cake, so petit four could be sweet or savory french appetizers. 

How are these mini cakes different from lunchbox cakes?

Lunchbox cakes are smaller versions of regular cakes, and are often decorated with royal icing and served in bento-sized boxes. Unlike lunchbox cakes, mini cakes are one serving size of cake and are often decorated with fondant. 

What else could I use besides this buttercream?

If you want more frosting ideas for this chocolate cake besides my easy buttercream frosting, you could opt for a frosting that is less sweet like my Ermine frosting recipe. Big fan of chocolate? You could also double up on the chocolate flavor and prepare your mini cakes using my easy chocolate buttercream frosting! 

For a brighter, more vibrant flavored frosting, you could also add in raspberry filling or cherry filling to this buttercream recipe.

Or, skip out on buttercream entirely and go for a ganache instead! For this chocolate cake recipe, I would recommend pairing it with either my easy chocolate ganache recipe or my easy white chocolate ganache recipe.

How do I know when the cake batter is done mixing?

The cake batter will appear shiny and glossy when it is done mixing and there aren't any ingredients left on the sides of the bowl. 

Why freeze the cake after baking?

Freezing the cake for about an hour after it's cooled down will make the cake easier to cut.

Why does my buttercream frosting taste like butter?

If your buttercream tastes like butter you did not whip the frosting long enough. If you've added in all of your ingredients, you will need to whip your buttercream on high speed for 8-10 minutes. Once everything is whipped together long enough, your buttercream will appear white and should taste like melted ice cream.

Do I need to use coffee to make this chocolate cake?

No. If you do use coffee, it will enhance the chocolate flavor. But adding coffee to your cake batter is entirely optional. You could also substitute hot coffee with hot water (or one of my favorite things to substitute hot coffee for chocolate cake is with a heated, dark beer like Guinness).

What size is a mini cake?

A mini cake is a square cut of cake that's about 2 inches big. Typically, mini cakes range from 2 inches to 4 inches in size.

Expert Tips

  • Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  • Bring your butter, milk, and eggs to room temperature. Room temperature ingredients will create an emulsion properly but if any of your ingredients are cold then the batter will not mix together properly and you'll end up with a wet layer at the bottom of the cake.
  • Make your own pan release (cake goop!) The best pan release ever!
  • Any white fondant will work to decorate these mini cakes, but I highly recommend using my marshmallow fondant recipe. 
  • You can use whichever food coloring you have, but if you want a recommendation I would suggest the Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!
a group of mini cakes decorated to look like gift boxes

More Recipes You'll Love

Easy chocolate cake

Best fondant recipe

Easy vanilla cake

White cake recipe

Easy buttercream frosting

Easy chocolate buttercream frosting

Recipe

chocolate mini cake shaped as a tiffany box
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Tiffany Gift Box Mini Cake Recipe

How to make mini cakes inspired by Tiffany & Co gift boxes! Moist and decadent chocolate cake paired with light and creamy buttercream frosting, wrapped in Tiffany Blue® fondant, decorated with white fondant ribbons, and topped with a cute matching bow. Follow my tutorial for how to make easy cake squares with a mold (no frosting each cake individually!)
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Freezing Time2 hours hrs
Total Time2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 32 2" square mini cakes (the size can vary depending on the size of your molds)
Calories: 337kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer
  • 9" x 13" sheet pan
  • square silicone mold
  • bow mold

Ingredients

Easy Chocolate Cake

  • 10 ounces all-purpose flour
  • 14 ounces granulated sugar
  • 4 ounces natural cocoa powder like HERSHEYS
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 8 ounces buttermilk (room temperature)
  • 8 ounces hot coffee or hot water (1 cup)
  • 4 ounces vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Easy Buttercream Frosting

  • 24 ounces unsalted butter (room temperature). You can use salted butter, but it will affect the taste and you need to leave out additional salt.
  • 24 ounces powdered sugar sifted if not from a bag
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 ounces pasteurized egg whites (room temperature)
  • 1 TINY drop purple food coloring for whiter frosting (optional)

Instructions

Making the Chocolate Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prepare two 9"x 13' sheet pans with parchment paper and cake goop.
  • Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix everything on low speed for about 5 seconds, or just until everything is combined.
  • Then, add in the room temperature eggs, room temperature buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
  • Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes and then scrape the bowl.
  • Turn the mixer down to low speed, and then add in the hot coffee and mix it in until it's just combined.
  • Next, pour the cake batter into the prepared pans about halfway full.
  • Bake the cakes at 335ºF for 15 minutes, or until it is fully baked. While your cake is baking, you can prepare the easy buttercream frosting.

Easy Buttercream Frosting Instructions

  • First, place the egg whites and the powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine the ingredients on low.
  • Whip them on high for 4-5 minutes (until shiny) to dissolve the powdered sugar.
  • Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract.
  • Next, add in your room temperature butter piece-by-piece, and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine. It will look curdled at first. This is definitely normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping.
  • If your buttercream continues to look curdled, remove about 2 cups of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.
  • Optional: Add in 1 drop of purple food coloring to make the buttercream whiter. You can use any food coloring you want, but if you want my recommendation, I use Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!
  • Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until the buttercream is white, light, and shiny. Taste test the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!
  • Ultimately, this step is optional. But, if you want really creamy frosting with no bubbles, then you don't want to skip this final step. Switch to a paddle attachment, and then mix the buttercream at low speed for up to 15-20 minutes to make the buttercream ultra smooth and remove any air bubbles.

Assembling the Chocolate Cake Cubes

  • Once the cakes have finished baking and are fully cooled, place it in the freezer for about an hour so that it is very cold but can still be cut.
  • Trim the dome off the cake so that it is level. I use the cake pan as my guide.
  • Remove the cakes from the pan, and then cut the sheet cake in half. You want to have 2 even pieces of cake because you are going to layer them together.
  • Do the same thing to the other cake. Then, spread buttercream on one half of the cake, and then place the other half of the cake on top.
  • Next, place the prepared cake in the freezer for about an hour.
  • The size of your silicone molds will determine the size of the square you cut from the cake. We are using 2" square silicone molds, so I am cutting my layered cake in 1-½" cubes. Using a metal ruler, I cut down one direction of the cake to make 1-½" strips, and then the other direction to make cubes.
  • Then, place the cut cake cubes in the freezer while you prepare the mold.

Preparing the Mini Cake Molds

  • First, fill a piping bag with buttercream fitted with a medium plain tip.
  • Pipe buttercream into the corners of the square mold to avoid pockets of air trapped in the corners. I gave my mold a little tap to be sure. Then, continue to pipe around the inside of the square mold, leaving the center hollow to place the cake.
  • Then, once your molds are coated with buttercream and your cake cubes are fully chilled, carefully place a cube into the center of the mold and press down until the bottom is flush. Repeat with the remaining cubes.
  • Next, use a spatula to clean off the excess buttercream that may have pushed out. The silicone mold is soft and can bulge out as you push the cake down. Gently reshape the exterior of the cubes so the sides are straight.
  • Place the mold in the freezer for approximately 30 minutes (or overnight is okay, too).
  • When you remove the mold from the freezer, trim off the bottom so that the cake will sit evenly when you flip it over.
  • Gently peel the cake out of the mold. You will want to work quickly so that the buttercream doesn't have a chance to soften.
  • Place the mini cakes on a single serving board or a platter and finish decorating them with fondant. See my video for the full tutorial. Store them in the refrigerator to keep them cool while you work with your fondant.

Covering the Mini Cakes with Fondant

  • First, add 1 drop of neon bright blue food coloring to your white fondant and 1 drop of teal. This is the food coloring combination I've found that is closest to the iconic Tiffany Blue®. You can use any food coloring you have, but if you would like to know what I used for these mini cakes I used Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!
  • Then, put on a pair of gloves and apply some shortening to your hands.
  • Using your hands, work the food coloring into the fondant. Knead the fondant and pull it like taffy until it is smooth and the color is evenly distributed. If there are still rough spots or the fondant is tearing, you can warm it up in the microwave for 30-40 seconds to make it hot and pull like taffy. Then, with shortening on your hands, you can continue to knead and pull it without it breaking.
  • Sprinkle a little bit of powdered sugar onto your fondant, and then roll your fondant out so that it's thin (about 1/16th of an inch). The thinner your fondant, the sharper your corners will be!
  • Next, place the fondant over your cake cube. Smooth out the top, and then work your way down by pressing the fondant up against the cake.
  • Once you're happy with how your fondant looks, trim the excess fondant while leaving about ¼ inch of fondant around the base of the cake.
  • Then, flip the fondant-covered cake upside down.
  • Fold the excess fondant over the bottom.
  • Repeat this process as needed until all of your cake cubes are covered with fondant.

Decorating the Mini Cakes

  • Start by making the fondant bows. Add a little bit of vegetable shortening to your white fondant. Then, sprinkle your bow mold with some powdered sugar.
  • Press the fondant into the mold so that it's flush to the surface.
  • Next, flip the mold over and then peel off the mold to reveal the bow-shaped fondant.
  • Now you will roll out more white fondant to create your ribbons. Roll out the fondant so that it's thin and about 1/16th of an inch. Then, cut out long pieces of fondant that are about ¼ inch wide. I like to use this tool to quickly cut strips of fondant. Fun fact: this tool is also used to make croissants! Or, if you don't have it, you could use a ruler and an x-acto knife to cut out ribbon fondant.
  • Now we are going to wrap our cake cubes to make them look like presents! Start by laying a strip of fondant down on the table horizontally. Then, layer another strip of fondant on top going the other way (vertically) so that it resembles a plus sign.
  • Place the fondant-covered mini cake on top of the fondant ribbons at the center where the ribbons meet with the unfinished bottom facing upwards.
  • Apply a small amount of water onto the strips of ribbon fondant, and then carefully wrap the fondant up around the cake so that it appears to look like a ribbon-wrapped box.
  • Finally, apply a small amount of water onto the bottom of the fondant bow. Place it onto the top of the cake where the two seams of ribbon fondant meet. Repeat these steps as needed to decorate all of your mini cakes.
  • Optional: Next, as an added decoration, you will add some flash dust or edible glitter to the mini cake using a brush. This is totally optional, but it will give your decorated cakes a radiant sparkle detail!

Video

Notes

Important Things To Note Before You Start:
  • Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  • Bring your butter, milk, and eggs to room temperature. Room temperature ingredients will create an emulsion properly but if any of your ingredients are cold then the batter will not mix together properly and you'll end up with a wet layer at the bottom of the cake.
  • Make your own pan release (cake goop!) The best pan release ever!
  • Any white fondant will work to decorate these mini cakes, but I highly recommend using my marshmallow fondant recipe.
  • You can use whichever food coloring you have, but if you want a recommendation I would suggest the Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!

Nutrition

Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 606IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
Cake sculpted to look like a playstation 5 controller

March 1, 2022 Course Preview

Playstation 5 Controller Cake Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

They may still be hard to get online, but the Playstation gaming system is a video game console near and dear to my heart. I have always liked the shape and design of the playstation controllers and was really excited when I got the chance to make this cake for a friend's son.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to sculpt and panel out every section of the controller. Provided printable template make getting the proportions right very easy, and I break down the logo, buttons and joysticks step-by-step. This cake comes together quickly and easily and is another great option you can offer for clients that have eSports parties or gaming events.

50:37 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make a cake that looks like a Playstation 5 controller
  • Learn how to make realistic edible transparent buttons
  • How to make the bottom of the controller glow

Cake sculpted to look like a playstation 5 controller

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Overview Of The Cake 0:30
  2. Stacking And Carving The Cake 6:19
  3. Making The Isomalt Buttons 18:00
  4. Making The Chocolate Analog Sticks 19:38
  5. Covering The Cake In Buttercream 21:45/li>
  6. Adding The Black Fondant 25:20
  7. Adding The White Fondant 32:06
  8. Trimming The Fondant 34:44
  9. Making The Triggers 40:02
  10. Adding The Chocolate Analog Sticks 40:52
  11. Adding The Triggers 42:27
  12. Adding The Buttons 45:11
  13. Detailing The Controller 48:08
  14. Adding The Lights 49:02

Downloads

Materials List

Controller Top Template 01

Controller Top Template 02

Controller Front Template 01

Controller Front Template 02

Controller Side Template

Buttons Template

Cake sculpted to look like a playstation 5 controller

March 1, 2022 Paid Video

Playstation 5 Controller Cake

Skill level: Intermediate

They may still be hard to get online, but the Playstation gaming system is a video game console near and dear to my heart. I have always liked the shape and design of the playstation controllers and was really excited when I got the chance to make this cake for a friend's son.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to sculpt and panel out every section of the controller. Provided printable template make getting the proportions right very easy, and I break down the logo, buttons and joysticks step-by-step. This cake comes together quickly and easily and is another great option you can offer for clients that have eSports parties or gaming events.

50:37 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to make a cake that looks like a Playstation 5 controller
  • Learn how to make realistic edible transparent buttons
  • How to make the bottom of the controller glow

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Overview Of The Cake 0:30
  2. Stacking And Carving The Cake 6:19
  3. Making The Isomalt Buttons 18:00
  4. Making The Chocolate Analog Sticks 19:38
  5. Covering The Cake In Buttercream 21:45
  6. Adding The Black Fondant 25:20
  7. Adding The White Fondant 32:06
  8. Trimming The Fondant 34:44
  9. Making The Triggers 40:02
  10. Adding The Chocolate Analog Sticks 40:52
  11. Adding The Triggers 42:27
  12. Adding The Buttons 45:11
  13. Detailing The Controller 48:08
  14. Adding The Lights 49:02

Downloads

Materials List

Controller Top Template 01

Controller Top Template 02

Controller Front Template 01

Controller Front Template 02

Controller Side Template

Buttons Template

woman holding a giant turkey leg in disneyland

February 28, 2022 Blog

Best Disneyland Foods (and WORST)

*Updated 2022* These are the BEST Disneyland Foods (and worst) from Disneyland and California Adventure. Like so many before me, I took my family to Disneyland and researched the best foods to eat before I went. Then I spent the next 7 days eating and drinking my way through both Disneyland and California Adventure.

woman holding a giant turkey leg in disneyland

Being a baker and foodie, you know I had to see what lived up to the hype! So here is my list of favorite foods from Disneyland and the foods that did NOT live up to our expectations.

Disneyland Food Reviewed By Location

  • Disney Land Location Key
  • Disneyland Foods Checklist
  • Best Main Street Disneyland Foods
    • Mickey Macaron $ Locations: Jolly Holiday Bakery (MS), Market House (MS), Plaza Inn (MS)
    • Fried Chicken $$ Location: Plaza Inn (MS)
    • Cake Slice $ Location: Plaza Inn (MS)
    • Matterhorn Macaroon $ Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery (MS)
  • Best Adventure Land Foods
    • Giant Dill Pickle $ Location: Bengal BBQ (AL)
    • Dole Whip $ Location: Tiki Juice Bar (AL), Tropical Hideaway (AL), Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats (CA)
  • Best Frontier Land Foods
    • Trio Of Street Tacos $$ Location: Rancho Del Zocalo (FL)
    • BBQ Chicken $ Big Thunder Ranch BBQ (FL)
  • Best New Orleans Square Foods
    • Churros $ Location: Churros Cart Near Haunted Mansion (NO), Various Other Locations
    • Mickey Beignets (6 Pack) $$ Location: Mint Julep Bar (NO)
    • Monte Cristo Location: (NO) Cafe Orleans
  • Best Critter Country Foods
    • Large Mickey Chocolate Chip Cookie $ Location: Pooh Corner (CC), Bing Bongs Sweet Stuff (CA), Candy Palace (MS)
    • Caramel Apple $ Location: Pooh Corner (CC), Candy Palace (MS)
  • Best Star Wars: Galaxys Edge Foods
    • Dewback Chili Noodles $$ Location: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (GE)
    • Moof Juice $ Location: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (GE)
  • Best Fantasy Land Foods
    • Chimichanga $6.99 Location: Edelweiss Snacks (FL), Turkey Leg Cart (location varies)
    • Giant Turkey Leg $$ Location: Edelweiss Snacks (FL), Turkey Leg Cart (location varies)
    • Not So Little Chicken Sandwich $$ Location: Pym Test Kitchen (CA)
    • Quantum Pretzel $$ Location: Pym Test Kitchen (CA)
    • Rainbow Unicorn Slushie $ Location: Bing Bongs Sweet Stuff (CA)
  • Not Worth The Hype

Disney Land Location Key

I have included the locations of these foods to the best of my knowledge. Because Disneyland is constantly changing its offerings, not everything may always be available. I highly recommend you use the Disneyland App to help you navigate the park if you aren't sure where something is located.

  • (MS) - Main Street
  • (AL) - Adventureland
  • (FL) - Fantasyland
  • (NO) - New Orleans Square
  • (TL) - Tomorrow Land
  • (FR) - Frontier Land
  • (CC) - Critter Country
  • (TT) - Toon Town
  • (GE) - Galaxy's Edge
  • (CA) - California Adventure

Disneyland Foods Checklist

Let's start with Main Street and work our way through the park. I've even created this handy little printable checklist (do people still print things out?) so you can check off all your fave foods as you eat your way through Disneyland.

disneyland checklist

Best Main Street Disneyland Foods

mickey macaron

photo credit @shotsfordisney

Mickey Macaron $ Locations: Jolly Holiday Bakery (MS), Market House (MS), Plaza Inn (MS)

You cannot miss out on the famous Mickey-shaped macaron! Chewy, sweet, perfectly crisp. If you love a good macaron you cannot miss out on this one.

close up of fried chicken at plaza inn

Fried Chicken $$ Location: Plaza Inn (MS)

Probably my favorite food at Disneyland! We came back to the Plaza Inn multiple times for this exact dish. Not only is it easy to just drop by (no reservations required) but there are options at the buffet for every picky eater in your party.

close up of chocolate cake from plaza inn

Cake Slice $ Location: Plaza Inn (MS)

While you're at the Plaza Inn you may as well pick up a cake slice! Being somewhat of a cake expert I was surprised at how delicious and moist the chocolate cake were and the frosting is pretty tasty although I would have liked a little less food coloring because it stained everyone's teeth. This slice is very similar to my easy chocolate cake recipe.

close up of the matterhorn macaron

Matterhorn Macaroon $ Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery (MS)

One of my favorite cookies of all time is a classic macaron so I had to try the Matterhorn macaron. I honestly did not expect it to be so good but it was! The royal icing on top actually tastes amazing with the coconut cookie. My only complaint is I wish it had some chocolate too haha.

Best Adventure Land Foods

close up of disneyland giant pickle

Giant Dill Pickle $ Location: Bengal BBQ (AL)

You might think I'm crazy for including a pickle in the best foods of Disneyland list but if you're a pickle lover like I am, you don't want to pass this up! Especially on a hot day, this pickle does not disappoint!

close up of dole whip cup at Disneyland

Dole Whip $ Location: Tiki Juice Bar (AL), Tropical Hideaway (AL), Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats (CA)

Now you know I couldn't leave out the famous Dole Whip from Disneyland! This creamy dreamy concoction is slightly different than the version from Hawaii but still absolutely delicious and one of my family's favorites. If you order from the Tiki Juice Bar make sure you order ahead using the DL app before you pick up.

Best Frontier Land Foods

Trio Of Street Tacos $$ Location: Rancho Del Zocalo (FL)

I would not have expected Tacos to be quite so delicious at Disneyland but these really hit the spot and the portions were perfect. There isn't a lot of great food to choose from in Frontier Land so if you're nearby, pick up a taco!

BBQ Chicken $ Big Thunder Ranch BBQ (FL)

All you can eat BBQ? Who can ask for more! Great meal for a family and great atmosphere.

Best New Orleans Square Foods

close up of two churros being held by a hand

Churros $ Location: Churros Cart Near Haunted Mansion (NO), Various Other Locations

I have heard these Disneyland Churros are the best but in my opinion, they were just OK. Nothing amazing but not bad. A little doughy inside but otherwise tasty.

hand holding mickey beignet

Mickey Beignets (6 Pack) $$ Location: Mint Julep Bar (NO)

This was my first time having a Mickey Beignet and wow I was not disappointed. Light as air, sweet but not too sweet. Skip the chocolate sauce, it was bitter and just took away from the flavor and texture. We got the 6 pack and had to go back for a second because they were gone in a flash!

Monte Cristo Location: (NO) Cafe Orleans

Best Critter Country Foods

giant mickey cookie

Large Mickey Chocolate Chip Cookie $ Location: Pooh Corner (CC), Bing Bongs Sweet Stuff (CA), Candy Palace (MS)

I admit I bought this cookie because of the cute shape but was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was! Crisp but chewy and the chocolate on the cookie was nicely tempered and very tasty! We shared this one cookie between the four of us.

close up of disneyland caramel apple

Caramel Apple $ Location: Pooh Corner (CC), Candy Palace (MS)

This might be the best caramel apple I've ever had (aside from my own caramel apple recipe). The caramel is thick but not so thick it rips your teeth out. The green apple is the perfect contrast to the sweet caramel. I am a purist and prefer mine without any toppings but there are plenty to choose from including a lot of holiday-themed caramel apples with Mickey ears.

Best Star Wars: Galaxys Edge Foods

Dewback Chili Noodles $$ Location: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (GE)

Moof Juice $ Location: Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (GE)

Best Fantasy Land Foods

close up of Disneyland chimichanga

Chimichanga $6.99 Location: Edelweiss Snacks (FL), Turkey Leg Cart (location varies)

I know you might not think this is the most appealing-looking photo and I would agree but trust me, this chimichanga was not playing around! Just the right amount of beans, meat, and a perfectly crisp (not greasy) tortilla. My mouth is drooling again just thinking about it.

woman holding a Disneyland giant turkey leg

Giant Turkey Leg $$ Location: Edelweiss Snacks (FL), Turkey Leg Cart (location varies)

This was the shocker of the trip. The famous Disneyland giant turkey leg! I definitely had my doubts. I assumed it would be tough to eat and not that moist but I was wrong and wrong! Super SUPER tender meat, very juicy (so juicy it was dripping down my arm as I ate) and big enough to share. We got two but one was plenty for the four (two adults and two kids) of us to share.

close up of not so little chicken sandwich from PYM

Not So Little Chicken Sandwich $$ Location: Pym Test Kitchen (CA)

There was a very long line to get into PYM and I can see why, the food was outstanding. This chicken sandwich definitely lived up to the hype and was fried to perfection.

Quantum Pretzel $$ Location: Pym Test Kitchen (CA)

While you're at PYM you should def get a quantum pretzel! My kids happily shared one and I was able to steal a few bites. In my opinion MUCH better than the Mickey shaped pretzel (see foods not worth the hype below)

rainbow slushie

Rainbow Unicorn Slushie $ Location: Bing Bongs Sweet Stuff (CA)

This is not DL but I had to include it because this was my husband and daughter's favorite treat out of the whole trip. Four layers of delicious slushie topped with Nerds. I thought it would be overly sweet but honestly, it was delicious. I'm already thinking about how I can recreate this one at home.

Not Worth The Hype

mickey shaped pretzel
  • Mickey Shaped Pretzel. Hard, tasteless and the cheese was absolutely disgusting IMO Not everything with a mickey face makes it delicious. Get the giant pretzel from Pym Test Kitchen instead.
  • Burgers. From literally anywhere. They are always dry dry dry. I got one thinking it would be the safe bet for my kids but they wouldn't even touch it. I got another later in the week for myself and the same thing. Dry and gross. If you're craving protein a monte cristo from Cafe Orleans instead. mac and cheese bread bowl
  • Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl. I thought this would be a slam dunk on a cold and rainy day but the mac and cheese was very processed tasting and the sourdough bowl (which was good on its own) did not compliment this carb bomb at all. If you're craving pasta, get the Chicken Fusilli from Alien Pizza Planet.
  • Chocolate Sauce For Beignets. Totally over powering and takes away from the light and fluffy wonderfulness that is the beignet.

Did I forget any of your favorites Disneyland food favorites? Leave me a comment below!

slice of vanilla cake on a plate

February 28, 2022 Blog

Easy Vanilla Cake

This easy vanilla cake recipe is perfect for anyone who's new to baking cakes! No special mixing method! Just incredibly velvety, tender vanilla cake layered with smooth rich, decadent easy buttercream frosting! If you like my easy chocolate cake recipe, then you will absolutely LOVE this easy vanilla cake recipe!slice of vanilla cake on a plate
Any baker can master this easy vanilla cake recipe! There's a good chance you already have the ingredients you need to make this cake in your pantry, too! What's even better is that this recipe only requires ONE BOWL (check out my FAQ section to learn how!)

What's In This Blog Post

  • Why Use A Kitchen Scale?
  • How to Make Easy Vanilla Cake
  • More Recipes You'll Love

Easy Vanilla Cake Ingredients

easy vanilla cake ingredients

Buttermilk: Buttermilk is the star of this easy vanilla cake recipe! Buttermilk works to break down the gluten in the all-purpose flour and is what will give your cake a velvety, soft texture. 
If you do not have buttermilk, you can create your own buttermilk substitute to achieve a tender cake texture.
Pasteurized egg whites: For this easy buttercream frosting recipe, you will need pasteurized egg whites. Pasteurization is what makes eggs safe to eat without cooking. 
If you can't find pasteurized egg whites, you can pasteurize them yourself and just use the egg whites. NOTE: all eggs in the USA are already pasteurized so you can use shelled egg whites separated from the yolk as well.

Why Use A Kitchen Scale?

white digital kitchen scale on white background

If you've never used a kitchen scale before to measure your ingredients then you might feel intimidated but trust me, once you use a scale you'll never go back. You may not know this but using cups is a recipe for disaster. One cup of flour is not the same weight as one cup of water etc. Going by weight takes out all the guesswork.

  • More Accurate: Never again will you have a recipe fail because you accidentally put too much flour in. Especially with bigger recipes.
  • Less Dishes: When you use a scale, you can measure directly in the bowl. No dirtying multiple containers.
  • Easy to double and triple recipes: When need to make a triple batch, it's easy to scale up and quickly add ingredients when you're not having to measure everything one cup at a time.

How to Make Easy Vanilla Cake

  1. First, preheat the oven to 335ºF (168ºC).
  2. Prepare two 8" cake pans with cake goop or another pan release.
  3. Then, measure out all of your ingredients using a digital kitchen scale. You can mix the wet and dry ingredients separately for a finer texture, or just measure and add directly into the bowl of your stand mixer for fewer dishes.
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine and mix together the buttermilk, butter, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Your wet ingredients should all be slightly warm. I microwave my buttermilk for about 30 seconds and place my eggs (still in the shell) in a bowl of warm water. Whisk gently to combine. easy vanilla cake wet ingredients
  5. Next, in the bowl of your stand mixer using a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix on low to combine for a few seconds. I just put my bowl on the scale and measure everything into the same bowl, zeroing out the weight of the ingredients after each addition. Yay less dishes!easy vanilla cake dry ingredients
  6. While the mixer is on low, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.adding wet ingredients into dry ingredients
  7. Then, turn the mixer up to medium speed and mix until the batter is combined. Scrape the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are combined.
  8. Let the batter mix on speed 2 for 1 minute. It should look kind of like pancake batter. close up of easy vanilla cake batter
  9. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Pro Tip: Weigh your cake pans to make sure each pan has the same amount of batter for more even layers. pouring cake batter into the cake panweighing cake pans on a scale
  10. Place them into the oven on a middle rack. Bake the cakes for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  11. Finally, allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes and flip out onto a cooling rack. If you plan to frost and decorate the cake on the same day, you can place the cakes into the freezer unwrapped for about an hour or until they are cold (but not frozen). If you plan to decorate your cake at a later date, then you will wrap the cakes in plastic wrap first before placing them in the freezer.two vanilla cakes cooling on a rack

Preparing the Easy Buttercream Frosting

This is the easiest and tastiest buttercream! So creamy and not too sweet.

  1. First, place the egg whites and the powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine the ingredients on low, and then whip them on high for 4-5 minutes (until shiny) to dissolve the powdered sugar.close up of egg whites and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl
  2. Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract. If you are adding in any food coloring, this is the point where you would do that. 
  3. Next, add in your softened butter piece-by-piece, and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine. It will look curdled at first. This is definitely normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping.adding butter to buttercream mixture
  4. After your buttercream looks like this, remove about 1 cup of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. close up of cold buttercreampouring melted buttercream back into the mixer
  5. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.
  6. Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until the buttercream is white, light, and shiny. Taste test the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!close up of whipped buttercream
  7. Finally, switch to a paddle attachment and mix the buttercream on low speed for up to 15-20 minutes to make the buttercream ultra smooth and remove any air bubbles. Ultimately, this step is optional. But, if you want really creamy frosting, then you don't want to skip this final step.close up of mixed buttercream

Stacking and Assembling the Vanilla Cake

  1. Optional: Trim the brown layer off of the top of the cake and on the sides. This is an extra step I like to take for my cakes to get a cleaner look.close up of trimming the brown edges off the cakes
  2. First, place your cake on a cake board. Or, you could use a flat plate or cake platter.adding buttercream to the first layer of cake
  3. Then, spread a layer of buttercream over the top of the cake. It should be about ½" thick since this is only a two layer cake.
  4. Next, stack the second layer of cake on top.adding buttercream to cake layers
  5. Add another layer of buttercream about ½" thick and spread it out over the top of the cake.
  6. Then, spread a thin layer of buttercream all over the cake. Scrape off any extra buttercream off of the top. This is called the "crumb coat." The crumb coat will seal in the crumbs so that they do not get into your final layer of cake.crumbcoat on a vanilla cake
  7. Put your cake in the fridge or freezer for 15 minutes, or until the buttercream is firm to the touch.
  8. Next, place your final coat of buttercream on your cake and smooth it out. PRO TIP: Start by scooping your buttercream on top of the cake and then smooth out the top first to make it flat. Then, apply a thick layer of buttercream to the sides and smooth it out.applying buttercream to the top of the vanilla cake
  9. Then, use your bench scraper to slowly scrape away the excess frosting. Hold the scraper straight up and down, and slowly turn the cake until you've removed all of the excess buttercream This will give your cake straight edges.smoothing the buttercream
  10. Wipe off any excess buttercream off the top starting at the edge of the cake and moving toward the center. Now your cake is ready to decorate!final layer of buttercream on vanilla cake

Decorating the Vanilla Cake

  1. You can decorate this cake however you prefer! If you want more cake decorating ideas or if you are new to cake decorating, you can read my tutorial on how to decorate your first cake. But for this cake decoration, here is what I did:
  2. Start by placing your spatula in the center of the top of the cake. Apply a little bit of pressure on the buttercream, and turn the cake. As you turn the cake, slowly move your spatula outwards toward the edge so you begin to create a spiral in the buttercream. If you don't like your spiral and want to start over, you can smooth the buttercream out and start over.using an offset spatula to smooth buttercream
  3. Then, after you've created your spiral, use your spatula to add small dabs of buttercream to the sides of the cake to create a rustic texture. As you transfer the buttercream to the cake, make a slight swoop (backwards "C" shape) and layer them on top of one another.adding a rustic texture to the side of the cake
  4. Next, prepare a piping bag with your buttercream. I used a Wilton 1M piping tip, but you can use whatever one you have!
  5. Pipe small dollops of buttercream along the top edge of the cake, and add one dollop of buttercream in the center.close up of piping buttercream
  6. Finally, add some confetti sprinkles or whatever sprinkles you like all around the top of the cake!adding sprinkles to vanilla

taking a slice of cake out of the vanilla cake

FAQ

Can I cover this cake in fondant?

Yes, this cake will hold up well under fondant and is great for stacking multiple tiers. Keep in mind that fondant will melt if you use cream cheese frosting or whipped cream underneath, so use frosting like my easy buttercream, Swiss meringue buttercream, or Italian buttercream recipe instead.

Can I freeze this cake?

Absolutely! If you're in a hurry, let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, flip them out onto a cooling rack, and pop that directly into the freezer for an hour to flash freeze your cakes. If you want to make your cakes the day before, flip the cakes out of the pans, wrap the cakes in plastic wrap while they're still warm, and freeze for up to 1 week. Make sure to defrost your cakes for about an hour before you frost them. Freezing your cakes locks in the moisture of the cake and it won't dry them out.

How long does this cake last after cutting?

This cake will only stay good for 3-4 after cutting into it, I recommend covering the cut slice with a piece of plastic wrap and leaving it at room temperature as much as possible. The refrigerator will dry your cake out.

How long can this cake stay out at room temperature?

This cake and buttercream are very stable and can last out at room temperature for up to 2 days. It's perfect for a wedding or event, just keep it out of direct sunlight. Keep in mind that if you add a fruit filling or use a different frosting like cream cheese or whipped cream, it can only stay out of the refrigerator for about 4 hours.

What does buttermilk do for this recipe?

Buttermilk breaks down the gluten in the cake, resulting in a very velvety and tender cake. It adds moisture and a slight tangy taste to the vanilla cake. If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own using my buttermilk substitute recipe.

What's the difference between white cake and vanilla cake?

If you use only egg whites and no egg yolks, it's a white cake. If you use whole eggs with yolks and whites, it's a vanilla cake. If you add extra egg yolks, it's a yellow cake.

Can I stack this cake for a wedding cake?

Yes, this cake is firm enough to use for stacking, just make sure to properly chill your cakes and use supports for tall cakes.

Can I reduce the amount of sugar in this recipe?

No, I do not recommend reducing the sugar for this recipe. Why? Because sugar acts as a tenderizer and helps soften the all-purpose flour so that the cake texture is velvety and soft.

Can I use cake flour in this recipe?

This recipe uses all-purpose flour because it needs structure to hold the cake together. The buttermilk breaks down the gluten in the flour, and cake flour has a lower protein and gluten content.

Why does my buttercream taste like butter?

If your easy buttercream tastes like butter, you did not whip the frosting long enough. If you've added in all of your ingredients, you will need to whip your buttercream on high speed for 8-10 minutes. Once everything is whipped together long enough, your buttercream will appear white and should taste like melted ice cream.

Do I need a scale?

Yes! Weighing your ingredients using a simple, digital kitchen scale will ensure your cake recipe does not fail. Not sure how to use a scale? Check out my tutorial on how to use a digital kitchen scale.

Can I mix this recipe in one bowl?

Absolutely! You do NOT have to separate your ingredients for this recipe. You can add all of the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix them together for one minute (either by hand or in your stand mixer). However, you may have a slightly better texture if you do separate and mix the dry and wet on their own before combining them.

Would this recipe work for cupcakes?

Yes, this recipe can be used with no adjustments for cupcakes.

More Recipes You'll Love

Moist Vanilla Cake From Scratch

Easy Chocolate Cake

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Eggless Chocolate Cake

Lemon Velvet Cake

Recipe

slice of vanilla cake on a plate
Print Recipe
4.83 from 268 votes

Easy Vanilla Cake (One Bowl)

The best easy vanilla cake recipe! This cake has a fantastic flavor and texture. Everything comes together in one bowl, no special mixing method required!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 cups
Calories: 913kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Equipment

  • Digital Kitchen Scale
  • 2 8" cake pans

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces all-purpose flour
  • 16 ounces granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 large eggs slightly warm
  • 5 ounces vegetable oil
  • 10 ounces buttermilk slightly warm
  • 4 ounces melted unsalted butter melted, but not hot
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Easy Buttercream Ingredients

  • 6 ounces pasteurized egg whites (from a box)
  • 24 ounces powdered sugar sifted if not from a bag
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 24 ounces unsalted butter, softened You can use salted butter, but it will affect the taste and you need to leave out the additional salt
  • 1 tiny drop of purple food coloring optional for white frosting
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

How to Make Easy Vanilla Cake

  • First, preheat the oven to 335ºF (168ºC).
  • Prepare two 8" cake pans with cake goop or another pan release.
  • Then, measure out all of your ingredients using a digital kitchen scale. You can mix the wet and dry ingredients separately for a finer texture, or just measure and add directly into the bowl of your stand mixer for fewer dishes.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine and mix together the buttermilk, butter, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Your wet ingredients should all be slightly warm. I microwave my buttermilk for about 30 seconds and place my eggs (still in the shell) in a bowl of warm water.
  • Next, in the bowl of your stand mixer using a paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Let the mixer slowly combine for a few seconds.
  • While the mixer is on low, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
  • Then, turn the mixer up to medium speed and mix until the batter is combined. Scrape the bowl to make sure all of the ingredients are combined.
  • Let the batter mix on speed 2 for 1 minute. It should look kind of like pancake batter.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and place them into the oven on a middle rack.
  • Bake the cakes for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Finally, allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes and flip out onto a cooling rack. If you plan to frost and decorate the cake on the same day, you can place the cakes into the freezer unwrapped for about an hour or until they are cold (but not frozen). If you plan to decorate your cake at a later date, then you will wrap the cakes in plastic wrap first before placing them in the freezer.

Preparing the Easy Buttercream Frosting

  • First, place the egg whites and the powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Attach the whisk and combine the ingredients on low, and then whip them on high for 4-5 minutes (until shiny) to dissolve the powdered sugar.
  • Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract. If you are adding in any food coloring, this is the point where you would do that. PRO TIP: Use a toothpick to transfer 1-2 drops of food coloring to your frosting to avoid putting too much color in your buttercream.
  • Next, add in your softened butter piece-by-piece, and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine. It will look curdled at first. This is definitely normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping.
  • If your buttercream looks curdled, remove about 1 cup of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.
  • Optional: Add in 1 drop of purple food coloring to make the buttercream whiter. You can use any food coloring you want, but if you want my recommendation, I use Chef Master gel food coloring.
  • Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until the buttercream is white, light, and shiny. Taste test the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!
  • Finally, switch to a paddle attachment and mix the buttercream on low speed for up to 15-20 minutes to make the buttercream ultra smooth and remove any air bubbles. Ultimately, this step is optional. But, if you want really creamy frosting, then you don't want to skip this final step.

Stacking and Assembling the Vanilla Cake

  • Optional: Trim the brown layer off of the top of the cake and on the sides. This is an extra step I like to take for my cakes to get a cleaner look.
  • First, place your cake on a cake board. Or, you could use a flat plate or cake platter.
  • Then, spread a layer of buttercream over the top of the cake. It should be about ½" thick since this is only a two layer cake.
  • Next, stack the second layer of cake on top.
  • Add another layer of buttercream about ½" thick and spread it out over the top of the cake.
  • Then, spread a thin layer of buttercream all over the cake. Scrape off any extra buttercream off of the top. This is called the "crumb coat." The crumb coat will seal in the crumbs so that they do not get into your final layer of cake.
  • Put your cake in the fridge or freezer for 15 minutes, or until the buttercream is firm to the touch.
  • Next, place your final coat of buttercream on your cake and smooth it out. PRO TIP: Start by scooping your buttercream on top of the cake and then smooth out the top first to make it flat. Then, apply a thick layer of buttercream to the sides and smooth it out.
  • Then, use your bench scraper to slowly scrape away the excess frosting. Hold the scraper straight up and down, and slowly turn the cake until you've removed all of the excess buttercream This will give your cake straight edges.
  • Wipe off any excess buttercream off the top starting at the edge of the cake and moving toward the center. Now your cake is ready to decorate!

Decorating the Vanilla Cake

  • You can decorate this cake however you prefer! If you want more cake decorating ideas or if you are new to cake decorating, you can read my tutorial on how to decorate your first cake. But for this cake decoration, here is what I did:
  • Start by placing your spatula in the center of the top of the cake. Apply a little bit of pressure on the buttercream, and turn the cake. As you turn the cake, slowly move your spatula outwards toward the edge so you begin to create a spiral in the buttercream. If you don't like your spiral and want to start over, you can smooth the buttercream out and start over.
  • Then, after you've created your spiral, use your spatula to add small dabs of buttercream to the sides of the cake to create a rustic texture. As you transfer the buttercream to the cake, make a slight swoop (backwards "C" shape) and layer them on top of one another.
  • Next, prepare a piping bag with your buttercream. I used a Wilton 1M piping tip, but you can use whatever one you have!
  • Pipe small dollops of buttercream along the top edge of the cake, and add one dollop of buttercream in the center.
  • Finally, add some confetti sprinkles or whatever sprinkles you like all around the top of the cake!

Video

Notes

Important Things To Note Before You Start
  1. The best investment you can make when you're getting started with baking is a digital kitchen scale! Weighing your ingredients will help you avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
  2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
  3. Need more help with making your first cake? Check out my how to decorate your first cake blog post. 
  4. Make sure all of your cold ingredients (e.g. butter, eggs, milk) are at room temperature or a little warm. Why? Because we want to create an emulsion and allow the ingredients to fully mix together. 
  5. Make your own pan release (cake goop!) The best pan release ever! 
  6. If you are baking your cake in a large baking sheet pan that's 10" or larger, apply cake goop or your preferred pan release and add in a layer of parchment paper. This cake cools differently in larger pans, and the added layer of parchment paper will ensure the cake comes out of the pan better.
  7. Chill your cakes before frosting and filling. You can cover a frosted and chilled cake in fondant if you wish. This cake is also great for stacking!
  8. If you want to add food coloring to this frosting, then you will add in any food coloring while you are mixing the egg whites with the powdered sugar (before you add in the butter). PRO TIP: Use a toothpick to transfer 1-2 drops of food coloring to your frosting to avoid putting too much color in your buttercream. 
  9. You can use whichever food coloring you have, but if you want a recommendation I would suggest the Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 913kcal | Carbohydrates: 187g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 742mg | Potassium: 169mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 142g | Vitamin A: 514IU | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 3mg
close up of chocolate entremet

February 23, 2022 Blog

How To Make An Entremet

Learn how to make a gorgeous dark chocolate entremet cake that looks like it came straight out of the finest French bakeries. This multi-layered dessert is built with a chocolate sponge cake, silky ganache, a perfect chocolate mousse, a shiny chocolate mirror glaze, and all the mouthfeel of each layer that makes an entremet such a towering treat. Designed by pastry chefs but absolutely achievable at home, this sophisticated dessert proves that even technical skills become manageable when you break them down step by step.

close up of chocolate entremet

This chocolate mousse cake is elegant, impressive, and surprisingly doable for home cooks who aren't afraid of a little challenge. Whether this is your first entremet or you've dabbled in French pastries before, you'll learn exactly how to build the entire thing from the base to the entremet inserts to the final tower of glossy finish. HUGE thank you to my friend Chef Christophe Rull for teaching us everything we need to know.

What's In This Blog Post

  • Entremet Ingredients & Components
  • Chocolate Fudge Cake Ingredients
  • Dark Chocolate Ganache Ingredients
  • Chocolate Mirror Glaze Ingredients
  • Making the Chocolate Fudge Cake
  • Preparing the Ganache
  • Making the Chocolate Mousse
  • Assembling the Entremet Layers
  • Chocolate Mirror Glaze
  • Pouring the Glaze and Final Assembly
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Recipes You'll Love

It is a two-day culinary adventure, so treat it as a labor of love. But the moment you slice into this mousse-filled mold, the whole thing becomes so worth it-one of the best sweet treats you'll ever create in your own kitchen.

This recipe makes six entremets so you'll have plenty to share or you can freeze them and enjoy them later!

Entremet Ingredients & Components

The number of ingredients might look long, but each part of the entremet plays a crucial role in the stability of the entremet, full flavor, and aesthetic appeal. For a full list of ingredients for each component, be sure to review the recipe card below.

Every entremet cake combines multiple recipes to create distinct textures-creamy, light, crunchy, chewy-so each bite feels intentional. It's a multi-layered dessert that pulls inspiration from pastry creams, crispy cookies, fragrant fruit filling, and airy mousse layers. The importance of its taste comes from how every component works together, and this original iteration focuses on classic dark chocolate.

entrement components

Chocolate Fudge Cake Ingredients

This sponge cake layer forms the core of your entremet. Moist, rich, and sturdy enough to be part of the entremet without falling apart, it sets the foundation for the hot mixture of ganache that will eventually sit on top. You can switch the chocolate cake out for any cake recipe like vanilla cake, strawberry cake, or even lemon cake!

chocolate fudge cake ingredients
  • Eggs - Add structure and richness so the sponge cake holds up inside the entremet. You can swap for carton liquid eggs if that's what you have on hand.
  • Granulated sugar - Sweetens the cake while helping keep the crumb tender. Caster sugar works just as well.
  • Vanilla extract - Rounds out all the chocolate notes and adds warmth. Almond extract or coffee extract can replace it.
  • Mayonnaise - My secret trick for an ultra-moist, fudgy sponge that never turns dry. Sour cream or Greek yogurt works, just expect a slightly thicker texture.
  • All-purpose flour - Gives the cake structure. Cake flour is a good substitute if you want a softer crumb.
  • Cocoa powder - Adds deep chocolate flavor. Dutch-process cocoa makes it smoother and richer.
  • Baking soda - Helps the sponge rise and react with the cocoa. Baking powder can be used in a pinch.
  • Baking powder - Adds a little extra lift. If you don't have any, increase the baking soda slightly.
  • Salt - Balances the sweetness and boosts the chocolate flavor. Sea salt or kosher salt both work.
  • Water - Loosens the batter and keeps the sponge moist. Hot brewed coffee is a fantastic substitution if you want to intensify the chocolate.

Dark Chocolate Ganache Ingredients

This ganache becomes the center of the mousse-filled mold. Glucose or corn syrup gives the chocolate mixture stability at room temperature, helping it stay smooth and glossy. You can also use white chocolate ganache.

ganache ingredients
  • Granulated sugar - Adds sweetness and keeps the texture smooth. Brown sugar can deepen the flavor.
  • Glucose - Gives the ganache stability and a silky finish. Corn syrup or honey can be used instead.
  • Heavy whipping cream - Creates the creamy ganache base. Coconut cream works for a dairy-free option.
  • Dark chocolate - Provides rich, intense chocolate flavor. Any real chocolate between 60-70% cocoa will work.
  • Milk chocolate - Softens the dark chocolate and creates a super smooth center. You can replace it with more dark chocolate if you prefer less sweetness.
  • Unsalted butter - Adds shine and a luxurious mouthfeel. European butter like Plugra gives the best texture, but any unsalted butter is fine.

Chocolate Mirror Glaze Ingredients

The shiny mirror glaze is what gives the final tower its stunning presentation. Gelatin, or agar-agar if needed, transforms the hot cream mixture into that flawless, glossy finish you see on professional chocolate cherry bombes and other French desserts. You can also use regular mirror glaze.

chocolate mirror glaze ingredients
  • Water - Helps dissolve the sugar and bloom the gelatin. Coffee can be used to deepen the flavor and color.
  • Granulated sugar - Creates the shiny mirror glaze and keeps it stable. Caster sugar is a great substitute.
  • Red food coloring - Just a couple drops deepen the chocolate color and enhance the shine. You can skip it or use orange coloring instead.
  • Heavy whipping cream - Adds richness and helps emulsify the cocoa powder. Coconut cream can be used for dairy-free glazing.
  • Glucose - Helps the glaze achieve that flawless, bubble-free finish. Corn syrup is an easy swap.
  • Cocoa powder - Gives the glaze its dark chocolate flavor and glossy appearance. Dutch-process cocoa gives an even smoother finish.
  • Gelatin sheets - Set the glaze so it flows beautifully over the frozen entremet. Powdered gelatin works when bloomed in cold water first.

Chocolate Mousse

Chef Christophe Rull uses 64% dark chocolate, but you can use any real chocolate-milk chocolate or white chocolate-as long as it contains cocoa butter. The whipped cream component acts as the airy ingredient, the pâte à bombe creates structure, and the ganache adds full flavor to the mass of mousse. If you want an easier version, my easy chocolate honey mousse would also work.

bowls of pâte à bombe, ganache, and whipped cream
  • Heavy whipping cream - Whipped to soft peaks to lighten the mousse and make it airy. Coconut cream is the best dairy-free alternative.
  • Dark chocolate (64%) - The base flavor of your mousse. Any real chocolate between 60-70% cocoa works beautifully.
  • Egg yolks - Used to make the pâte à bombe, which gives the mousse its structure and velvety texture. Pasteurized yolks are a safer and easier swap.
  • Granulated sugar - Sweetens and stabilizes the pâte à bombe. Caster sugar also works well.
  • Water - Used to cook the sugar syrup for the pâte à bombe. Coffee or espresso can be used instead for a deeper chocolate flavor.
  • Whipped cream - Folded in at the end to create the light, airy texture that makes mousse so irresistible. Stabilized whipped cream works too if you need extra firmness.

Making the Chocolate Fudge Cake

This fudgy cake comes together quickly and easily and is the perfect base for your entremet! You can switch the cake out with other flavors like vanilla cake, strawberry cake or even lemon cake!

pouring ingredient into mixing bowl while whisking
pouring ingredient into mixing bowl while whisking
pouring ingredient into mixing bowl while whisking
whisk inside bowl of chocolate batter
pouring cake batter into large baking sheet
smoothing out cake batter with a spatula
chocolate cake inside of large baking sheet
cake inside baking sheet wrapped in plastic wrap
  1. Line a ¼ sheet pan (9"x13") with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, mayonnaise, water, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients on low speed, then increase to high speed to combine fully.
  5. Spread the batter evenly across the prepared pan.
  6. Bake the cake for 15-20 minutes or until the center is set.
  7. Cool the cake for 15 minutes, then remove the cake from the pan to cool fully.
  8. Use cling wrap or plastic wrap to cover once baked and cooled, then freeze so it's easier to trim later with a cookie cutter.

Preparing the Ganache

pouring ingredient into saucepan
pouring ingredient into saucepan
hand mixing with spatula inside saucepan
pouring cream over chocolate inside mixing bowl
spatula dripping with chocolate
immersion blender inside of pitcher with chocolate
  1. Combine your glucose, granulated sugar, and cream together and bring the pan to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan.
  2. Then, in a heat-proof or glass bowl, pour in about ⅓ of your boiling mixture over your chocolate and mix them together until you reach a shiny and smooth consistency. Then, repeat this step in thirds until you've added all your cream. If you put all of your cream in at once, then your ganache may separate.
  3. Next, place your butter into a tall container, and then pour the melted chocolate into the pitcher over the butter.
  4. Then, using an immersion blender, mix the chocolate and the butter together until it is shiny. PRO TIP: Hold the mixer at a slight angle to prevent incorporating air into the ganache.
  5. Cover the ganache with plastic wrap. Do this by pressing the plastic wrap right up against the surface of the ganache. This step will prevent any water in the air from being added to the ganache.
  6. Finally, let the ganache set. Set it aside for at least 5-6 hours at room temperature (or you can put it in the refrigerator and cut the time in half). The texture is smoother if you leave it at room temperature.

Making the Chocolate Mousse

This chocolate mousse is made up of three components: pâte à bombe, ganache, and whipped cream. I will walk you through how to make each of them.

chocolate batter inside of mixing bowl

Whipped cream adds a lightness and airiness to the mousse.

hand mixer held above bowl of whipped cream
mixing bowl filled with whipped cream
  1. Whip the heavy cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form.
  2. Set it aside.

Ganache adds flavor and structure to the mousse.

pouring cream over chocolate inside mixing bowl
using spatula inside mixing bowl
  1. Bring the heavy cream to JUST boiling and then pour it over the chocolate.
  2. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
  3. Set it aside.

Pâte à bombe is a light, creamy base made with cooked sugar syrup and egg yolks, similar to Italian meringue but using yolks instead of egg whites.

taking temperature of saucepan
pouring ingredients from saucepan into mixing bowl while whisking
hand mixer lifted just above mixing bowl showing ribbons of batter in the bowl
  1. Begin by cooking the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat to 244°F.
  2. Place the egg yolks into the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment attached.
  3. While mixing on medium speed, slowly pour the sugar mixture into the stand mixer.
  4. Whisk until the egg yolk mixture reaches ribbon stage.
hand holding spatula mixing ganache
hand holding spatula mixing ganache
hand holding spatula mixing ganache
pouring mixture into mixing bowl
hand holding spatula mixing ganache
chocolate batter inside of mixing bowl
  1. To build the chocolate mousse, fold ½ of the whipped cream into the ganache to lighten it.
  2. Then add in the rest of the whipped cream by folding gently.
  3. Then fold in the pâte à bombe to create the perfect mousse for the entremet.

    Assembling the Entremet Layers

    Now it's time to bring it all together!

    hand placing cake ring into cake
    hand trimming chocolate cake
    piping ganache on top of chocolate cake
    placing acetate sheets into entremet pans
    hand piping mousse into entremet pans
    hand pushing cake down into entremet pan
    spatula scraping over the top of chocolate entremet
    1. First, remove the plastic wrap from the frozen cake.
    2. Next, use a 3" cake cutter to create small cake rounds. 
    3. Prepare a piping bag with a large round tip (an 8 or 9 tip) and fill it with your chocolate ganache.
    4. Then, pipe your chocolate ganache on top of the center of your cake rounds.
    5. Freeze the cake rounds with ganache on top for 1 hour or until they are set.
    6. While the cake rounds with ganache are in the freezer, prepare your 4" cake rings/entremet mold for assembly.
    7. You will start by coating the inside of the cake rings with cooking spray.
    8. Cut your acetate sheets to 2" x 9.25", and cut out squares of acetate that will cover the entire bottom of the cake rings.
    9. Then, line the inside of your non-stick cake rings with acetate sheets. Next, place a square sheet of acetate on a baking sheet. Then, place your cake ring that is lined with acetate on top of the square.
    10. Once the cake rounds with ganache have set in the freezer for 1 hour, remove them from the freezer.
    11. Prepare a piping bag and fill it with your chocolate mousse.
    12. Now it is time to assemble the entremet. PRO TIP: Before you begin piping your mousse ensure that the acetate squares on the bottom are in place so none of the mousse will escape.
    13. Start by piping chocolate mousse into the acetate-lined cake rings about ¾ of the way to the top of the cake rings.
    14. Next, hold the cake round topped with ganache and place it mousse side down into the center of the ganache (cake side should be on top). Gently press the cake round into the mousse until the mousse moves up to the top. You will see a ring of mousse form around the cake and that is when you know the mousse is filled on the sides.
    15. Then, flatten out the mousse and scrape off any excess from the cake ring so that it's level.
    16. Freeze the entremets for a minimum of 3 hours. Chef Christophe recommends freezing them overnight. This will allow all of the layers to fully set in place.

    Chocolate Mirror Glaze

    This mirror glaze is super shiny, smooth, and sets the perfect finish for our entremet.

    holding gelatin sheets above bowl of water
    pouring water into saucepan
    holding bowl of sugar above saucepan
    adding red food coloring to saucepan
    thermometer and whisk inside of saucepan
    pouring mixture into pitcher
    pouring cream into saucepan while whisking
    hand pouring cocoa powder into saucepan
    whisk inside of saucepan filled with chocolate
    pouring chocolate into pitcher
    immersion blender inside of chocolate glaze
    immersion blender inside of chocolate glaze
    1. Bloom gelatin sheets in cold water.
    2. Cook sugar, water, and optional food coloring to 222°F. Food coloring adds depth of color to the final mirror glaze.
    3. Separately warm the glucose and cream, then combine with the sugar syrup.
    4. Slowly pour the warmed glucose and cream mixture into the large saucepan of your sugar and water while whisking continuously to combine.
    5. Then, bring the mixture to a boil.
    6. Add the cocoa powder, turn off the heat, and mix until smooth.
    7. Pour over the bloomed gelatin and blend with an immersion blender until fully emulsified and free of bubbles.
    8. Cool the glaze to 104°F before using.

    Pouring the Glaze and Final Assembly

    Congratulations! It's time to glaze and finish your gorgeous entremet!

    using heat gun to warm up pan with chocolate entremet inside
    removing the chocolate entremet from a pan
    removing acetate from chocolate entremet
    pouring chocolate glaze over chocolate entremet
    hand rolling chocolate entremet in bowl of edible gold sprinkles
    hand placing toothpick inside of chocolate entremet
    hand placing edible gold on top of chocolate entremet using tweezers
    hand placing ring inside of edible gold
    hand adding edible gold decorations to chocolate entremet
    chocolate entremets on a plate with edible gold decorations
    1. Unmold the frozen entremets using a heat gun, peel away acetate, and set each one on a cooling rack over a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap to catch excess glaze.
    2. Pour glaze over the top of the cake and along the sides for full coverage.
    3. After it sets, pour a second layer for a truly flawless finish.
    4. Decorate with gold leaf, chocolate shards, nuts, or crispy cookies.
    5. Transfer the finished dessert using a skewer inserted in the center, then twist it out and cover the hole with gold leaf or another decoration for a delicious display that rivals the nation's culinary standards.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is an entremet?

    An entremet is a dessert that is made up of multiple layers with different combinations of different textures used to enhance a certain flavor profile-like chocolate!

    How is an entremet different from cake?

    Entremet is composed of multiple layers of dessert, including layers of cake, mousse, ganache, etc. Unlike cake, entremets come in all kinds of textures and contain several components to them making them a more advanced dessert than your average cake.

    What can I substitute for glucose?

    If you do not have glucose, you can use honey or corn syrup.

    Can I put the chocolate ganache in the refrigerator to set it faster?

    For this recipe, yes. You can put this ganache in the refrigerator to speed up the setting time. You will just want to allow yourself time to let it warm back up again because it will be difficult to pipe if the ganache is hard. PRO TIP: The best temperature to pipe chocolate ganache is 72ºF (22ºC).

    If you are making a chocolate ganache for another recipe like Chef Christophe's chocolate raspberry galaxy bonbons, you may not be able to put ganache in the fridge to speed up the setting process. Why? Because putting ganache in the refrigerator will add moisture to it and that can interfere with some desserts such as bonbons. Always check the recipe instructions before you assume all ganaches can be refrigerated.

    Can I use powdered gelatin?

    Yes! Replace the gelatin sheet with an equal amount of powdered gelatin. Simply sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it absorb for 5 minutes.

    Can I use anything other than gelatin to set the chocolate glaze?

    Yes, you can use agar-agar. Keep in mind, if you use agar-agar as a substitute you will have slightly different (firmer) results.

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Death by chocolate cake

    Easy chocolate ganache recipe

    Chocolate mirror glaze recipe

    Chocolate honey mousse

    Recipe

    close up of chocolate entremet
    Print Recipe
    4.72 from 42 votes

    Chocolate Entremet Cake

    Learn how to make a chocolate entremet with layers of chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, mousse, and a flawless shiny chocolate glaze from Chef Christophe Rull
    Prep Time2 days d
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    freezing6 hours hrs
    Total Time2 days d 6 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 1416kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • Thermometer
    • Stand mixer or hand mixer
    • Baking sheet
    • 3" x 2" cake rings/entremet mold
    • 2.5" cake cutter cake cutter should be slightly smaller than cake ring/entremet mold
    • acetate sheets
    • Wire cooling rack
    • plastic wrap
    • skewer
    • pitcher or large measuring cup
    • immersion blender or burr mixer
    • white nonpareil sprinkles (optional)
    • edible gold powder (optional)
    • edible gold leaf (optional)

    Ingredients

    Chocolate Fudge Cake

    • 100 grams eggs room temperature
    • 220 grams granulated sugar
    • 4 grams vanilla extract
    • 160 grams Mayonaise room temperature
    • 180 grams all purpose flour
    • 50 grams cocoa powder
    • 4 grams baking soda
    • 2 grams baking powder
    • 2 grams salt
    • 180 grams water

    Dark Chocolate Ganache

    • 15 grams granulated sugar
    • 10 grams glucose
    • 110 grams heavy whipping cream
    • 50 grams dark chocolate
    • 40 grams milk chocolate
    • 10 grams unsalted butter European butter or "Plugra" works best

    Chocolate Glaze

    • 100 grams water
    • 340 grams granulated sugar
    • 2 drops red food coloring I use chef master
    • 220 grams heavy whipping cream
    • 120 grams glucose
    • 130 grams cocoa powder
    • 16 grams gelatin sheets For powdered gelatin, bloom 16g of gelatin with 80g of water.

    Chocolate Mousse

    • 200 grams heavy whipping cream
    • 200 grams 64% dark chocolate
    • 60 grams egg yolks
    • 60 grams granulated sugar
    • 60 grams water
    • 200 grams whipped cream

    Instructions

    Making the Chocolate Fudge Cake

    • Prepare a ¼" sheet pan (9"x13") with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
    • In the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
    • Then, in a separate bowl, combine the eggs, mayonnaise, water, and vanilla and whisk them to combine.
    • While the mixer is turning on low, gradually add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Then, increase the mixer speed to 2 and continue to mix for about 1 minute or until the batter is fully combined and smooth. Remember to scrape the bowl to ensure all of the ingredients are incorporated.
    • Next, spread the cake batter evenly on a parchment lined ¼ sheet baking pan. PRO TIP: I also use cake goop around the edges to make the cake release easier.
    • Bake the cake at 350°F (182°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the cake is finished baking and the center of the cake is set.
    • Finally, after the cake has been removed from the oven and cooled for about 15 minutes, remove the cake from the pan and wrap it in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped cake in the freezer until you are ready to start assembling the entremet. Chef Christophe recommends freezing the cake for at least 2-3 hours.

    Preparing the Dark Chocolate Ganache

    • Combine your glucose, granulated sugar, and cream together and bring the pan to a boil in a medium sized saucepan.
    • Then, in a heat-proof or glass bowl, pour in about ⅓ of your boiling mixture over your chocolate and mix them together until you reach a shiny and smooth consistency. Then, repeat this step in thirds until you've added all your cream. If you put all of your cream in at once, then your ganache may separate.
    • Next, place your butter into a tall container, and then pour the melted chocolate into the pitcher over the butter.
    • Then, using an immersion blender, mix the chocolate and the butter together until it is shiny. PRO TIP: Hold the mixer at a slight angle to prevent incorporating air into the ganache.
    • Cover the ganache with plastic wrap. Do this by pressing the plastic wrap right up against the surface of the ganache. This step will prevent any water in the air from being added to the ganache.
    • Finally, let the ganache set. Set it aside for at least 5-6 hours at room temperature (or you can put it in the refrigerator and cut the time in half). The texture is smoother if you leave it at room temperature.

    How to Make the Chocolate Mousse (Pâte à bombe, Ganache, and Whipped Cream)

    • This chocolate mousse is made up of three components: pâte à bombe, ganache, and whipped cream. I will walk you through how to make each of them.
    • First, in a large mixing bowl, prepare your whipped cream. Use a hand mixer to whip your heavy cream. You do not need stiff peaks, but the whipped cream should be stable. Once you have soft peaks, set it aside.
    • Next, fill a heatproof bowl with your chocolate.
    • Then, in a saucepan, bring your heavy cream to a boil in a saucepan and then pour about ⅓ of the boiling cream over your chocolate. Mix it until all of the chocolate is melted.
    • Pour ⅓ more of the boiling cream into the chocolate and mix until it is combined. Repeat this process once more with the remaining ⅓ of the hot heavy cream and mix it into the chocolate ganache. Then, set it aside.
    • Next, prepare the pâte à bombe. Start by filling a large saucepan with water and sugar mixed together. Then, place your egg yolks in a heatproof bowl.
    • Heat the water and sugar in the stovetop pan to 244°F (118°C) using a thermometer.
    • Once the pâte à bombe reaches 244°F (118°C), slowly pour it into the bowl with the egg yolks while whisking continuously (similar to how you would make an Italian meringue).
    • Whip the egg yolks until they reach the ribbon stage (this is when the texture has thickened, the volume has doubled, and will be lighter in color/appear pale yellow). Once you've reached the ribbon stage, your pâte à bombe is ready.
    • Now you will combine your three elements (pâte à bombe, chocolate ganache, and whipped cream) to make your mousse. Begin by transferring the whipped cream into the bowl of the chocolate ganache, and then mix to combine. The reason you will mix the whipped cream into the chocolate ganache first is to lighten up the ganache texture so that it is more airy and will mix easier with the pâte à bombe.
    • Then, pour the pâte à bombe into the bowl of the mixed chocolate ganache and whipped cream, and fold it in until it is fully combined.

    Assembling the Cake, Ganache, and Mousse Layers

    • First, remove the plastic wrap from the frozen cake.
    • Next, use a 3" cake cutter to create small cake rounds. The height of the cake should be about ¼ of the height of the cake ring/entremet mold you are using. Trim the cakes to 0.5" tall.
    • Prepare a piping bag with a large round tip (an 8 or 9 tip) and fill it with your chocolate ganache.
    • Then, pipe your chocolate ganache on top of the center of your cake rounds.
    • Freeze the cake rounds with ganache on top for 1 hour or until they are set.
    • While the cake rounds with ganache are in the freezer, prepare your 4" cake rings/entremet mold for assembly.
    • You will start by coating the inside of the cake rings with cooking spray.
    • Cut your acetate sheets to 2" x 9.25", and cut out squares of acetate that will cover the entire bottom of the cake rings.
    • Then, line the inside of your non-stick cake rings with acetate sheets. Next, place a square sheet of acetate on a baking sheet. Then, place your cake ring that is lined with acetate on top of the square.
    • Once the cake rounds with ganache have set in the freezer for 1 hour, remove them from the freezer.
    • Prepare a piping bag and fill it with your chocolate mousse.
    • Now it is time to assemble the entremet. PRO TIP: Before you begin piping your mousse ensure that the acetate squares on the bottom are in place so none of the mousse will escape.
    • Start by piping chocolate mousse into the acetate-lined cake rings about ¾ of the way to the top of the cake rings.
    • Next, hold the cake round topped with ganache and place it mousse side down into the center of the ganache (cake side should be on top). Gently press the cake round into the mousse until the mousse moves up to the top. You will see a ring of mousse form around the cake and that is when you know the mousse is filled on the sides.
    • Then, flatten out the mousse and scrape off any excess from the cake ring so that it's level.
    • Freeze the entremets for a minimum of 3 hours. Chef Christophe recommends freezing them overnight. This will allow all of the layers to fully set in place.

    Chocolate Glaze Instructions

    • First, fill a bowl with cold water and place your gelatin sheets in the bowl one at a time to prevent clumping. This will allow your gelatin sheets to bloom and absorb the water. Set aside for about 5 minutes.
    • In a large saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and a few drops of red or orange food coloring. Adding the food coloring is entirely optional. This is a professional pastry chef. PRO TIP: When you add red food coloring, it will intensify the color and shine of your finished chocolate glaze.
    • Then, stir to combine everything and bring the mixture to 222°F (106°C).
    • Next in a separate container, mix your glucose with your cream. Then, warm it up in the microwave for 1 minute and whisk to mix them together.
    • Slowly pour the warmed glucose and cream mixture into the large saucepan of your sugar and water while whisking continuously to combine.
    • Then, bring the mixture to a boil.
    • Add the cocoa powder. Turn off the heat and continue to mix until combined.
    • Next, squeeze out the excess water from your bloomed gelatin sheets and then add the gelatin to a pitcher (or large measuring cup).
    • Pour the cocoa mixture on top of the gelatin, and mix the glaze using an immersion blender. Mix until all of the bubbles are gone. PRO TIP: Hold the immersion blender at a slight angle to avoid adding any air bubbles into the glaze. The smoother and bubble free the glaze is, the better the shine.
    • Finally, place your pitcher (or large measuring cup) filled with your glaze into an ice bath and cool it 104°F (40°C). Then, set it aside until you are ready to pour the glaze over your entremet.

    Adding the Glaze and Final Assembly Instructions

    • First, you will unmold the frozen entremets. Heat up the side of the frozen cake ring using a heat gun (or if you don't have a heat gun you could use a hair dryer). Gently use your finger to push the entremet out of the cake ring.
    • Then, peel off the acetate sheet.
    • Next, place your entremets on a cooling rack. Chef Christophe prepared a baking sheet with plastic wrap and topped it with a cooling rack. Why? Because the plastic wrap will catch any leftover glaze so that you can reuse it!
    • Your glaze should be 104°F (40°C).
    • Pour your chocolate glaze over your entremets so that it covers it all along the top and the sides.
    • Using a flat spatula to gently scrape across the top of the entremets so that they are level and doing so will remove any excess glaze. PRO TIP: Chef Christophe recommends glazing your entremets in 2 layers. Start by pouring the glaze over the entremet and then put it in the freezer for 1 hour to allow it to set. After 1 hour has passed, pour a 2nd layer of glaze on top of your entremets. Ultimately, the first layer will cover any air bubbles and the 2nd layer will be shiny.
    • Then, prepare your decorations for your entremet! Chef Christophe mixed small white nonpareil sprinkles with some gold powder in a bowl. If you don't want to use sprinkles you could use streusel, nuts, toasted coconut flakes, chocolate cookie crumbs, or anything you desire! The possibilities are endless!
    • Next, pick up and transfer the chocolate entremets by sticking a skewer into the center to gently lift it up off the cooling rack.
    • (Optional) Now it's time to decorate! While lifting it up by the skewer, carefully roll the entremet into the sprinkles so they stick along the bottom of the entremet.
    • Transfer the entremet to your plate.
    • Remove the toothpick by twisting it and pulling it out at the same time.
    • Finally, place gold leaf in the center to cover the hole. Mix a little gold dust with grand marnier and decorate the top of the entremet.

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start:
    • This is a 2-day dessert! On day 1, you will prepare the cake, ganache, mousse, and assemble the entremets. On day 2, you will prepare the glaze and finish the entremet.
    • The chocolate you use matters! Avoid using chocolate chips from the grocery store. Why? Because they contain thickeners that stop the chocolate from melting smoothly. Chef Christophe recommends using Cacao Barry Extra-Bitter Guayaquil. Ideally, you need to use a "real chocolate" that is derived from a cocoa pod and contains cocoa butter ( with real chocolate that is at least 60-70% cocoa content).
    • Weigh your ingredients to avoid failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
    • Make sure all your cold ingredients are room temperature or slightly warm (butter, milk, eggs, to create a cohesive batter. Curdled batter causes cakes to collapse.
    • Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servings | Calories: 1416kcal | Carbohydrates: 185g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 76g | Saturated Fat: 36g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 332mg | Sodium: 605mg | Potassium: 760mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 124g | Vitamin A: 1823IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 8mg

    close up of pistachio cake

    February 15, 2022 Blog

    Pistachio Cake with Raspberry Filling and French Buttercream

    This tender pistachio cake is made with homemade pistachio paste (so easy you won't ever buy it again) and layered with fresh raspberry reduction and a rich French buttercream that tastes like ice cream! Pistachio lovers go CRAZY for this cake!

    close up of pistachio cake

    If you've never had pistachio then you've got to give it a chance! It's such a unique flavor. Rich, nutty, earthy, and very distinct. This cake doesn't use any artificial pistachio flavor so it's a great recipe to try if you want to experience true pistachio flavor. 

     

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Pistachio Cake
      • How to Make Pistachio Butter
      • Preparing the Raspberry Filling
      • Making the French Buttercream
      • Assembling the Pistachio Cake
    • FAQ
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Ingredients

    pistachio cake ingredients

    Pistachio butter: If you do not have pistachio butter on hand you can make your own using pistachios and oil! Keep scrolling and I will walk you through how to make your own pistachio butter. So easy and much cheaper than buying it!

    Clear Jel: Clear Jel is a thickening agent that you will use to make the raspberry filling. If you do not have Clear Jel, then you can use cornstarch as a substitute. Cornstarch is stronger than Clear Jel. If you're substituting Clear Jel with cornstarch, then you will cut the amount needed in half (e.g. 2 ounces Clear Jel = 1 ounce cornstarch).

    How to Make Pistachio Cake

    1. Prepare three 6" round cake pans with cake goop or another preferred pan spray. You can prepare round sheets with parchment paper if you're nervous about the cakes sticking.
    2. Preheat your oven to 335ºF (168ºC).
    3. First, in the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the dry ingredients. This includes flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix them to combine.adding dry ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer
    4. Then, in a separate bowl, combine the room temperature eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Whisk gently to combine and set aside.
    5. Next, using a large measuring cup, combine the oil and the pistachio butter. It is ok if these don't completely mix together. Ultimately, the mixer will do most of the work for you.
    6. In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the egg and buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients while mixing on low speed. This is called the reverse creaming method, instead of creaming together the butter and sugar, we're adding the liquid ingredients after to create. a beautiful, velvety texture.adding buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients
    7. Once it has evenly combined into the dry ingredients and thoroughly moistened it, add in the oil and pistachio butter.add the pistachio mixture to the batter
    8. Fold in your chopped pistachios at the end. adding chopped pistachios to batter
    9. Mix your cake batter on medium speed until the batter is fully incorporated and smooth. Scrape the bowl to ensure that all of the ingredients are combined.
    10. Next, add in your desired amount of green food coloring to achieve the "pistachio color" you are wanting. I use one drop of avocado green. When you bake the batter, it will be slightly green but it tends to look more yellow if you do not use any green food coloring.adding green food coloring to pistachio cake batter
    11. Divide the cake batter evenly into your prepared cake pans, and bake them at 335ºF (168ºC) for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out from the center cleanly. Add 5 more minutes at a time until the cake is finished baking.pistachio cake batter divided into cake pans
    12. Finally, cool your cakes for 10 minutes inside the cake pans before attempting to remove them from their pans onto a cooling rack. Freeze them for 1 hour before frosting.baked pistachio cakes

    How to Make Pistachio Butter

    close up of pistachio butter in a jar

    Don't have pistachio butter on hand? No problem! You can make your own! 

    Here is what you will need to make pistachio butter:

    • 1 cup shelled pistachios (roasted or raw is fine)
    • 1-2 tablespoons neutral oil (e.g. grapeseed)

    How to make pistachio butter step-by-step:

    1. In a food processor, add your pistachios with the chopping attachment. adding pistachios to a food processor
    2. Begin blending and scrape as needed until they are pretty finely chopped.close up of finely chopped pistachios
    3. Then, add in about 1-2 tablespoons of oil (grapeseed oil would work or another neutral oil) and blend it until you have a peanut butter texture. This will take anywhere from 7 to 10 minutes depending on your food processor. It will start to look like a dough ball at first, just scrape and keep mixing until it forms a butter.closeup of blended pistachio butter
    4. As an optional step, add in 1-2 drops of food coloring. If you have roasted pistachios, neon green food coloring is best. If you have unroasted pistachios, avocado green food coloring is better. You can use whichever green food coloring you have, but if you want a recommendation I would suggest the Chef Master gel food coloring. Use code "SUGARGEEKTEN" to get 10% off your order!adding green food coloring to pistachio butterclose up of pistachio butter

    Preparing the Raspberry Filling

    1. First, combine the raspberries and sugar in a saucepan and bring them to a boil.pouring sugar onto raspberries in a saucepan
    2. Then, use an immersion blender to make the filling smooth (or leave it chunky if you prefer). No need for red food coloring here unless your raspberries are dull in color.
    3. In a separate container, combine your Clear Jel (or cornstarch) and water to make a slurry. Mix until smooth.combining clear jel and water
    4. Then, pour it into the raspberry mixture and let it simmer until the mixture is clear and thickened.adding clear gel slurry to the raspberry mixture
    5. Remove the raspberry filling from heat, and then stir in the lemon juice and zest.adding lemon zest to raspberry mixture
    6. Pour the filling into a heatproof bowl and cover with plastic wrap so it's touching the surface of the filling to prevent skin from forming.adding raspberry mixture to a clear bowl
    7. Finally, cool the raspberry filling entirely before using it. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

    Making the French Buttercream

    1. In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the eggs and salt and whisk them until the yolks and whites are combined.
    2. Then, add in your sugar and whisk it to combine. I do not recommend using powdered sugar for this.adding eggs to a mixing bowl
    3. Next, place the bowl over a water bath of simmering water over medium heat.mixing bowl on a pot of simmering water
    4. Periodically stir the eggs and watch them to ensure they do not heat unevenly. If you don't occasionally stir and watch the eggs, they will likely cook on the side of the bowl. Another thing to look out for is the sugar can sink to the bottom of the bowl causing uneven heating. Store bought eggs come pre-pasteurized, so heating them to a particular temperature is unnecessary. However, you must have the sugar dissolved for the meringue to whip properly.whisking egg mixture in a bowl
    5. Once you don't feel any grains in between your fingers when you touch the egg mixture then the sugar is dissolved and is ready to whip. rubbing the egg mixture between fingers
    6. Then, once the eggs and sugar are ready, move the bowl to your mixer and begin to whip them at high speed using your whip attachment.
    7. After about 5-8 minutes, the meringue will almost double in size and form into firm (but not stiff) peaks. FYI: The addition of the egg yolks will keep the meringue from becoming stiff like an all-white meringue.close up of whipped egg mixture
    8. Once the meringue has cooled (feel the bowl with your hand), begin to add in your butter in chunks while mixing on low. adding butter to whipped egg mixture
    9. Then, after you add in all of your butter, whip the buttercream a few more minutes until the texture changes to a whipped cream-like texture. Once you have the right consistency, add in your vanilla extract. You can use the seeds of one vanilla bean in place of vanilla extract for an even better taste!adding vanilla to french buttercream
    10. Stop whipping the buttercream when it does not have a strong butter flavor anymore, and it is light and creamy in texture. Switch to the paddle attachment.close up of french buttercream on a whip
    11. While the paddle is mixing, add 2 oz of pistachio butter, and 1-2 drops of green food color to reach your desired color. adding pistachio paste to french buttercream
    12. Allow the French buttercream to mix on low for about 5 minutes. Ultimately, this will push out the air bubbles to get you the most desirable texture. closeup of pistachio buttercream

    Assembling the Pistachio Cake

    This pistachio cake is simple enough that you do not need cake decorating experience. But, if you want to learn cake decorating basics, tools, and techniques, check out my blog post on how to decorate your first cake.

    how to make a cake tutorial
    1. First, trim off the dome of your cake layers and the brown edges around the sides and bottom.trimming pistachio cake layerstrimming pistachio cake layers
    2. Place the first cake layer onto your cardboard cake round. Then, spread a thin layer of raspberry filling on top of the cake.adding raspberry filling to pistachio cake layer
    3. Next, spread on about ¼″ of your buttercream, and then add your next layer of cake.adding buttercream to pistachio cake
    4. Repeat this process with layer two, and then add your final layer of cake on top.adding the top layer of cake to the pistachio cake
    5. Cover the entire cake in a thin layer of buttercream. This is called the "crumb coat."crumb coating the pistachio cake
    6. Then, place your cake into the fridge or freezer for 20 minutes to set the buttercream layer.
    7. Apply your final coat of buttercream and add a nice rustic finish with your offset spatula if you desire. adding a rustic texture to buttercream with an offset spatula
    8. Next, scoop up a handful of chopped up pistachios and carefully press them into the buttercream around the bottom of your cake.adding pistachios to a frosted cake
    9. Sprinkle more chopped up pistachios on top of the cake in a circle around the edge.sprinkling pistachios on top of the pistachio cake
    10. Finally, as an optional step, pipe a few dollops of buttercream using a piping bag and a star tip and then place a few fresh raspberries on top. The reason you want to include pistachios and raspberries into your cake decoration is because you want someone to look at the cake and know what's inside of it without having to cut into it!piping dollops of buttercreamadding fresh raspberries to pistachio cakeclose up of pistachio cake slice

    FAQ

    What is pistachio cake made of?

    Pistachio cake batter is made using pistachio butter. Pistachio butter is made by grinding up pistachios and oil in a food processor. In addition to pistachio butter, pistachio cake is made of all-purpose flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and a hint of green food coloring. 

    How do I know if my pistachios are bad?

    Shriveled, dehydrated-looking pistachios have gone bad. Use pistachios that are round and full in shape, and are yellow or green in color (dark brown indicates they are definitely bad).

    Do I need to use food coloring?

    No. Food coloring is optional. However, if you do not use food coloring, then your cake may not appear green.

    Can I use cake flour?

    No. For this recipe, you want to use all-purpose flour. You want to use all-purpose flour because this cake is made with buttermilk which tenderizes the gluten in the flour (and makes it moist and tender). 

    I don't have pistachio butter. What else can I use?

    If you do not have pistachio butter, you can make your own! Using a food processor, combine 1 cup of roasted pistachios and 1-2 tablespoons of neutral oil (e.g. grapeseed oil) until you reach a butter consistency.

    What flavors go well with pistachio?

    Pistachio goes great with fruits and chocolates! Want a few ideas to change up this pistachio cake recipe? You can pair this pistachio cake with a tangy, cream cheese frosting that tastes incredible with the raspberry filling.

    Or, if you're a chocolate fanatic, switch up the raspberry filling for chocolate ganache. If you really want to make this pistachio cake to the next level and the ultimate chocolate lover's dream, top your pistachio cake with a decadent, chocolate drip and some white chocolate chips! The chocolate flavor goes surprisingly well with pistachio.

    Why is there no butter in this cake recipe?

    When you work with pistachio butter (either from the store or homemade), you do not need to use additional unsalted butter in the recipe. Why? Because your cake will get its fat content from the pistachios with the oil in the pistachio butter.

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Pistachio macarons

    Raspberry filling

    Cream cheese frosting

    Easy chocolate ganache

    Recipe

    close up of pistachio cake
    Print Recipe
    4.85 from 132 votes

    Pistachio Cake with Raspberry Filling and French Buttercream

    Moist and tender pistachio cake layered with tart raspberry filling and creamy, sweet French buttercream. This pistachio cake is a pistachio lover's dream come true! Made with homemade pistachio butter.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    chilling10 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8 cups
    Calories: 1569kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • Food processor

    Ingredients

    Raspberry Filling

    • 13 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries
    • 5 ounces granulated sugar
    • 1 ounce lemon zest
    • 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
    • 2 ounces water
    • 1 ounce Clear Jel or cornstarch

    Pistachio Cake

    • 14 ounces all purpose flour
    • 7 ounces granulated sugar
    • 7 ounces brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 10 ounces buttermilk (room temperature)
    • 2 eggs (room temperature)
    • 6 ounces oil
    • 4 ounces pistachio butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon green food color (optional)
    • 4 oz chopped pistachios plus more for garnish

    French Buttercream

    • 8 large eggs
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 14 ounces granulated sugar
    • 24 ounces unsalted butter
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • For timing purposes, I recommend you start with the raspberry filling to let it chill, then make the pistachio butter if you aren't buying it, then make the pistachio cake, and while the cakes are cooling, make the buttercream.

    Raspberry Filling

    • First, combine the raspberries and sugar in a saucepan and bring them to a boil.
    • Then, use an immersion blender to make the filling smooth (or leave it chunky if you prefer).
    • In a separate container, combine your Clear Jel (or cornstarch) and water to make a slurry.
    • Then, pour it into the raspberry mixture and let it simmer until the mixture is clear and thickened.
    • Remove the raspberry filling from heat, and then stir in the lemon juice and zest.
    • Pour the filling into a heatproof bowl and cover with plastic wrap so it's touching the surface of the filling to prevent skin from forming.
    • Finally, cool the raspberry filling entirely before using it. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

    Pistachio Cake

    • Prepare three 6" round cake pans with cake goop or another preferred pan spray.
    • Preheat your oven to 335ºF (168ºC).
    • First, in the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the dry ingredients. This includes flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix them to combine.
    • Then, in a separate bowl, combine the room temperature eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Whisk gently to combine and set aside.
    • Next, using a large measuring cup, combine the oil and the pistachio butter. It is ok if these don't completely mix together. Ultimately, the mixer will do most of the work for you.
    • In the bowl of your stand mixer, add in the buttermilk/egg mix to the dry ingredients while mixing on low speed.
    • Once it has evenly combined into the dry ingredients and thoroughly moistened it, add in the oil and pistachio butter.
    • Mix your cake batter on medium speed until the batter is fully incorporated and smooth. Scrape the bowl to ensure that all of the ingredients are combined.
    • Next, add in your desired amount of green food coloring to achieve the "pistachio color" you are wanting. I use one drop of avocado green. When you bake the batter, it will be slightly green but it tends to look more yellow if you do not use any green food coloring.
    • Divide the cake batter evenly into your prepared cake pans, and bake them at 335ºF (168ºC) for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out from the center cleanly. Add 5 more minutes at a time until the cake is finished baking.
    • Finally, cool your cakes for 10 minutes inside the cake pans before attempting to remove them from their pans onto a cooling rack. Freeze them for 1 hour before frosting.

    French Buttercream

    • In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the eggs and salt and whisk them until the yolks and whites are combined.
    • Then, add in your sugar and whisk it to combine.
    • Next, place the bowl over a water bath of simmering water over medium heat.
    • Whisking occasionally, heat the eggs and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. It should feel smooth when you rub it together with your fingers.
    • Periodically stir the eggs and watch them to ensure they do not heat unevenly. If you don't occasionally stir and watch the eggs, they will likely cook on the side of the bowl. Another thing to look out for is the sugar can sink to the bottom of the bowl causing uneven heating.
    • Store bought eggs come pre-pasteurized, so heating them to a particular temperature is unnecessary. However, you must have the sugar dissolved for the meringue to whip properly.
    • Then, once the eggs and sugar are ready, move the bowl to your mixer and begin to whip them at high speed using your whip attachment.
    • After about 5-8 minutes, the meringue will almost double in size and form into firm (but not stiff) peaks. FYI: The addition of the egg yolks will keep the meringue from becoming stiff like an all-white meringue.
    • Once the meringue has cooled (feel the bowl with your hand), begin to add in your butter in chunks while mixing on low.
    • Then, after you add in all of your butter, whip the buttercream a few more minutes until the texture changes to a whipped cream-like texture. Once you have the right consistency, add in your vanilla extract.
    • Stop whipping the buttercream when it does not have a strong butter flavor anymore, and it is light and creamy in texture.
    • While the paddle is mixing, add 2 oz of pistachio butter, and 1-2 drops of green food color to reach your desired color. Allow to mix on low to combine completely. Next, switch to your paddle attachment on your stand mixer and allow the meringue to paddle on low for 8-10 minutes. Ultimately, this will push out the air bubbles to get you the most desirable texture.
    • Finally, prepare a piping bag to use your buttercream, or wrap it up and refrigerate it until you are ready to use it (or store it in the freezer as you would with Swiss meringue buttercream).

    Assembling the Pistachio Cake

    • First, trim off the dome of your cake layers and the brown edges around the sides and bottom.
    • Place the first cake layer onto your cardboard cake round. Then, spread a thin layer of raspberry filling on top of the cake.
    • Next, spread on about ¼″ of your buttercream, and then add your next layer of cake.
    • Repeat this process with layer two, and then add your final layer of cake on top.
    • Cover the entire cake in a thin layer of buttercream. This is called the "crumb coat."
    • Then, place your cake into the fridge or freezer for 20 minutes to set the buttercream layer.
    • Apply your final coat of buttercream and smooth out any edges you don't like.
    • Next, with clean hands, scoop up a handful of chopped up pistachios and carefully press them into the buttercream around the bottom of your cake.
    • Sprinkle more chopped up pistachios on top of the cake in a circle around the edge.
    • Finally, as an optional step, pipe a few dollops of buttercream using a piping bag and then place a few fresh raspberries on top. The reason you want to include pistachios and raspberries into your cake decoration is because you want someone to look at the cake and know what's inside of it without having to cut into it!

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. Weigh your ingredients to avoid cake failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
    2. Make sure all your cold ingredients are room temperature or slightly warm (butter, milk, eggs, to create a cohesive batter. Curdled batter causes cakes to collapse.
    3. No buttermilk? You can make your own buttermilk 
    4. Need more help with making your first cake? Check out my how to decorate your first cake blog post. 
    5. Make your own pan release (cake goop!) The best pan release ever! 
    6. Chill your cakes before frosting and filling. You can cover a frosted and chilled cake in fondant if you wish. This cake is also great for stacking. I always keep my cakes chilled in the refrigerator before delivery for easy transporting. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 1569kcal | Carbohydrates: 163g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 98g | Saturated Fat: 48g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 34g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 414mg | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 121g | Vitamin A: 2530IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 4mg
    Cake sculpted to look like a gravity-defying house in the Disney movie Encanto

    February 15, 2022 Course Preview

    Encanto House Cake Tutorial

    Skill level: Intermediate

    I got the chance to make an Encanto-themed birthday cake recently and wanted it to feature the house Casita from the movie. There's many ways to approach house cakes, but for this project, I wanted to make something gravity-defying that felt like an homage to the popular topsy-turvy cakes that were really big when I was first getting into cake decorating so many years ago.

    In this tutorial, you will learn how to build the cake structure to support this unique design, how to add all the details to the house, and you will learn how to create an edible stucco texture on the cake tiers to make them look authentic. We also go over how to make edible tree leaves, how to pipe foliage details, and how to insert real flowers into the cake in a food-safe way.

    Please note: the Encanto figurines are not part of this tutorial, they are 1.5" tall action figures that were purchased at a retail store separately.

    1:20:02 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • How to make a gravity-defying Encanto house cake
    • Learn how to create a realistic stucco texture
    • How to create edible roofing tiles
    • Learn how to make edible tree leaves
    • Liz's tips and tricks to add details to this unique cake design

    Cake sculpted to look like the House from the movie Encanto

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Overview Of The Structure 0:46
    2. Adding The Threaded Rod 9:09
    3. Coloring The Ganache 12:52
    4. Stacking The Lower Tier 13:19
    5. Texturing The Lower Tier 15:12
    6. Preparing The Second Tier 19:11
    7. Covering The Top Tier In Fondant 21:13
    8. Texturing The Second Tier Pt.2 24:45
    9. Making The Roof 26:13
    10. Texturing The Top Tier Pt.1 28:08
    11. Making The Roof Pt.2 29:47
    12. Texturing The Top Tier Pt.2 30:25
    13. Stacking The Middle Tier 30:49
    14. Making The Roof Pt.3 34:10
    15. Adding The Top Tier And Roof 34:32
    16. Coloring The Modeling Chocolate 39:23
    17. Making The Blue Door 43:06
    18. Preparing The Orange Tiles 46:16
    19. Dry Brushing The Cake 46:53
    20. Adding The Rock Texture 48:01
    21. Adding The Door Frame 50:02
    22. Adding The Blue Tiles 51:01
    23. Adding The Orange Tiles 52:23
    24. Making The Gold Door 54:48
    25. Making The Stairs 58:01
    26. Adding The Blue Details 59:24
    27. Preparing The Pink Window 59:41
    28. Adding The White Details 59:55
    29. Adding The Pink Window 1:00:55
    30. Adding The Orange Tiles & Details 1:01:13
    31. Adding The Turquoise Panel 1:04:10
    32. Preparing The Turquoise Square 1:05:29
    33. Adding The Blue Windows Pt.1 1:05:50
    34. Adding The Turquoise Square 1:06:23
    35. Coloring The Brown Modeling Chocolate 1:07:42
    36. Adding The Tree 1:08:41
    37. Painting The Gelatin Leaves 1:09:14
    38. Touching Up The House 1:10:18
    39. Adding The Brown Siding 1:11:07
    40. Adding The Candle 1:12:17
    41. Adding The Palm Tree 1:12:41
    42. Adding The Flowers 1:14:52
    43. Adding The Figurines 1:18:43

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Door Template

    Roof Template

    Encanto Reference

    Cake sculpted to look like a house from the Disney movie Encanto

    February 15, 2022 Paid Video

    Encanto House Cake

    Skill level: Intermediate

    I got the chance to make an Encanto-themed birthday cake recently and wanted it to feature the house Casita from the movie. There's many ways to approach house cakes, but for this project, I wanted to make something gravity-defying that felt like an homage to the popular topsy-turvy cakes that were really big when I was first getting into cake decorating so many years ago.

    In this tutorial, you will learn how to build the cake structure to support this unique design, how to add all the details to the house, and you will learn how to create an edible stucco texture on the cake tiers to make them look authentic. We also go over how to make edible tree leaves, how to pipe foliage details, and how to insert real flowers into the cake in a food-safe way.

    Please note: the Encanto figurines are not part of this tutorial, they are 1.5" tall action figures that were purchased at a retail store separately.

    1:20:02 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • How to make a gravity-defying Encanto house cake
    • Learn how to create a realistic stucco texture
    • How to create edible roofing tiles
    • Learn how to make edible tree leaves
    • Liz's tips and tricks to add details to this unique cake design

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Overview Of The Structure 0:46
    2. Adding The Threaded Rod 9:09
    3. Coloring The Ganache 12:52
    4. Stacking The Lower Tier 13:19
    5. Texturing The Lower Tier 15:12
    6. Preparing The Second Tier 19:11
    7. Covering The Top Tier In Fondant 21:13
    8. Texturing The Second Tier Pt.2 24:45
    9. Making The Roof 26:13
    10. Texturing The Top Tier Pt.1 28:08
    11. Making The Roof Pt.2 29:47
    12. Texturing The Top Tier Pt.2 30:25
    13. Stacking The Middle Tier 30:49
    14. Making The Roof Pt.3 34:10
    15. Adding The Top Tier And Roof 34:32
    16. Coloring The Modeling Chocolate 39:23
    17. Making The Blue Door 43:06
    18. Preparing The Orange Tiles 46:16
    19. Dry Brushing The Cake 46:53
    20. Adding The Rock Texture 48:01
    21. Adding The Door Frame 50:02
    22. Adding The Blue Tiles 51:01
    23. Adding The Orange Tiles 52:23
    24. Making The Gold Door 54:48
    25. Making The Stairs 58:01
    26. Adding The Blue Details 59:24
    27. Preparing The Pink Window 59:41
    28. Adding The White Details 59:55
    29. Adding The Pink Window 1:00:55
    30. Adding The Orange Tiles & Details 1:01:13
    31. Adding The Turquoise Panel 1:04:10
    32. Preparing The Turquoise Square 1:05:29
    33. Adding The Blue Windows Pt.1 1:05:50
    34. Adding The Turquoise Square 1:06:23
    35. Coloring The Brown Modeling Chocolate 1:07:42
    36. Adding The Tree 1:08:41
    37. Painting The Gelatin Leaves 1:09:14
    38. Touching Up The House 1:10:18
    39. Adding The Brown Siding 1:11:07
    40. Adding The Candle 1:12:17
    41. Adding The Palm Tree 1:12:41
    42. Adding The Flowers 1:14:52
    43. Adding The Figurines 1:18:43

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Door Template

    Roof Template

    Encanto Reference

    mini pavlova decorated with Chantilly cream and topped with fresh berries

    February 9, 2022 Blog

    Mini Pavlova with Berry Chantilly Cream

    Mini pavlova is crisp on the outside and marshmallowy soft on the inside. Filled with delicious, fresh berry compote and Chantilly cream, they make the perfect dessert for special occasions! Mini pavlova is ideal for spring and summer family gatherings or even a small wedding because they are elegant and the flavor is the perfect combination of crunchy, sweet, and chewy!

    mini pavlova on a plate decorated with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries

    Fresh, bright, and sweet, every bite of this mini pavlova tastes like spring! This mini pavlova recipe is great for family gatherings like Mother's Day, baby showers, and bridal showers. Decorate your mini pavlova with Chantilly cream and fresh berries, and you will have elegant, bite-sized treats at your fingertips!

    This step-by-step recipe from Chef Christophe Rull can make up to 18 individual mini pavlovas, or if you prefer, one or two larger pavlovas that can be cut and served in portions.

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Mini Pavlova Ingredients
    • How to Make Mini Pavlova
    • Preparing the Mixed Berry Compote
    • Making the Vanilla Chantilly Cream
    • Assembling the Mini Pavlova
    • FAQ
    • Extra Tips for Making Pavlova
    • What is the Origin of Pavlova?
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Mini Pavlova Ingredients

    bird's-eye view of pavlova ingredients on the table

    Egg whites: The key ingredient of this pavlova is room temperature egg whites. Be sure to give your eggs enough time to warm up before you begin the recipe. This will help ensure your meringue whips up nicely.

    Cream of tartar: You technically don't need cream of tartar. But, if you use cream of tartar, it will help stabilize the egg whites so they don't collapse and will help the egg whites stay extra white.

    Fresh berries: You can use frozen berries to prepare this mixed berry compote. However, fresh berries are preferred for this recipe because they will hold their shape better. If you have trouble keeping berries fresh for more than a couple of days, learn how to make them last longer using berry wash.

    Adapt the fruit compote to whichever variation of fruits you prefer! You could do all one fruit, or you could opt for other kinds of fruits to use in this recipe like peach filling or cherry filling. If you're feeling creative you could even make your own compote using fruits like nectarines, kiwi, pineapple, passionfruit, cherries, and more!

    How to Make Mini Pavlova

    1. Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C). Before you begin making the pavlova, ensure that your mixing bowl is entirely clean and fully dry. Even a little bit of water, oil, or grease could throw off your entire recipe! Then, wipe down your clean mixing bowl and your attachments with vinegar!hand shown wiping down the stand mixer with a clothhands holding whisk attachments
    2. First, using your stand mixer, whip the room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed to a soft peak in a clean and dry mixing bowl.hand shown pouring ingredient into stand mixerhand pouring a small amount of ingredients into stand mixerstand mixer mixing ingredients
    3. Then, while it is mixing, slowly add your granulated sugar. Continue to mix until you reach stiff peaks.hand pouring ingredients into large mixing bowlhand holding whisk attachment with cream on it upside down
    4. Next, sift the powdered sugar over the stiff peaks. Gently fold the powdered sugar into the egg whites. Be careful not to deflate the meringue too much.hand shown pouring mixture into bowlspatula being used to mix creambowl of cream with spatula inside
    5. Prepare a piping bag with plain tip #804. Fill the piping bag with meringue.hand holding a piping baghand shown filling a piping bag with cream
    6. Then, on the backside of the silicone sphere mold, pipe the meringue around the sphere. Make sure there are no spaces or gaps in the meringue.silicone sphere mold placed upside down with round half facing upmini pavlova piped onto the back of a sphere silicone moldmini pavlova piped onto the back of every other alternating sphere silicone mold
    7. Bake the meringue for 6-8 hours until it is firm and crunchy.
    8. Next, let the meringue cool completely.
    9. Then, after the meringue is completely cooled, gently peel the silicone mold away while being careful to not to break the shell.hand flipping over baked mini pavlova shell to show the hollow side
    10. Finally, when you are ready to assemble the pavlova, carefully scrape the point off of the bottom using a microplane so it will sit level on the plate.hand using a microplane to shave off bottom of pavlovahand holding mini pavlova shell

    Preparing the Mixed Berry Compote

    1. First, use a paring knife to split and scrape the vanilla bean. Put the split vanilla bean into a heavy bottom saucepan.hands shown scraping vanilla bean pod
    2. Now you will prepare your mixed berries. Dice the strawberries into quarters, cut the raspberries in half, and leave the blueberries whole. PRO TIP: Fresh berries will keep their shape better, but frozen berries will work as well.hand shown cutting a strawberrybowl of cut berries
    3. Add the prepared mixed berries into the heavy bottom saucepan along with the vanilla bean.
    4. Then, add in the sugar and the lemon juice and stir everything to combine.pouring fresh berries into a bowlmixing strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries in a large bowl using a spatula
    5. Next, in a separate mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch and water. Mix until it is smooth.hands shown mixing dry ingredients
    6. Add the cornstarch mix to the berries in the saucepot and mix to combine.hand shown pouring mixture into berry sauce
    7. Cook the berries over medium to low heat and continue to stir gently. Be careful not to scald the berries with high heat. The berries will begin to soften and release juices over medium to low heat.spatula holding up berry sauce mixture
    8. When the berry juice mixture begins to boil, remove the saucepan from the heat and transfer the berry compote to another bowl to cool down.pouring berry sauce mixture into a bowl
    9. Cover the berry compote with plastic wrap. Do this by pressing the plastic wrap right up against the surface of the berries. This step will prevent a layer of skin from forming over the berries mixture.placing plastic wrap on top of berry sauce in bowl
    10. Then, once the berries are covered in plastic wrap, place the bowl in the refrigerator until it is completely cool.
    11. Finally, when you are ready to assemble the pavlova, you can remove the vanilla bean pod from the berry compote.

    Making the Vanilla Chantilly Cream

    1. Start with a clean mixing bowl. Use your stand mixer to whip cream, the seeds of 1 vanilla pod, and powdered sugar on medium speed until it reaches a stiff peak (but is still smooth in texture).
    2. Then, fill a large pastry bag fitted with your desired tip, and set it aside to pipe the cream on the pavlovas.

    Assembling the Mini Pavlova

    1. First, place the mini pavlova hollow side up while making sure it stands balanced. If it won't stay up on its own or is unbalanced, use a microplane to even it out by gently scraping the bottom to a flat surface.
    2. Then, scoop about 1 tablespoon of berry compote into the pavlova.spoon pouring berry compote into mini pavlova shell
    3. Next, pipe a dollop of Chantilly cream on top of the berry compote making sure to fully cover the filling so that it does not leak out.hand piping cream into mini pavlova shellhand piping cream into mini pavlova shell
    4. Finally, garnish the mini pavlova with fresh fruit, mint, or any other topping of your choice. Chef Christophe used dehydrated berries to grate directly on top of the finished pavlova.hand sprinkling over a mini pavlova on a platemini pavlova decorated with Chantilly cream and topped with fresh berries

    FAQ

    What is a pavlova?

    Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert that is topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.

    What is the difference between a meringue and a pavlova?

    The biggest difference between meringue and pavlova is that a pavlova recipe has cornstarch. Cornstarch is a softening agent that keeps the center softer than the crisp, outer shell.

    Both desserts are made from egg whites and equally delicious, but they taste quite different! Meringue is dry and crispy throughout. Pavlova is white, crisp, and glossy on the outside, and slightly chewy on the inside.

    Can I make this dairy-free?

    Yes! Switch out the heavy whipping cream for coconut milk to make it dairy-free. PRO TIP: Take your can of coconut milk and leave it in the refrigerator overnight. Meanwhile, this will allow the liquid and the fat to separate. Then, when you're ready to make your Chantilly cream, strain the liquid out and then use the remaining coconut fat to whip it into a dairy-free whipped cream!

    What other kinds of fruit can I use?

    Besides strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, you can use any fruit variation you like to make your compote! A few ideas include nectarines, kiwi, pineapple, passionfruit, peach filling, or cherry filling!

    What if I want to make a bigger pavlova?

    Pipe larger discs of meringue on a piece of parchment paper, or on the back of a larger sphere mold using a larger piping tip (this method will create a hollow inside to fill inside).

    Can I make pavlova ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make pavlova a day in advance and store them in an airtight container. Then, fill them with berry compote and top them with Chantilly cream when you are ready to serve them.

    How do I know when my pavlova is done?

    Cooked pavlova is pale white with slight browning on the peaks.

    Why is my pavlova chewy?

    Pavlova tastes chewy when it was not properly cooled and dried out. You can avoid an unpleasant, chewy texture by allowing the pavlova to cool in the oven for as long as possible. In order to get that desirable, extra crispy outer layer, you need to allow the pavlova to properly set while it cools and dries.

    Can I leave my pavlova in the oven overnight?

    Yes! The best way to ensure your pavlova is entirely cooled is by leaving it untouched in the oven overnight (or at least several hours later).

    Why is my pavlova brown?

    Your pavlova may turn brown if your oven is too hot or has hot spots. You can fix this by cooking them at a slightly lower temperature for a little bit longer.

    Why is my pavlova flat?

    Not enough air was incorporated into the egg white mixture. While making pavlova, once you add sugar to the egg whites, the mixture will appear flat or deflated. The good news is that this is totally normal! And nothing is "wrong" with your pavlova as this is to be expected.

    Extra Tips for Making Pavlova

    • First, before you begin making pavlova, ensure that your mixing bowl is entirely clean and fully dry. Even a little bit of water, oil, or grease could throw off your entire recipe! For example, just a streak of grease in your bowl could prevent you from whisking your egg whites into frothy peaks.
    • Wipe down your clean mixing bowl and your attachments with vinegar! Why? Because you want to make sure there isn't any butter residue on any of your attachments. In the long run, this will help ensure your meringue will whip up beautifully.
    • Definitely be sure to fully wash and thoroughly hand dry your bowl before you begin.
    • Avoid baking pavlova if the weather is especially humid. We want to create an ideal environment for our pavlova to dry thoroughly. If you have a portable space heater, you can place that in your kitchen to remove excess humidity from the air and help the pavlova dry out.
    • While a KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a great investment if you are baking regularly, you do not need one for this recipe. However, you do need a handheld electric beater if you don't have a stand mixer.

    What is the Origin of Pavlova?

    Pavlova gets its name from a Russian ballerina named Anna Pavlova who was a superstar in the early 20th century.

    Anna Pavlova was a ballerina who was internationally known for her beauty and grace on the stage. Some people enjoyed her work so much so they decided to name a dessert after her!

    Originating in Australia, the Davis Gelatine Corporation developed an early version of the pavlova that looks and tastes nothing like the pavlova we know and love! In fact, their version of pavlova was a dessert with multiple layers of gelatine and one layer of milk.

    The more accurate and modern version of pavlova that you and I know was re-introduced in the 1950s in New Zealand and became a well-loved, holiday dessert around the 1980s. Fun fact: the pavlova recipe steadily became more popular as the cost of eggs went down!

    berry compote spilling out of mini pavlova

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Stabilized whipped cream

    How to make fresh berries last longer

    Berry Chantilly cake

    Recipe

    mini pavlova on a plate decorated with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Mini Pavlova with Berry Chantilly Cream

    A meringue-based dessert that is filled with a fresh berry compote, and topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream that has been sweetened to perfection!
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time2 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Australian
    Servings: 18 Servings
    Calories: 205kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • piping bag and plain tip #804
    • Silicone sphere molds 2"
    • microplane

    Ingredients

    Pavlova

    • 100 grams egg whites room temperature
    • 100 grams granulated sugar
    • 100 grams powdered sugar
    • 1 Pinch cream of tartar

    Mixed Berry Compote

    • 80 grams sugar
    • 30 grams lemon juice
    • 1 vanilla bean (scraped)
    • 240 grams fresh strawberries (leaves removed)
    • 36 grams fresh blueberries
    • 40 grams fresh raspberries
    • 15 grams water
    • 10 grams cornstarch

    Vanilla Chantilly

    • 300 grams heavy whipping cream
    • 30 grams powdered sugar
    • 1 vanilla bean (seeds scraped)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Making the Pavlova

    • Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C). Before you begin making pavlova, ensure that your mixing bowl is entirely clean and fully dry. Even a little bit of water, oil, or grease could throw off your entire recipe! Then, wipe down your clean mixing bowl and your attachments with vinegar!
    • First, using your stand mixer, whip the room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed to a soft peak in a clean and dry mixing bowl.
    • Then, while it is mixing, slowly add your granulated sugar. Continue to mix until you reach stiff peaks.
    • Next, sift the powdered sugar over the stiff peaks. Gently fold the powdered sugar into the egg whites. Be careful not to deflate the meringue too much.
    • Prepare a piping bag with plain tip #804. Fill the piping bag with meringue.
    • Then, on the backside of the silicone sphere mold, pipe the meringue around the sphere. Make sure there are no spaces or gaps in the meringue.
    • Bake the meringue for 6-8 hours until it is firm and crunchy.
    • Next, let the meringue cool completely.
    • Then, after the meringue is completely cooled, gently peel the silicone mold away while being careful to not to break the shell.
    • Finally, when you are ready to assemble the pavlova, carefully scrape the point off of the bottom using a microplane so it will sit level on the plate.

    Preparing the Mixed Berry Compote

    • First, use a paring knife to split and scrape the vanilla bean. Put the split vanilla bean into a heavy bottom saucepan.
    • Now you will prepare your mixed berries. Dice the strawberries into quarters, cut the raspberries in half, and leave the blueberries whole. PRO TIP: Fresh berries will keep their shape better, but frozen berries will work as well.
    • Add the prepared mixed berries into the heavy bottom saucepan along with the vanilla bean.
    • Then, add in the sugar and the lemon juice and stir everything to combine.
    • Next, in a separate mixing bowl, combine the corn starch and water. Mix until it is smooth.
    • Add the cornstarch mix to the berries in the saucepot and mix to combine.
    • Cook the berries over medium to low heat and continue to stir gently. Be careful not to scald the berries with high heat. The berries will begin to soften and release juices over medium to low heat.
    • When the berry juice mixture begins to boil, remove the saucepan from the heat and transfer the berry compote to another bowl to cool down.
    • Cover the berry compote with plastic wrap. Do this by pressing the plastic wrap right up against the surface of the berries. This step will prevent a layer of skin from forming over the berries mixture.
    • Then, once the berries are covered in plastic wrap, place the bowl in the refrigerator until it is completely cool.
    • Finally, when you are ready to assemble the pavlova, you can remove the vanilla bean pod from the berry compote.

    Making the Vanilla Chantilly Cream

    • Start with a clean mixing bowl. Use your stand mixer to whip cream, the seeds of 1 vanilla pod, and powdered sugar on medium speed until it reaches a stiff peak (but is still smooth in texture).
    • Then, fill a large pastry bag fitted with your desired tip, and set it aside to pipe the cream on the pavlovas.

    Assembling the Pavlova

    • First, place the mini pavlova hollow side up while making sure it stands balanced. If it won't stay up on its own or is unbalanced, use a microplane to even it out by gently scraping the bottom to a flat surface.
    • Then, scoop about 1 tablespoon of berry compote into the pavlova.
    • Next, pipe a dollop of Chantilly cream on top of the berry compote making sure to fully cover the filling so that it does not leak out.
    • Finally, garnish the mini pavlova with fresh fruit, mint, or any other topping of your choice. Chef Christophe used dehydrated berries to grate directly on top of the finished pavlova.

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. Bring your egg whites to room temperature (or even a little warm) before beginning to make your pavlova. 
    2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
    3. Avoid baking pavlova if the weather is especially humid. We want to create an ideal environment for our pavlova to dry thoroughly. If you have a portable space heater, you can place that in your kitchen to remove excess humidity from the air and help the pavlova dry out.
    4. First, before you begin making pavlova, ensure that your mixing bowl is entirely clean and fully dry. Even a little bit of water, oil, or grease could throw off your entire recipe! For example, just a streak of grease in your bowl could prevent you from whisking your egg whites into frothy peaks.
    5. Unsure if your pavlova is done? Carefully pick up one of the pavlovas to make sure that it comes off of the parchment paper clean. If you can pick it up and there isn't any residue, it is done.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 373IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
    close up of three pistachio macarons

    February 7, 2022 Blog

    Pistachio Macaron with White Chocolate Buttercream

    This pistachio macaron recipe is based on my viral, no-fail French macaron recipe. The nuttiness of these crispy and chewy pistachio macarons pairs perfectly with the creamy, white chocolate buttercream filling! If you love pistachios, you need to save this recipe!

    close up of three pistachio macarons

    If you ask a baker which cookie has given them the biggest headache, chances are they will enthusiastically say "macarons!" They're notoriously difficult to make. Why? Because a lot could go wrong while making them. But, you won't need to reach for any aspirin today because this recipe is headache-free!

    This is a foolproof, step-by-step pistachio macaron recipe that anyone can make! Keep reading to learn step-by-step how to make your very own nutty, crispy, chewy pistachio macarons.

    Read through this blog post entirely and be sure to check out the FAQ section which will offer you additional tips, tricks, and ways to avoid common macaron mishaps!

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Pistachio Macaron Ingredients
    • How to Make Pistachio Macarons
      • Before you get started, download and print my macaron template! This is an optional step.
    • Preparing the White Chocolate Ganache
    • Making the Easy Buttercream Frosting
    • FAQs
    • Tips for the Perfect Macarons
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Pistachio Macaron Ingredients

    pistachio macaron ingredients

    Before you get started, download and print my macaron template!

    Almond Flour: Almond flour provides flavor, texture, and structure to the macarons. You can use storebought almond flour (I typically use Bob's Red Mill super fine almond flour), or if you prefer you can make your own.

    Pistachio Flour: If you have a food processor, you can make your own pistachio flour for this recipe by grinding up pistachios to an ultra-fine texture (you will need 28 grams of pistachios). Or, you can buy pistachio flour online.

    Want to take your white chocolate ganache to the next level and try a more advanced recipe to really elevate your pistachio macarons? Be sure to check out Chef Christophe Rull's white chocolate vanilla bean ganache that we used to make bonbons!

    How to Make Pistachio Macarons

    Before you get started, download and print my macaron template! This is an optional step.

    1. First, you'll want to prepare your pistachio flour. Use a food processor to grind your pistachios up to an ultra-fine, flour-like texture. Or, if you prefer, you can buy your own pistachio flour.
    2. Next, sift your pistachio flour, almond flour, salt, and powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. Sift these ingredients 2 times. Other than sifting out large pieces, the reason you need to sift it twice is to allow the powdered sugar to properly mix with the flours while also aerating the flour (which will make it easier to mix with the egg whites). sifting pistachio macaron ingredientslarge pieces of pistachio in a sifter
    3. Then, in the bowl of your stand mixer, add in the egg whites and mix them on medium speed using the whisk attachment until they appear foamy.adding egg whites to the bowl of your stand mixer
    4. Once the egg whites appear foamy, start to slowly sprinkle in the granulated sugar. Mix them until the egg whites turn white and you can see some lines forming in the surface from the whisk. Now, add in the cream of tartar and whip them until soft, glossy peaks form.
    5. Then, add in the vanilla extract and continue to mix until you have firm, glossy peaks. Usually, this process can take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. To test if your meringue is ready, turn off the mixer and remove the whisk attachment. Hold the whisk attachment to see if the meringue is firm enough to hold its shape without appearing curdled, dry, or breaking apart.close up of meringue at stiff peaks
    6. Next, add in a very small amount of green food coloring (optional). I prefer to use Americolor food color gel. Use a toothpick to grab 2 drops of green food coloring and then wipe it onto a spatula. Then, use the spatula to gently fold it into your meringue.
    7. Next, transfer ⅓ of your flour mixture into the meringue and fold it in.
    8. Once the flour is folded in and combined with the meringue, add in half of the remaining flour mixture and gently fold it in using a circular motion (like a tumble dryer).
    9. Then, add in the rest of the flour mixture and continue to gently fold it in using a circular motion. When you do this, you want to gently move your spatula around the bowl without incorporating too much air into the mixture. While you're folding, occasionally, drag your spatula through the middle and then go back to using a circular motion. Stop folding the mixture once it no longer appears goopy and the batter begins to look stretchy. If you can draw a figure 8 using the batter that's falling off of your spatula, then your batter is ready.
    10. Preheat the oven to 300ºF (149ºC).
    11. Prepare a piping bag with a medium round tip, and fill it with the batter.
    12. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. PRO TIP: Use a few dollops of batter to 'glue' down the parchment paper to your baking sheet to keep it from moving around.
    13. Then, if you're using my macaron template, place that layer on top of your parchment paper. Finally, add another layer of parchment paper on top of the template.
    14. Pipe your batter onto the parchment paper.
    15. Next, gently tap the baking sheet onto the countertop a few times to make sure there are no bubbles on the surface. Then, go in with a toothpick to break up any leftover bubbles. If you skip this step, your macarons may explode in the oven!
    16. (Optional) Sprinkle a pinch of ground-up pistachio pieces on top to garnish the macarons.
    17. Then, set the macarons aside at room temperature to dry. Ultimately, this can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours depending on how humid it is where you are. Macarons are dry and ready to be baked in the oven once you can touch them and a crust or skin has appeared on the macaron.
    18. Bake in the oven at 300ºF (149ºC) for 10 to 15 minutes. Macarons are done once you see browning around the edges. If they are not quite baked, then bake them for an additional 1 minute because cooked cookies should pull away from the parchment paper easily without sticking. If they do stick, then they were not baked enough. PRO TIP: If you bake your macarons on a silicone mat, it may take a few extra minutes for them to bake properly.

    Preparing the White Chocolate Ganache

    1. First, warm the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the chocolate since we only want to soften it.
    2. Next, using a saucepan, pour the heavy whipping cream into the pan and bring it to a simmer.
    3. Once the heavy whipping cream is simmering, carefully pour it over the chocolate in the microwave-safe bowl. Make sure the chocolate is fully covered.
    4. Then, let the heavy whipping cream and the chocolate set for 5 minutes.
    5. Whisk gently to combine the cream and the chocolate. Be careful not to incorporate any air into the bowl.
    6. Finally, pour it into a shallow pan or a dish to let it stiffen up. Then, stir it until it's creamy using it to fill your macarons. If your ganache is too firm, you can microwave it for 10 seconds to soften it, and then stir it until the ganache is the desired consistency. 

    Making the Easy Buttercream Frosting

    1. First, place the egg whites and powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Using the whisk attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed first, and then whip the ingredients on high for 1 minute to dissolve the powdered sugar 
    2. Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract and mix.
    3. Next, add in your butter in small chunks and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine everything. It will look curdled at first. This is normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping. 
    4. If your buttercream looks curdled, remove about ⅓ cup of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.
    5. Next, add a very small drop of purple food coloring (optional). I would recommend using a toothpick to transfer it to the bowl. Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until it is very white, light, and shiny. 
    6. Finally, taste the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!

    White Chocolate Buttercream Filling

    1. Mix your white chocolate ganache with your buttercream frosting, and you are ready to fill a piping bag with your filling and assemble your macarons!hand using a spatula to add ganache to frostinghand using a spatula to gently fold fillinghand piping filling onto a macaronhands assembling a pistachio macaronhand holding a pistachio macaronpistachio macarons stacked and laying down

    FAQs

    Do I have to make white chocolate ganache and buttercream frosting?

    Not at all! You can customize this macaron recipe if you do not want to make both. You can adjust it to include only the white chocolate ganache filling or even just the easy buttercream frosting by itself.

    What is the difference between a macaron and a macaroon?

    A macaron (mack-a-rohn) is a French cookie made with almond flour, sugar, and egg whites. It has a delicate, crispy shell and a soft and chewy center. They're not very sweet and are often brightly colored with a variety of flavors.

    A macaroon (mack-a-roon) is a cookie made from shredded coconut, egg whites, and powdered sugar. It is usually scooped or piped into small balls and baked until the edges are golden brown. The texture is chewy and the flavor is very sweet. 

    Why are my macarons flat?

    Macarons will fall flat and will be hollow in the center due to overmixing the batter.

    Why do my macarons blotchy?

    Oily blotches on the surface of your macaron are from overmixing and causing the oil from the almond flour to release into the batter. Try folding the batter more gently.

    Why are my macarons lumpy?

    Undermixing your batter or not using super fine almond flour will make lumpy or rough-textured macarons.

    Why are my macarons cracking?

    Cracked macarons are from not letting them sit at room temp for long enough so they haven't had time to develop a shell or they were not mixed enough.

    Why are my macarons hollow?

    Hollow macaron shells can result from not popping the bubbles in the surface of the macarons before baking, or from the meringue being under-whipped.

    Can I freeze macarons?

    Absolutely! You can fill the macarons and freeze them for later. Obviously, this is especially helpful if you are making macarons for a party or an event.

    Tips for the Perfect Macarons

    PRO TIP: Prepare your egg whites a day in advance before mixing in order to make a stronger meringue! To do that, place the egg whites in an uncovered bowl in the refrigerator overnight (or even a couple of days if you plan ahead). If you do this, then it allows the water to evaporative out of them and ultimately whip into an ultimately stronger meringue to make macarons!

    Additional tips and tricks:

    • Sift your ingredients before mixing
    • Weigh all your ingredients in grams for the best and most accurate results
    • Wipe the inside of your bowl and attachments well to make sure they are grease-free
    • Don't over-whip your egg whites. Ensure they are at the firm peak stage but still glossy and moist
    • If your room is very humid, put a space heater next to the macarons to help dry them out

    More Recipes You'll Love

    French macaron

    Strawberry macaron

    Chocolate macaron

    White chocolate ganache

    Recipe

    close up of three pistachio macarons
    Print Recipe
    4.92 from 12 votes

    Pistachio Macaron Recipe

    No-fail, crispy and chewy pistachio macaron recipe filled with creamy, white chocolate buttercream.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time45 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 18 filled cookies
    Calories: 500kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • Food Scale
    • Stand Mixer
    • Sifter
    • Parchment Paper
    • Piping Bag
    • 802 Round Piping Tip
    • Food processor

    Ingredients

    Pistachio Macarons

    • 1 ounce almond flour
    • 1 ounce pistachio flour
    • 4 ounces powdered sugar
    • 1 pinch salt
    • 2 ounces egg whites aged overnight in the fridge and brought to room temperature
    • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • 1 ounce granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 drops green gel food coloring

    White Chocolate Ganache

    • 24 ounces White chocolate
    • 8 ounces heavy whipping cream

    Easy Buttercream Frosting

    • 12 ounces unsalted butter (room temperature) You can use salted butter but it will affect the taste and you need to leave out additional salt
    • 12 ounces powdered sugar sifted if not from a bag
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 ounces pasteurized egg whites room temperature
    • 1 tiny drop purple food coloring (optional) for whiter frosting
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Pistachio Macarons

    • Download my macaron template to print before you get started! This is an optional step.
    • First, you'll want to prepare your pistachio flour. Use a food processor to grind your pistachios up to an ultra-fine, flour-like texture. Or, if you prefer, you can buy your own pistachio flour.
    • Next, sift your pistachio flour, almond flour, salt, and powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. Sift these ingredients 2 times. Other than sifting out large pieces, the reason you need to sift it twice is to allow the powdered sugar to properly mix with the flours while also aerating the flour (which will make it easier to mix with the egg whites).
    • Then, in the bowl of your stand mixer, add in the egg whites and mix them on medium speed using the whisk attachment until they appear foamy.
    • Once the egg whites appear foamy, start to slowly sprinkle in the granulated sugar. Mix them until the egg whites turn white and you can see some lines forming in the surface from the whisk. Now, add in the cream of tartar and whip them until soft, glossy peaks form.
    • Then, add in the vanilla extract and continue to mix until you have firm, glossy peaks. Usually, this process can take anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. To test if your meringue is ready, turn off the mixer and remove the whisk attachment. Hold the whisk attachment to see if the meringue is firm enough to hold its shape without appearing curdled, dry, or breaking apart.
    • Next, add in a very small amount of green food coloring (optional). I prefer to use Americolor food color gel. Use a toothpick to grab 2 drops of green food coloring and then wipe it onto a spatula. Then, use the spatula to gently fold it into your meringue.
    • Next, transfer ⅓ of your flour mixture into the meringue and fold it in.
    • Once the flour is folded in and combined with the meringue, add in half of the remaining flour mixture and gently fold it in using a circular motion (like a tumble dryer).
    • Then, add in the rest of the flour mixture and continue to gently fold it in using a circular motion. When you do this, you want to gently move your spatula around the bowl without incorporating too much air into the mixture. While you're folding, occasionally, drag your spatula through the middle and then go back to using a circular motion. Stop folding the mixture once it no longer appears goopy and the batter begins to look stretchy. If you can draw a figure 8 using the batter that's falling off of your spatula, then your batter is ready.
    • Preheat the oven to 300ºF (149ºC).
    • Prepare a piping bag with a medium round tip, and fill it with the batter.
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. PRO TIP: Use a few dollops of batter to 'glue' down the parchment paper to your baking sheet to keep it from moving around.
    • Then, if you're using my macaron template, place that layer on top of your parchment paper. Finally, add another layer of parchment paper on top of the template.
    • Pipe your batter onto the parchment paper.
    • Next, gently tap the baking sheet onto the countertop a few times to make sure there are no bubbles on the surface. Then, go in with a toothpick to break up any leftover bubbles. If you skip this step, your macarons may explode in the oven!
    • (Optional) Sprinkle a pinch of ground-up pistachio pieces on top to garnish the macarons.
    • Then, set the macarons aside at room temperature to dry. Ultimately, this can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours depending on how humid it is where you are. Macarons are dry and ready to be baked in the oven once you can touch them and a crust or skin has appeared on the macaron.
    • Bake in the oven at 300ºF (149ºC) for 10 to 15 minutes. Your macarons will be done once you see browning around the edges. If they are not quite baked, then bake them for an additional 1 minute. Ultimately, cooked cookies should pull away from the parchment paper easily without sticking. If they do stick, they were not baked enough. PRO TIP: If you bake your macarons on a silicone mat, then it may take a few extra minutes for them to bake properly.

    White Chocolate Ganache

    • First, warm the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the chocolate since we only want to soften it.
    • Next, using a saucepan, pour the heavy whipping cream into the pan and bring it to a simmer.
    • Once the heavy whipping cream is simmering, carefully pour it over the chocolate in the microwave-safe bowl. Make sure the chocolate is fully covered.
    • Then, let the heavy whipping cream and the chocolate set for 5 minutes.
    • Whisk gently to combine the cream and the chocolate. Be careful not to incorporate any air into the bowl.
    • Finally, pour it into a shallow pan or a dish to let it stiffen up. Then, stir it until it's creamy using it to fill your macarons. If your ganache is too firm, you can microwave it for 10 seconds to soften it, and then stir it until the ganache is the desired consistency. 

    Easy Buttercream Frosting

    • First, place the egg whites and powdered sugar in a stand mixer bowl. Using the whisk attachment, combine the ingredients on low speed first, and then whip the ingredients on high for 1 minute to dissolve the powdered sugar 
    • Then, add in the salt and the vanilla extract and mix.
    • Next, add in your butter in small chunks and whip it with the whisk attachment to combine everything. It will look curdled at first. This is normal. It will also look pretty yellow. Keep whipping. 
    • If your buttercream looks curdled, remove about ⅓ cup of buttercream and melt it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until it is just barely melted. Then, pour it back into the whipping buttercream to bring it all together.
    • (Optional) Add a very small drop of purple food coloring. I would recommend using a toothpick to transfer it to the bowl. Then, whip it on high with the whisk attachment for 8-10 minutes until it is very white, light, and shiny. 
    • Finally, taste the buttercream. If it tastes like sweet ice cream, then it's ready!

    White Chocolate Buttercream Filling

    • Mix your white chocolate ganache with your buttercream frosting, and you are ready to fill a piping bag with your filling and assemble your macarons!

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. Use a scale to weigh your ingredients (including liquids) unless otherwise instructed (Tablespoons, teaspoons, pinch, etc). Metric measurements are available in the recipe card. Scaled ingredients are much more accurate than using cups and help ensure the success of your recipe. 
    2. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
    3. PRO TIP: Prepare your egg whites a day in advance before mixing in order to make a stronger meringue! To do that, place the egg whites in an uncovered bowl in the refrigerator overnight (or even a couple of days if you plan ahead). If you do this, then it allows the water to evaporative out of them and ultimately whip into an ultimately stronger meringue to make macarons!
    4. If you're already comfortable making white chocolate ganache and want to try a more advanced version than the one in this recipe, you should use Chef Christophe Rull's white chocolate vanilla bean ganache recipe that we used to make bonbons! Just swap out the white chocolate ganache in this recipe for the vanilla bean version and you will love the added vanilla flavor! 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg

    close up of heart shaped cut out sugar cookies

    February 4, 2022 Blog

    The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

    This is the BEST cut out sugar cookie recipe! These cookies always hold their shape perfectly, bake up nice and soft, and have a delicious buttery and crisp edge. Perfect for decoring with my smooth royal icing. close up of heart shaped cut out sugar cookies

    You can adapt this sugar cookie recipe to any holiday by switching out the vanilla and spices for other flavors like orange, almond, lemon, strawberry, etc. The options are endless! I've switched out ¼ of flour for cocoa powder to make them into chocolate sugar cookies!

    This dough can easily be colored with regular food coloring to make fun Christmas cookies. Make a double batch and freeze your cookies to be decorated later!

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Cut Out Sugar Cookie Ingredients
    • How to Make Cut Out Sugar Cookies Step-by-Step
    • FAQ
    • More Cookie Recipes You'll Love

    Cut Out Sugar Cookie Ingredients

    How to Make Cut Out Sugar Cookies Step-by-Step

    Remember to bring your butter and eggs to room temperature so your dough does not split. Your butter should be soft enough that you can press your finger into it but not melted. I place my eggs in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes to bring them to room temp.

    1. In the bowl of your stand mixer, place your butter, salt, and granulated sugar. adding butter to a mixing bowl
    2. Cream the butter and sugar on low using the paddle attachment. Creamed butter should be fluffy and pale yellow in color. close up of creamed butter and sugar
    3. Next, add the room temperature egg and mix it on medium speed (speed 2 on a Bosch, speed 4 on KitchenAid mixer) until it is fully incorporated. Scrape the bowl when necessary to make sure the egg incorporates.pouring an egg into sugar cookie ingredients
    4. Then, add in the vanilla extract and mix it until it's just incorporated.
    5. In a separate bowl, whisk your dry ingredients (AP flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg) together. dry ingredients in a glass bowl
    6. Add in ⅓ of your dry ingredients to the egg mixture and mix on low until incorporated. Scrape the bowl as needed to fully incorporate the ingredients. Continue adding the flour mixture in thirds until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.adding flour into the bowl of a stand mixer
    7. Then, once the flour is fully incorporated you will add the milk. Continue to mix it on low until the dough becomes a solid mass. close up of sugar cookie dough
    8. Scrape out the mixer bowl and then wrap up your sugar cookie dough in plastic wrap. sugar cookie dough on plastic wrap
    9. Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 2 hours. This gives the time for the flour to absorb the moisture which prevents your cookies from spreading. Chilling is the secret! You can even make this dough a day in advance if you want. wrapped sugar cookie dough
    10. Remove the dough from the fridge and give it a quick knead to soften it.
    11. Roll the dough out to about ¼" thick using a rolling pin and a dusting of flour.
    12. Use your desired cookie cutter to cut out uniform shapes. close up of hand picking up a heart cut out sugar cookie
    13. Place the cookies on a baking sheet that's lined with parchment paper.
    14. Next, put the cookie sheet back in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to allow the dough to chill again. Chilled cookie dough will keep their shape in the oven and not expand or warp.
    15. Bake the chilled cookies at (350ºF 177ºC) for 10-14 minutes depending on the size of the cookie. Cookies will be done once they are slightly golden brown on the edge. close up of cut out sugar cookies
    stacked heart shaped sugar cookies

    Ready to decorate your sugar cookies? Check out my blog post on how to make the perfect royal icing for decorating cookies.

    photo of sugar cookies with royal icing

    FAQ

    Can I substitute ingredients?

    You can, but it's the results will be different. Here's some advice:

    When you make substitutions in your cookie recipe, you always have to remember that not all ingredients contain the same amount of moisture.

    First, you have to consider if what you're replacing has the same properties. Because brown sugar has more moisture in it than white sugar, if you take out the brown and replace it with white, you might end up with a crunchier cookie.

    How do I make my sugar cookies light and puffy?

    If you're going for a light, puffy cookie you can try to use shortening or even margarine but cut back on the amount of fat you use. Add an extra egg and cut back on the sugar.

    Another tip for a more puffy cookie is to use cake flour or pastry flour and use baking powder instead of baking soda.

    Also, you'll want to refrigerate your dough before baking your cookies.

    What is the function of baking powder in cookies?

    Baking powder is a two-in-one chemical leavening that combines a powdered alkali with a powdered acid. Since baking powder combines both of these, it eliminates the need for extra ingredients in your dough such as buttermilk, sour cream, or an acidic addition since no activation is needed when using baking powder. When it is added to a dough or batter, a chemical reaction takes place that produces carbon dioxide gas, inflating cookies.

    If you forget the baking powder you'll probably end up with some very flat, hard cookies.

    Why do my sugar cookies spread out so much?

    Make sure your chill your dough for two hours before cutting out your sugar cookies and then chill your cut out cookies on the sheet pan before baking. This keeps the butter nice and cold and helps the cookies to keep their shape.

    How long do sugar cookies last?

    Sugar cookies are great to store if you keep them in a cool, dry cupboard or pantry. Make sure these locations are away from sinks, stoves, and ovens though. They will keep for about three weeks. You can freeze them for up to three months. Just make sure you have a seal that is secure, you can even vacuum pack a few cookies per bag. No one likes the taste of freezer burn on his or her cookies.

    How do you keep homemade cookies soft?

    Here is a little home tip for you that I do. I take a piece of bread (white is best because it doesn't transfer its taste to your cookies) and then place it in a container. Use one piece of bread per dozen cookies. The cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, therefore, keep them from drying out. This will keep your cookies soft much longer.

    More Cookie Recipes You'll Love

    Marbled Valentines Day Sugar Cookies

    Soft and Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies

    Easy M&M Cookies

    Copycat Lofthouse Cookies

    Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Recipe

    close up of heart shaped cut out sugar cookies
    Print Recipe
    4.77 from 94 votes

    The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

    The best no spread, no fail cut out sugar cookie recipe! These cookies are soft and buttery and always hold their shape! Switch out the flavors to make this recipe work for any occasion or holiday.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    chilling2 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12 cookies
    Calories: 322kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Ingredients

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces Unsalted butter Room temperature
    • 8 ounces Granulated sugar
    • 1 large Egg
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • 18 ounces AP flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons Baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon Milk
    • ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon (optional)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Simple Sugar Cookie Instructions

    • In the bowl of your stand mixer, place your room temperature butter and granulated sugar.
    • Cream the butter and sugar using the paddle attachment and mix it on low until it's smooth. Creamed butter should be fluffy and pale yellow in color.
    • Next, add an egg and mix it on medium speed (speed 2 on a Bosch, speed 4 on KitchenAid mixer) until it is fully incorporated. Scrape the bowl when necessary to make sure the egg incorporates.
    • Then, add in the vanilla extract and mix it until it's just incorporated.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk your dry ingredients (AP flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and baking powder) together. 
    • Add the dry ingredients into stand mixer about ⅓ of total dry ingredients at a time using a scoop. Mix it until it's fully incorporated. Start the speed on slow until the flour starts to incorporate, then turn up the speed to a medium speed setting. Scrape the bowl as needed to fully incorporate the ingredients.
    • Then, once the flour is fully incorporated you will add the milk. Continue to mix it on slow until the dough becomes a solid mass. 
    • Scrape out the mixer bowl and then wrap up your sugar cookie dough in plastic wrap.
    • Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 2 hours. 
    • Knead the cookie dough, and then roll it until it is thin enough to cut cookie shapes.
    • Use your desired cookie cutter to cut out uniform shapes.
    • Place the cookies on a baking sheet that's lined with parchment paper.
    • Next, put the cookie sheet back in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to allow the dough to chill again. Chilled cookie dough will keep it's shape in the oven and not expand or warp.
    • Bake the chilled cookies at (350ºF 177ºC) for 10-14 minutes depending on the size of the cookie. Cookies will be done once they are slightly golden brown on the edge.

    Notes

    • Weigh your ingredients to avoid cookie failure. Using a kitchen scale for baking is super easy and gives you the best results every single time. 
    • Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
    • After you prepare your cookie dough, ensure you wrap it up in some plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. 
    • Chilled cookie dough will keep its shape in the oven and not expand or warp.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 142mg | Potassium: 106mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    close up of panna cotta with strawberry gelee

    February 1, 2022 Blog

    Panna Cotta with Strawberry Gelée

    Smooth and creamy vanilla bean panna cotta and strawberry gelée are served on the diagonal in individual wine glasses. These beautiful and tasty desserts are perfect for weddings, bridal showers, or any special occasion.

    Each bite of this dessert packs a punch of vibrant strawberries paired with creamy and sweet panna cotta. This elegant dessert is excellent for celebrations like bridal showers and weddings, or even as a special dessert for a romantic date night at home!

    What's great about panna cotta is you can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 7 days before you add in the strawberry. Chef Christophe Rull makes a beautiful presentation inside of a wine glass, but you can also prepare it in any vessel you like (it would look stunning in a martini glass, too!)

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Panna Cotta Ingredients
    • Preparing the Strawberry Gelée
    • How to Make Panna Cotta
    • Assembling the Panna Cotta
    • FAQ
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Panna Cotta Ingredients

    panna cotta ingredients

    Gelatin: You will need gelatin (or agar-agar which is a vegetarian substitute for gelatin) in order to set your panna cotta. Either gelatin (or agar-agar) is needed to bind the ingredients together and transform the cream into a more solid form. If you do not have gelatin sheets you can also use powdered gelatin in place of the sheets (10 grams of powdered gelatin and 50 grams of water).

    Vanilla bean: For more delicate desserts like this one, the quality of the vanilla you use really matters. Don't have a vanilla bean? No problem! You can substitute with 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste or a high-quality vanilla extract (and you will skip the step in the recipe that requires you to strain the vanilla pod and seeds from the cream).

    Preparing the Strawberry Gelée

    1. First, you will begin by preparing the strawberry juice to make the jelly. To do this, combine the strawberries and the sugar together in a medium-sized bowl. Either frozen or fresh strawberries will work for this.pouring sugar over strawberries in a bowlmixing strawberries and sugar together with a spatula
    2. Then, wrap the top of the bowl with plastic wrap to create a steam environment in the bowl. This is to extract as much juice and flavor from the berries as possible without losing moisture.bowl of strawberries on oven covered with plastic wrap
    3. Place the bowl on a double boiler and let it cook for 1 hour over medium . Once your berries have reduced, the berries should appear to be swimming in their own juice.top down view of strawberries inside bowl sitting inside strawberry juice
    4. Next, after the berries have reduced you will strain the berries over a chinois (fine mesh strainer) lined with a cheesecloth or a paper towel. This will remove all of the berry fibers and leave a beautiful, clear strawberry juice.hands inside of a cheesecloth over a strainerhand guiding a bowl of strawberries through a strainerstrainer inside of a large measuring cup with strawberry juice dripping

    How to Make Panna Cotta

    1. In a bowl, measure 6 times the amount of cool water as gelatin. So for 8 grams of gelatin, you will need 48 grams of water. Place the sheets of gelatin in the water one at a time while making sure that they do not stick together. Let them bloom while you prepare the cream.hands holding a sheet of gelatin above a bowl of water
    2. Next, using a paring knife, split your vanilla bean and scrape the seeds from the pod. You will want to keep the pod so you can steep it in your cream.splitting a vanilla bean pod
    3. Then, in a sauce pan, combine your heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla bean (both the seeds and the pod).vanilla bean pod and seeds sauce pan on top of cream
    4. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it is boiling.whisk resting over saucepan
    5. Once the cream mixture is boiling, remove it from the heat and strain it through a fine, mesh strainer or a chinois into a bowl.hand holding a strainer with vanilla bean pod inside over a cup
    6. With your hands, squeeze out the excess water from your bloomed gelatin sheets and then add them to the strained hot cream mixture. Stir until they are combined.hands shown squeezing water out of gelatin sheethand dropping gelatin inside of a saucepan
    7. Finally, add in your buttermilk and stir until they are combined and the gelatin has fully melted.whisking in saucepan

    Assembling the Panna Cotta

    1. Prepare your serving glasses or containers. PRO TIP: We used water to decide what angle we wanted our panna cotta to set at, and then cleaned and dried the glasses to get them ready for the panna cotta to be poured into. Make sure they are stable so they can be moved to the refrigerator carefully without spilling or sloshing. We used a non-skid mat and a cupcake tin to hold our glasses steady.muffin pan with 2 cups laying at an angle inside
    2. Slowly pour your panna cotta into the glasses to your desired volume. We chose to fill ours with about 6 ounces of panna cotta mixture in each glass.pouring mixture into a wine glass that's sitting at a slight angle
    3. Place the panna cotta in the fridge to completely set (it could take 5-6 hours). It should be firm with no movement when you gently tilt or shake the glass.panna cotta sitting at an angle inside of a wine glass
    4. Now, you will bloom your gelatin sheets for the strawberry jelly. In a bowl, measure 6 times the amount of cool water as gelatin. So for 8 grams of gelatin you will need 48 grams of water.
    5. Using a scale, measure 500 grams of the strawberry juice in a pourable container.bowl of strained strawberry juice
    6. Place the sheets of gelatin in the cool water one at a time while making sure they are not stuck together. Let them bloom for about 5 minutes.
    7. Next, squeeze the excess water from the gelatin sheets and then microwave it 30 seconds at a time to melt it. You only want to melt the gelatin (be careful not to boil it).
    8. Then, carefully pour the melted gelatin into the strawberry liquid. The juice should still be warm enough to melt the gelatin once added and mixed.hands shown pouring and whisking ingredients
    9. Gently stir them until they are combined. You do not want to incorporate too many bubbles. Allow them to cool to about 70ºF (21ºC).whisk inside of large measuring bowl
    10. Remove the stems from your strawberries and slice them into sections. Add the sliced strawberries on top of the panna cotta. hands shown chopping up strawberrieshand shown dropping strawberry pieces into wine glass filled with panna cotta
    11. Next, slowly pour the jelly mix over the strawberries until the volume matches the level of the panna cotta.pouring strawberry mixture over wine glass filled with strawberries on top of panna cotta
    12. Then, carefully place the panna cotta glasses back into the fridge for another 2 hours until the strawberry jelly is set.
    13. Panna cotta is either served chilled or at room temperature. Whatever you prefer! Garnish with edible gold and enjoy! dessert plate presentation of panna cotta with strawberry

    FAQ

    What does panna cotta taste like?

    Silky, vanilla cream that has a thicker texture with a slight giggle.

    What does panna cotta mean?

    Cooked cream.

    Can you make this dairy-free?

    Absolutely! You can replace the heavy whipping cream with almond milk or coconut milk.

    Could I use raspberry instead of strawberry for this recipe?

    Yes! If you make it, be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook @sugargeekshow

    What's the difference between panna cotta and crème brûlée?

    Panna cotta is gelatinized sweet cream prepared in the refrigerator, and crème brûlée is an egg custard that is baked in the oven and topped with crystallized sugar.

    Is panna cotta like flan?

    Yes, both are creamy desserts that have a slight giggle to them. But they are prepared in different ways and do not share similar flavors. Panna cotta is sweet cream that is thickened with gelatin, and flan is a custard made with eggs and surrounded by liquid caramel to give it a warmer, nuttier taste.

    What kind of gelatin should I use?

    You can use any kind of gelatin (or agar-agar) you prefer. You could also make your own gelatin sheet if you plan on needing more gelatin in the future.

    Can I use anything other than gelatin to set it?

    Yes, you can use agar-agar. Keep in mind, if you use agar-agar as a substitute you will have slightly different (firmer) results.

    Can I use powdered gelatin?

    Yep! Just replace the sheet gelatin with an equal amount of powdered gelatin. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it absorb for 5 minutes.

    Why is my panna cotta not setting?

    You either did not incorporate enough gelatin (or agar-agar), or it needs to sit in the refrigerator a bit longer.

    Why is my panna cotta separating?

    Your gelatin did not bloom properly, or you did not squeeze out the excess water. To avoid this, set your gelatin in water and allow it to bloom (i.e. absorb liquid) for 5 minutes before using your hands to squeeze out any excess water. When the fat from the cream separates from the water in the gelatin, it creates two distinct layers that will separate your panna cotta.

    golden spoon scooping a bite-size amount of panna cotta with strawberry gelée

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Crème brûlée

    Basic gelatin sheet recipe

    Strawberry puree

    Lemon curd recipe

    Recipe

    Print Recipe
    4.88 from 8 votes

    Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Strawberry Gelée

    Creamy, vanilla bean panna cotta topped with strawberry sauce is the perfect party dessert!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 360kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Ingredients

    Strawberry Gelée

    • 1000 grams strawberries fresh or frozen
    • 200 grams sugar
    • 8 grams sheet gelatin
    • 48 Grams water

    Vanilla Panna Cotta

    • 225 grams heavy whipping cream
    • 100 grams buttermilk
    • 45 grams sugar
    • 1 whole vanilla bean
    • 8 grams sheet gelatin
    • 48 Grams water

    Instructions

    Preparing the Strawberry Gelée

    • First, you will begin by preparing the strawberry juice to make the jelly. To do this, combine the strawberries and the sugar together in a medium-sized bowl. Either frozen or fresh strawberries will work for this.
    • Then, wrap the top of the bowl with plastic wrap to create a steam environment in the bowl. This is to extract as much juice and flavor from the berries as possible without losing moisture.
    • Place the bowl on a double boiler and let it cook for 1 hour over medium heat. Once your berries have reduced, the berries should appear to be swimming in their own juice.
    • Next, after the berries have reduced you will strain the berries over a chinois lined with a cheesecloth or a paper towel. This will remove all of the berry fibers and leave a beautiful, clear red liquid.

    Making the Panna Cotta

    • In a bowl, measure 6 times the amount of cool water as gelatin. So for 8 grams of gelatin, you will need 48 grams of water. Place the sheets of gelatin in the water one at a time while making sure that they do not stick together. Let them bloom while you prepare the cream. *See the notes section below if you want to use powdered gelatin.
    • Next, using a paring knife, split your vanilla bean and scrape the seeds from the pod. You will want to keep the pod so you can steep it in your cream.
    • Then, in a sauce pan, combine your heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla bean (both the seeds and the pod).
    • Heat the mixture over medium heat until it is boiling.
    • Once the mixture is boiling, turn off the heat. Squeeze out the excess water from your bloomed gelatin sheets and then add them to the hot cream mixture. Stir until they are combined and the gelatin is melted.
    • Strain the mixture through a fine, mesh strainer or a chinois into a bowl.
    • Finally, add in your buttermilk and stir until they are combined.

    Assembling the Panna Cotta Dessert Glasses

    • Prepare your serving glasses or containers. PRO TIP: We used water to decide what angle we wanted our panna cotta to set at, and then cleaned and dried the glasses to get them ready for the panna cotta to be poured into. Make sure they are stable so they can be moved to the refrigerator carefully without spilling or sloshing.
    • Slowly pour your panna cotta into the glasses to your desired volume. We chose to fill ours with about 6 ounces each.
    • Place the panna cotta in the fridge to completely set (it could take 5-6 hours). It should be firm with no movement when you gently tilt or shake the glass.
    • Now, you will bloom your gelatin sheets for the strawberry jelly. In a bowl, measure 6 times the amount of cool water as gelatin. So for 8 grams of gelatin you will need 48 grams of water.
    • Using a scale, measure 500 grams of the strawberry juice in a pourable container.
    • Place the sheets of gelatin in the cool water one at a time while making sure they are not stuck together. Let them bloom for about 5 minutes.
    • Next, squeeze the excess water from the gelatin sheets and then add them to the strawberry liquid. The juice should still be warm enough to melt the gelatin once added and mixed.
    • Gently stir them until they are combined. You do not want to incorporate too many bubbles. Allow them to cool to about 70ºF (21ºC).
    • Stand the set panna cotta glasses upright and then add sliced strawberries to the empty void in the glass to your desired height.
    • Next, slowly pour the jelly mix over the strawberries until the volume matches the level of the panna cotta.
    • Then, carefully place the panna cotta glasses back into the fridge for another 2 hours until the strawberry jelly is set.
    • Panna cotta is either served chilled or a room temperature. Whatever you prefer! (Optional) Garnish with edible gold and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. You can make this a dairy-free recipe by replacing the cream with almond milk or coconut milk.
    2. If you do not have gelatin sheets you can use powdered gelatin. Mix together 10 grams of powdered gelatin and 50 grams of cold water and let it bloom for 5 minutes (one each for the panna cotta and one for the strawberry gelee).
    3. Need a vegetarian substitute for gelatin? You can use agar-agar.
    4. Once you add the gelatin to your cream, you do not want to boil the liquid again. Why? Because it will cause the cream and the gelatin to separate.
    5. Need to make this for a party? You can make and set your panna cotta for up to 7 days in the refrigerator. Just be sure to not add in any strawberry or sauce until a few hours before you're ready to serve it. 
    6. If you want an easier substitute for the strawberry concentrate, check out my strawberry reduction recipe.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servings | Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 307mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 50g | Vitamin A: 599IU | Vitamin C: 98mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg
    Cake sculpted to look like Boba Fett

    February 1, 2022 Course Preview

    Boba Fett Cake Tutorial

    Skill level: Intermediate

    In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a bobble-head stylized Boba Fett cake. Few characters are as popular and recognizable in the Star Wars universe as the notorious Boba Fett!

    You will learn how to create this gravity-defying cake, featuring Boba Fett's iconic Mandalorian helmet shape, how to get the proportions of a Funko-Pop figure correct, adding the details including hands, boots, this helmet antenna, and his iconic blaster and jetpack.

    There's a lot to cover in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

    1:38:07 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • How to create a Funko-Pop Boba Fett figure out of cake and edible materials
    • Learn how to sculpt Boba's helmet, blaster, jetpack and poncho
    • How to get the gravity-defying structure right

    Cake sculpted to look like Boba Fett

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Making the bases 0:29
    2. Making the structure 1:07
    3. Adding the armature wire 9:57
    4. Stacking The Cakes 12:57
    5. Shaping The Cakes 16:04
    6. Coloring The Fondant 25:09
    7. Building Up The Torso 26:46
    8. Coloring The Fondant Pt. 1 32:56
    9. Covering The Cake In Fondant 34:30
    10. Making The Boots 39:17
    11. Building Up The Legs 43:28
    12. Bulking And Detailing The Torso 46:10
    13. Making The Gun 50:52
    14. Making The Antenna Pt. 1 54:39
    15. Making The Fist 56:20
    16. Painting The Helmet Pt. 1 59:28
    17. Coloring The Modeling Chocolate Pt. 2 1:01:30
    18. Detailing The Boots 1:03:38
    19. Making The Belt And Holster 1:08:47
    20. Adding The Body Armor 1:11:16
    21. Adding The Fist And Detailing 1:14:32
    22. Making The Antenna Pt. 2 1:15:42
    23. Making The Shoulder Pads 1:17:29
    24. Adding The Helmet Details 1:18:28
    25. Adding The Antenna 1:25:32
    26. Adding The Arm Cuff 1:27:35
    27. Making the Jetpack Pt. 1 1:28:21
    28. Adding The Gun And Hand 1:29:50
    29. Making And Adding The Poncho 1:31:09
    30. Making The Jetpack Pt. 2 1:32:35
    31. Painting The Helmet And Hand 1:34:28
    32. Painting The Final Details 1:35:43

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Helmet Template - Top

    Helmet Template - Bottom

    Boba Fett Reference

    Cake sculpted to look like Boba Fett

    February 1, 2022 Paid Video

    Boba Fett Cake

    Skill level: Intermediate

    In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a bobble-head stylized Boba Fett cake. Few characters are as popular and recognizable in the Star Wars universe as the notorious Boba Fett!

    You will learn how to create this gravity-defying cake, featuring Boba Fett's iconic Mandalorian helmet shape, how to get the proportions of a Funko-Pop figure correct, adding the details including hands, boots, this helmet antenna, and his iconic blaster and jetpack.

    There's a lot to cover in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

    1:38:07 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • How to create a Funko-Pop Boba Fett figure out of cake and edible materials
    • Learn how to sculpt Boba's helmet, blaster, jetpack and poncho
    • How to get the gravity-defying structure right

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Making the bases 0:29
    2. Making the structure 1:07
    3. Adding the armature wire 9:57
    4. Stacking The Cakes 12:57
    5. Shaping The Cakes 16:04
    6. Coloring The Fondant 25:09
    7. Building Up The Torso 26:46
    8. Coloring The Fondant Pt. 1 32:56
    9. Covering The Cake In Fondant 34:30
    10. Making The Boots 39:17
    11. Building Up The Legs 43:28
    12. Bulking And Detailing The Torso 46:10
    13. Making The Gun 50:52
    14. Making The Antenna Pt. 1 54:39
    15. Making The Fist 56:20
    16. Painting The Helmet Pt. 1 59:28
    17. Coloring The Modeling Chocolate Pt. 2 1:01:30
    18. Detailing The Boots 1:03:38
    19. Making The Belt And Holster 1:08:47
    20. Adding The Body Armor 1:11:16
    21. Adding The Fist And Detailing 1:14:32
    22. Making The Antenna Pt. 2 1:15:42
    23. Making The Shoulder Pads 1:17:29
    24. Adding The Helmet Details 1:18:28
    25. Adding The Antenna 1:25:32
    26. Adding The Arm Cuff 1:27:35
    27. Making the Jetpack Pt. 1 1:28:21
    28. Adding The Gun And Hand 1:29:50
    29. Making And Adding The Poncho 1:31:09
    30. Making The Jetpack Pt. 2 1:32:35
    31. Painting The Helmet And Hand 1:34:28
    32. Painting The Final Details 1:35:43

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Helmet Template - Top

    Helmet Template - Bottom

    ⅓ Scale Boba Fett Turnaround Reference

    Boba Fett Scale Reference 01

    Boba Fett Scale Reference 02

    crème brûlée in a glass dish decorated with fruit and flowers

    January 25, 2022 Blog

    Crème Brûlée

    Crème brûlée is a smooth, ultra-creamy custard dessert with a crisp caramel topping that you crack through with your spoon. The smooth custard and crunchy sugar make a delicious combination in your mouth so it's no surprise it's a favorite dessert for many and popular in restaurants served with fresh berries.

    crème brûlée in a glass dish decorated with fruit and flowers

    Today, chef Christophe Rull is going to walk you through step-by-step how to bake a perfectly smooth and creamy crème brûlée, how to take the presentation up a notch by using different containers, and best of all, no water bath necessary!

    What's great about this recipe is that it uses a low-temperature baking method to prevent you from overcooking the custard. This method is much safer since you do not have to worry about pouring hot water into a pan to create a water bath.

    As an added bonus, when you bake custard at a lower temperature without a water bath, it gives you more opportunities to get creative with what dish you are baking your custard inside (and if you want to opt for a more decorative, oven-safe dish that's larger than a traditional ramekin).

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Crème Brûlée Ingredients
    • How to Make Crème Brûlée
    • Caramelizing the Sugar
    • FAQ
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Crème Brûlée Ingredients

    One of the best things about making crème brûlée is it only takes 5 common ingredients! If you don't have a vanilla bean then you can use 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste or extract although I do love the look of the vanilla bean seeds in the finished product!

    How to Make Crème Brûlée

    1. Preheat your oven to 200ºF (93ºC).
    2. Split your vanilla bean in half with a sharp knife and remove the seeds with the tip. Scrape the seeds into your milk. Reserve the pod to use in the next step.
    3. In a heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream, milk, vanilla (both the seeds and the pod), and sugar. Bring it all to a boil.cutting open a vanilla bean podwhisk inside of bowl with cream and vanilla bean
    4. Once your mixture begins to boil, remove it from the heat.
    5. Whisk your eggs gently to break them up in a separate bowl.
    6. Pour about ⅓ of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks while continually whisking. This will temper the eggs with the milk so that they wont curdle when you add the rest of the hot milk to them.pouring creme into eggs
    7. Once the eggs and the milk are thoroughly combined, add the egg mixture back into the pot with the remaining hot milk. Whisk to combine.
    8. Next, strain the custard mixture through a strainer or sieve to remove the vanilla fibers and the vanilla pod. straining into a bowl of eggs
    9. Use an immersion blender (optional) to blend the ingredients until they are smooth and homogenous. Try not to incorporate any air by keeping the head of the blender under the surface of the mixture.hand holding blender and blending crème brûlée mixture
    10. Fill your baking containers or ramekins ¾ of the way with custard. PRO TIP: It will be easier to place the containers on a sheet pan with a silicone baking mat underneath before filling them, and then move the entire sheet pan to the oven.glass dish on top of a non-slip mat on a baking sheetpouring crème brûlée into glass dish
    11. Then, tightly cover each container or ramekin with plastic wrap. Poke a few holes in the plastic wrap to allow some airflow. The plastic wrap will keep moisture in the containers so you don't get a skin on top and the low temperature of the oven allows the crème brûlée to be baked without a waterbath. wrapping plastic wrap around crème brûlée dishpoking holes in plastic wrap on top of crème brûlée
    12. Place the sheet pan on the middle rack in the preheated oven.
    13. Bake for about 1 hour and 25 minutes. I'm baking mine in large glass bowls that serve 2 people each, but you can also use ramekins. Baking time may vary. Once your custard has somewhat solidified around the perimeter of the ramekin and has a SLIGHT jiggle in the center, it is finished baking. If your custard appears to be mostly liquid, allow it to bake longer adding 10 minutes at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
    14. Once the ramekins have been removed from the oven, allow them to cool for about 20 minutes. Then, place them in the fridge until they are completely cool.bowl of cooked crème brûlée on a baking dish

    Caramelizing the Sugar

    1. When you are ready to serve the crème brûlée, spread a thin, even layer of sugar across the top of the custard. You can do this by placing a couple Tablespoons of sugar on top then gently turning the bowl so gravity does most of the work for you and moves the sugar around the surface.hand tiling the bowl of crème brûlée to move the sugar around the bowlhand tiling the bowl of crème brûlée to move the sugar around the bowl
    2. Using a culinary torch, heat the sugar until it reaches the desired caramelization on top. PRO TIP: Try to heat the sugar in small increments so you don't cook the custard under the sugar. The goal is to have a thin layer of crunchy caramelized (not burned) sugar on top of the cool custard. If you do not have a blow torch, place the ramekins back in the oven and broil them until the sugar has caramelized.hand holding a kitchen torch over crème brûlée
    3. Garnish with berries or fruit of your choice.hand placing fruits on top of crème brûléecrème brûlée in a glass dish decorated with fruits and a flower

    FAQ

    What is crème brûlée mostly made of?

    Cream, sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla.

    What does crème brûlée taste like?

    It is a light and airy vanilla-flavored baked custard with a slightly crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on top.

    Why is my crème brûlée eggy?

    You may have over-baked it. Eggs will contract if they are baked too much and then they squeeze all of the water out of the dish. This results in a texture similar to scrambled eggs.

    What sugar is best for crème brûlée?

    Granulated sugar is ideal for baking the custard, and sprinkling Sugar in the Raw on top works best for getting the iconic caramelized sugar layer on top using a kitchen torch.

    Why is my crème brûlée foamy?

    If it had bubbles on top before it was baked, then it will be foamy. What you can do to get rid of these bubbles is gently use a kitchen torch to blow away the bubbles before you bake your custard.

    Can I use brown sugar to make crème brûlée?

    Yes! But if you use brown sugar instead of granulated sugar, it will be darker in color.

    Is crème brûlée gluten-free?

    Generally speaking, yes! It's always important to check that your ingredients are gluten-free, but traditionally it is gluten-free.

    Do I need a torch?

    No, not if you are baking custard inside of a ramekin. With ramekins, you can broil the custard instead of using a torch. However, if you are using a different baking dish you will want to be careful before putting it under the broiler (depending on how hot the dish can get before shattering).

    spoonful of crème brûlée

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Chocolate Souffle

    Coconut Custard

    Panna Cotta With Strawberry Gelee

    Crème Anglaise Recipe

    Homemade Pastry Creme

    Recipe

    crème brûlée in a glass dish decorated with fruit and flowers
    Print Recipe
    4.67 from 9 votes

    Crème Brûlée

    A classic creamy custard dessert that balances the sweet textures of smooth and crunchy.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 466kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • 4 oven safe bowls/ramekins
    • pot
    • Whisk
    • strainer
    • Kitchen torch

    Ingredients

    Crème Brûlée

    • 100 grams egg yolks
    • 70 grams granulated sugar
    • 250 grams milk
    • 250 grams heavy whipping cream
    • 1 vanilla bean (seeds scraped out, pod reserved)
    • 50 grams granulated sugar or sugar in the raw (set aside) (used to caramelize the custard after it's baked)

    Garnish (Optional)

    • 155 grams fresh berries

    Instructions

    Making the Crème Brûlée

    • Preheat your oven to 200ºF (93ºC).
    • In a heavy bottom pot over medium heat, combine the milk, vanilla (both the seeds and the pod), and sugar. Bring it all to a boil.
    • Then, in a separate bowl, add in your egg yolk and gently whip it until it reaches a smooth consistency.
    • Once the milk has begun to boil, strain it to remove the vanilla pod, into your egg yolks and mix until combined.
    • Add the heavy cream.
    • Using an immersion blender, blend the custard to create an extra smooth consistency, about 15 seconds. Be sure not to allow a lot of air into the custard while it is blending.
    • Fill your baking containers or ramekins ¾ of the way with custard. PRO TIP: It will be easier to place the containers on a sheet tray before filling them, and then move the entire sheet tray to the oven. I used a silicone mat as well to avoid the bowl sliding.
    • Then, tightly cover each container or ramekin with plastic wrap. Poke a few holes in the plastic wrap to allow some airflow.
    • Carefully move your custard to the middle rack in the preheated oven.
    • Bake for about 1 hour and 25 minutes. I'm baking mine in large glass bowls that serve 2 people each, but you can also use ramekins. Baking time may vary. Once your custard has somewhat solidified around the perimeter of the ramekin and has a slight jiggle in the center, it is finished baking.
    • If your custard appears to be mostly liquid, allow it to bake longer adding 10 minutes at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
    • Once the ramekins have been removed from the oven, allow them to cool for about 20 minutes. Then, place them in the fridge until they are completely cool.

    Caramelizing the Sugar

    • When you are ready to serve the custard, spread a thin, even layer of granulated sugar across the top of the custard. You can do this by gently turning the bowl so gravity does most of the work for you and moves the sugar around the custard.
    • Using a kitchen blow torch, heat the sugar until it reaches the desired caramelization on top. PRO TIP: Try to do heat the sugar with a blow torch in small increments so you don't cook the custard under the sugar. The goal is to have a thin layer of crunchy caramelized (not burned) sugar on top of the cool custard.
      If you do not have a blow torch, place the ramekins back in the oven and broil them until the sugar has crystallized.
    • Garnish with berries or fruit of your choice.

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
    2. Use a scale to weigh your ingredients (including liquids) unless otherwise instructed (Tablespoons, teaspoons, pinch, etc). Metric measurements are available in the recipe card. Scaled ingredients are much more accurate than using cups and help ensure the success of your recipe. 
    3. You do not need a kitchen blow torch if you are baking your custard in ramekins. If you are using another kind of baking dish, you will want to confirm how hot it can get before it shatters before you place it under the broiler in your oven. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 466kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 363mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 1385IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 1mg
    closeup of chocolate souffle

    January 20, 2022 Blog

    Chocolate Soufflé With Crème Anglaise

    This is how to get a perfectly light and airy chocolate soufflé with an intense chocolate flavor and topped with a creamy cremé Anglaise vanilla sauce. Follow Chef Christophe Rull's foolproof tips and tricks to get your chocolate soufflé to rise nice and tall. Anyone can make a soufflé!

    closeup of chocolate soufflé

    Don't be intimidated by the idea of baking a soufflé! This recipe will walk you through step-by-step how to prepare and bake chocolate soufflé that tastes light, airy, creamy, chocolatey, and stands tall every time you make it!

    I've got all my tips and tricks to share with you, and this recipe will ensure you have all the information you need to successfully bake a chocolate soufflé!

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Chocolate Soufflé Ingredients
    • Crème Anglaise Ingredients
    • Preparing the Crème Anglaise
    • How to Make Chocolate Soufflé Step-by-Step
    • Baking the Chocolate Soufflé
    • Tips for the Perfect Chocolate Soufflé
    • FAQ
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Chocolate Soufflé Ingredients

    There aren't any tricky ingredients in this recipe but you might want to double-check your chocolate. I use extra-bitter Guayaquil but you could just look for a nice bar of dark chocolate at your grocery store like Lindt and just chop it up. You want to avoid chocolate chips because they contain thickeners that stop them from melting smoothly.

    chocolate souffle ingredients

    Crème Anglaise Ingredients

    close up of creme anglaise vanilla sauce

    To make crème anglaise you only need three ingredients: milk, eggs, and a vanilla bean.

    Don't have a vanilla bean? No problem! You can substitute with 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste or a high-quality vanilla extract.

    Preparing the Crème Anglaise

    1. First, cut your vanilla bean in half lengthwise and carefully scrape the seeds out with a knife.
    2. Next, pour the milk into a saucepan. Turn the heat onto medium heat.
    3. Then, add the vanilla bean seeds and the pod into the milk.vanilla bean pod and seeds in a saucepan with milk
    4. Bring the milk to a simmer, and then remove it from the heat. We are not trying to boil the milk, just heat it enough to enfuse it with the vanilla flavor.
    5. Next, strain the milk and vanilla bean mixture to remove the vanilla bean pod.
    6. In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks to break them up.
    7. Add in ⅓ of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks, and whisk to combine them. This will heat the eggs up just enough that they wont curdle when you add them into the saucepan with the rest of the cream. adding hot milk to egg mixture
    8. Once they are combined, add the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan and turn the heat back up to medium.adding egg mixture into cream mixture in a saucepan
    9. Then, over medium heat, whisk the mixture constantly until it begins to bubble and thicken. Be very careful not to overheat the mixture. testing the thickness of creme anglaise
    10. When the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and you can drag your finger through the center without the sauce dripping (a la nappe), your crème anglaise is ready.
    11. Strain the anglaise into a bowl to remove the vanilla fibers, and then cover it with plastic wrap (make sure the plastic wrap is touching the top of the sauce). straining creme anglaise
    12. Allow it to cool and set it aside until you're ready to drizzle it onto your soufflé.

    How to Make Chocolate Soufflé Step-by-Step

    1. Prepare the ramekins by brushing them with soft but not melted butter in a vertical direction. This will help the soufflé to raise straight up. I'm using four, 4" x 2" ramekins but you can use smaller ramekins if you'd like.
    2. Then, coat the butter with a thin layer of granulated sugar. Add one Tablespoon of sugar to the ramekin and roll the sugar around to coat all sides evenly then remove the excess sugar by tapping it back into a separate bowl. Set the ramekins aside.
    3. Preheat your oven to 360°F (182°C)
    4. Add your milk to a heavy bottom saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
    5. Next, in a separate bowl, combine the egg yolk and cornstarch by whisking it until the mixture is smooth and the cornstarch is dissolved. Really whisk it together so you don't get any clumps of cornstarch.
    6. Add about ⅓ cup of the hot milk to the egg yolks and mix. This is tempering the eggs so they don't curdle. Pour the egg/milk mixture back into the pot with the rest of the hot milk and whisk.
    7. Stir it constantly over medium heat until the mixutre begins to bubble and thicken. Be careful not to cook the eggs too quickly. If its getting too hot, lift the pot away from the heat and continue whisking.
    8. Remove the pot from heat, and then add the chocolate to the saucepan.
    9. Keep stirring the mixture until the chocolate is fully incorporated and melted.
    10. Then, transfer the chocolate mixture to a bowl and set it aside.
    11. Next, in the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment, add in your egg whites and a pinch of cream of tartar. Make sure your bowl is very clean, use a little bit of white vinegar to clean your bowl and whisk attachment if needed.
    12. Whip the egg whites on medium speed until you reach soft peaks (lines beginning to form in the surface of the meringue).soft peaks
    13. Slowly add in your sugar while mixing on low.
    14. Continue to whip the egg whites at medium speed until they have reached a smooth medium peak (meringue holds its shape but the tip does not stand straigh up).
    15. Then, add in ⅓ of the meringue to the chocolate pastry cream and mix them together until they are fully incorporated. You do not need to be gentle at this point.
    16. Add the chocolate mixture into the bowl with the rest of the whipped egg whites.
    17. Next, gently fold the egg whites and chocolate mixture together carefully. Try not to deflate the egg whites too much. You only want to fold them until they are fully incorporated.

    Baking the Chocolate Soufflé

    1. First, pour the soufflé mixture into a large piping bag.
    2. Snip the tip off the bag (about 1cm wide) and pipe the soufflé mixture into the ramekin. Keep the tip of the bag inside the batter as you squeeze. When the ramekin is full, stop the pressure and lift up.
    3. Using a flat spatula, level off the top of the soufflé mixture to the edge of the ramekin.
    4. Next, using the edge of your thumbnail, clean the very top edge around the ramekin to create a space between the batter and the edge of the ramekin. Make sure there is no batter on the edges or outsides of your ramekin.
    5. Repeat filling, leveling, and cleaning up the edges for each of your ramekins.
    6. Place the soufflés in a 360°F (182°C) oven for 15 minutes. Do not open the oven.You will know the soufflé is done when it has risen and has a very slight jiggle (but also a slight bounce back when it's gently touched).
    7. Serve the soufflé immediately. Garnish with powdered sugar and/or a drizzle of the crème anglaise sauce.

    Tips for the Perfect Chocolate Soufflé

    • Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready right before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
    • The chocolate you use matters! Avoid using chocolate chips. Why? Because they contain thickeners that stop the chocolate from melting smoothly. I would recommend chopping up a bar of Lindt dark chocolate since it's relatively easy to find at the grocery store. If you want to use the same chocolate I did, I used extra-bitter guayaquil.
    • Be patient with your eggs. This is key to ensuring the correct taste and texture of your soufflé. You will want to be mindful of the recipe instructions and be careful to not cook the eggs too quickly.
    • Fold the egg whites and chocolate mixture gently. Start by taking your spatula and going around the edge of the bowl just under the mixture, then cut through the center. Repeat this until everything looks combined and then stop. You don't want to go overboard otherwise you will remove all of the air you've mixed into the soufflé. Why does that matter? Because we want air trapped inside the mixture so that when it is baked, your soufflé stands tall and does not collapse.
    • Whip your French meringue on medium. Whipping this meringue on a lower speed will create smaller bubbles, helping your souffle rise higher in the oven. Big bubbles pop faster than small bubbles.
    • Waiting for your oven to pre-heat? Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 5 minutes while your oven heats up. Keeping the ingredients from getting too warm will help keep your soufflé from falling.

    FAQ

    What does a chocolate soufflé taste like?

    A chocolate soufflé is light and airy on the outside, and creamy on the inside. It is rich with chocolate flavor and will almost melt in your mouth as you eat it.

    What is a chocolate soufflé made of?

    Chocolate, eggs yolks, egg whites, whole milk, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and cream of tartar.

    What's the difference between a chocolate soufflé and a chocolate lava cake?

    A chocolate soufflé is fully baked, and a chocolate lava cake is not. Chocolate lava cakes have a runny texture in the center, and chocolate soufflé has a more creamy texture.

    What can I bake a soufflé in?

    Ramekins are ideal to use if you are baking individual soufflés. If you want to bake a larger soufflé, you can use a soufflé dish or any other casserole dish that has deep sides. Ceramic or heatproof glass dishes work best.

    Why did my chocolate soufflé fall?

    Your chocolate soufflé most likely collapsed because it cooled down. You can avoid this by only taking the soufflé out of the oven when you are ready to serve it. Timing is key!

    Another reason your soufflé may have deflated is that you did not fold the egg whites and chocolate mixture carefully enough. A gentle fold is the key to keeping all of the air inside of the mixture so that when the soufflé is baked it stands tall.

    Soufflés trap heat inside the dish which is what causes them to rise. As soon as you take a soufflé out of the oven, the heat begins to escape and this will cause the soufflé to fall naturally.

    Why does my soufflé taste eggy?


    If your chocolate soufflé tastes more like scrambled eggs than custard, you may have cooked the eggs too quickly.

    Chocolate soufflé should have a subtle egg flavor. Anything more than a subtle egg flavor would indicate a mistake was made while preparing the soufflé.

    chocolate soufflé covered in sauce

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Chocolate Lava Cake

    Death By Chocolate Cake

    Pastry Cream Recipe

    Crème Anglaise Recipe

    Recipe

    closeup of chocolate souffle
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Chocolate Soufflé with Crème Anglaise

    This recipe will walk you through step-by-step how to prepare and bake chocolate soufflé that tastes light, airy, creamy, chocolatey, and stands tall every time you make it!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 316kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • Mixer with whip attachment
    • mixing bowl
    • pot
    • Whisk
    • brush
    • fine mesh strainer
    • ramekins (I'm using four, 4" ceramic ramekins)

    Ingredients

    Crème Anglaise

    • 250 grams whole milk
    • 60 grams egg yolks
    • 30 grams granulated sugar
    • 1 vanilla bean

    Chocolate Soufflé

    • 250 grams whole milk
    • 60 grams egg yolk
    • 16 grams cornstarch
    • 125 grams 64% dark chocolate My favorite is Cacao Barry 64% Guayaquil chocolate
    • 250 grams fresh egg whites room temperature
    • 100 grams granulated sugar
    • 1 Pinch cream of tartar

    Instructions

    Making the Crème Anglaise Sauce

    • First, cut your vanilla bean in half lengthwise and carefully scrape the seeds out with a knife.
    • Next, pour the milk into a saucepan. Turn the heat on to medium heat.
    • Then, add in the vanilla bean seeds and the pod into the milk.
    • Bring the milk to a simmer, and then remove it from the heat.
    • Next, strain the milk and vanilla bean mixture over the saucepan to remove the vanilla bean pod.
    • In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks to break them up.
    • Add in ⅓ of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks, and whisk to combine them.
    • Once they are combined, add the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan and turn the heat back up to medium.
    • Then, over medium heat, whisk the mixture constantly until it begins to bubble and thicken. Be very careful not to overheat the mixture.
    • When the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and you can drag your finger through the center without the sauce dripping (a la nappe), your crème anglaise is ready.
    • Strain the anglaise into a bowl to remove the vanilla fibers, and then cover it with plastic wrap.
    • Allow to cool and set it aside until you're ready to drizzle it onto your soufflé.

    Preparing the Chocolate Soufflé Mixture

    • Begin by preparing the ramekins by brushing them with butter in a vertical direction.
    • Then, coat the butter with a thin layer of granulated sugar. Set them aside.
    • Preheat your oven to 360°F (182°C)
    • In a heavy bottom potbelly over medium heat, bring the milk to a boil.
    • Next, in a separate bowl, combine the egg yolk and cornstarch by whisking it until the mixture is smooth and the cornstarch is dissolved. Really whisk it together so you don't get any clumps of cornstarch.
    • Add about ⅓ cup of the warm milk to the egg yolks and mix. This is tempering the eggs. Once you've done this, pour the egg/milk mixture back into the pot with the rest of the hot milk.
    • Stir it constantly over medium heat to cook the egg/milk mix to a boil. Be careful not to cook the eggs too quickly.
    • Remove the pot from heat, and then add the chocolate to the pot.
    • Keep stirring the mixture until the chocolate is fully incorporated.
    • Then, transfer the chocolate mixture to a bowl and set it aside.
    • Next, in the bowl of your stand mixer, add in your egg whites and a pinch of cream of tartar. Make sure your bowl is very clean, use a little bit of white vinegar to clean your bowl and whisk attachment if needed.
    • Begin to whip the egg whites in the bowl of your stand mixer on medium speed while bringing them to a soft peak.
    • Then, slowly add in the sugar while mixing.
    • Continue to whip the egg whites at medium speed until they have reached a smooth medium peak.
    • Then, once the egg whites have a smooth medium peak, add ⅓ of the egg whites to the chocolate pastry cream and mix them together until they are fully incorporated.
    • Now, pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl with the rest of the whipped egg whites.
    • Next, gently fold the egg whites and chocolate mixture together carefully. Try not to deflate the egg whites too much. You only want to fold them until they are fully incorporated.

    Baking the Chocolate Soufflé

    • First, pour the soufflé mixture into a large, prepared piping bag.
    • Then, keeping the tip of the piping bag down in the prepared ramekin, fill the ramekin to the top making sure there are no air bubbles.
    • Using a flat spatula, level off the top of the ramekin.
    • Next, using the edge of your thumbnail, clean the very top edge around the ramekin to create a border. Make sure there is no batter on the edges or outsides of your ramekin.
    • Repeat filling, leveling, and cleaning up the edges for each of your ramekins.
    • Place the soufflés in a 360°F (182°C) oven for 15 minutes. You will know the soufflé is done when it has risen and has a very slight jiggle (but also a slight bounce back when it's gently touched).
    • Serve the soufflé immediately. Optional: Garnish with powdered sugar and/or a drizzle of the crème anglaise sauce.

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. Practice Mise en Place (everything in its place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready right before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
    2. The chocolate you use matters! Avoid using chocolate chips. Why? Because they contain thickeners that stop the chocolate from melting smoothly. I would recommend chopping up a bar of Lindt dark chocolate since it's relatively easy to find at the grocery store. If you want to use the same chocolate I did, I used extra-bitter guayaquil.
    3. Be patient with your eggs. This is key to ensuring the correct taste and texture of your soufflé. You will want to be mindful of the recipe instructions and be careful to not cook the eggs too quickly.
    4. Fold the egg whites and chocolate mixture gently. Start by taking your spatula and going around the edge of the bowl just under the mixture, then cut through the center. Repeat this until everything looks combined and then stop. You don't want to go overboard otherwise you will remove all of the air you've mixed into the soufflé. Why does that matter? Because we want air trapped inside the mixture so that when it is baked, your soufflé stands tall and does not collapse.
    5. Whip your French meringue on medium. Whipping this meringue on a lower speed will create smaller bubbles, helping your souffle rise higher in the oven. Big bubbles pop faster than small bubbles.
    6. Waiting for your oven to pre-heat? Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 5 minutes while your oven heats up. Keeping the ingredients from getting too warm will help keep your soufflé from falling.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 339mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Calcium: 193mg | Iron: 1mg
    three cakes sculpted to look like realistic cacti in plant pots

    January 15, 2022 Course Preview

    Cactus Cake Trio Tutorial

    Skill level: Intermediate

    Guest instructor Sara Weber returns for not one, not two, but three awesome, realistic cactus cakes in edible pots.

    Each cactus is unique and features a host of tips and tricks, as Sara walks you through the process step-by-step. Learn to make three different realistic cacti, edible flower blossoms for each, and three different decorated pots, featuring a dipped pot, an intricately carved pattern on a pot, and a terrazzo tile pattern that's sure to be one of those "how did they make that?!" moments for your guests at the special occasion.

    Sara showcases how to make the structure for the prickly pear, and how to protect and cover your structure in a food-safe way. There's tons of tricks and tips in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

    3:54:57 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • Learn how to create three different realistic cactus cakes in plant pots
    • How to plan out and structure these cakes using wooden dowels
    • Learn how to create a tall, ball and prickly pear cactus from edible materials
    • How to make edible soil
    • Learn how to make three different decorations for edible plant pots

    Three cakes sculpted to look like cacti in plant pots

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Overview of the structure 0:33
    2. Measuring the pots 2:20
    3. Cutting the dowel rods 4:53
    4. Covering the dowel rods 7:05
    5. Finding the cake board center 8:25
    6. Adding the dowel rods 10:54
    7. Cutting the thick dowel rods 13:08
    8. Carving and crumb coating the cakes 22:19
    9. Putting the cakes on the boards 33:57
    10. Adding the ganache 39:20
    11. Paneling the cakes with fondant 53:13
    12. Coloring the fondant terrazzo tiles 1:07:39
    13. Coloring the modeling chocolate 1:15:24
    14. Making the fondant terrazzo tiles 1:17:55
    15. Paneling the terrazzo pot 1:30:14
    16. Decorating the dipped pot 1:45:28
    17. Decorating the carved pot 1:57:19
    18. Making the marble bases 2:06:49
    19. Making rice treat cactus toppers 2:09:23
    20. Carving the rice treat base 2:15:39
    21. Making the chocolate ridges 2:19:48
    22. Covering the tall cactus in fondant 2:25:40
    23. Covering the ball cactus in fondant 2:31:22
    24. Making the prickly pear cactus topper 2:43:38
    25. Shading the cacti 2:59:23
    26. Making the cactus spines 3:07:03
    27. Making the spines for the ball cactus 3:10:51
    28. Decorating the tall cactus 3:12:25
    29. Adding the prickly pear spines 3:18:07
    30. Making the flower toppers 3:20:29
    31. Decorating the ball cactus 3:41:46
    32. Finalizing the prickly pear cactus 3:45:56
    33. Making and adding the soil 3:49:03

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Prickly Pear Template

    Butterfly Wing Template

    Pot Template

    Petal Template

    three cakes sculpted to look like realistic cacti in plant pots

    January 15, 2022 Paid Video

    Cactus Cake Trio

    Skill level: Intermediate

    Guest instructor Sara Weber returns for not one, not two, but three awesome, realistic cactus cakes in edible pots.

    Each cactus is unique and features a host of tips and tricks, as Sara walks you through the process step-by-step. Learn to make three different realistic cacti, edible flower blossoms for each, and three different decorated pots, featuring a dipped pot, an intricately carved pattern on a pot, and a terrazzo tile pattern that's sure to be one of those "how did they make that?!" moments for your guests at the special occasion.

    Sara showcases how to make the structure for the prickly pear, and how to protect and cover your structure in a food-safe way. There's tons of tricks and tips in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

    3:54:57 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • Learn how to create three different realistic cactus cakes in plant pots
    • How to plan out and structure these cakes using wooden dowels
    • Learn how to create a tall, ball and prickly pear cactus from edible materials
    • How to make edible soil
    • Learn how to make three different decorations for edible plant pots

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Overview of the structure 0:33
    2. Measuring the pots 2:20
    3. Cutting the dowel rods 4:53
    4. Covering the dowel rods 7:05
    5. Finding the cake board center 8:25
    6. Adding the dowel rods 10:54
    7. Cutting the thick dowel rods 13:08
    8. Carving and crumb coating the cakes 22:19
    9. Putting the cakes on the boards 33:57
    10. Adding the ganache 39:20
    11. Paneling the cakes with fondant 53:13
    12. Coloring the fondant terrazzo tiles 1:07:39
    13. Coloring the modeling chocolate 1:15:24
    14. Making the fondant terrazzo tiles 1:17:55
    15. Paneling the terrazzo pot 1:30:14
    16. Decorating the dipped pot 1:45:28
    17. Decorating the carved pot 1:57:19
    18. Making the marble bases 2:06:49
    19. Making rice treat cactus toppers 2:09:23
    20. Carving the rice treat base 2:15:39
    21. Making the chocolate ridges 2:19:48
    22. Covering the tall cactus in fondant 2:25:40
    23. Covering the ball cactus in fondant 2:31:22
    24. Making the prickly pear cactus topper 2:43:38
    25. Shading the cacti 2:59:23
    26. Making the cactus spines 3:07:03
    27. Making the spines for the ball cactus 3:10:51
    28. Decorating the tall cactus 3:12:25
    29. Adding the prickly pear spines 3:18:07
    30. Making the flower toppers 3:20:29
    31. Decorating the ball cactus 3:41:46
    32. Finalizing the prickly pear cactus 3:45:56
    33. Making and adding the soil 3:49:03

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Prickly Pear Template

    Butterfly Wing Template

    Pot Template

    Petal Template

    cake sculpted to look like an airplane flying around a snowcapped mountain

    December 25, 2021 Course Preview

    Rotating Airplane Cake Tutorial

    Skill level: Advanced

    In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a realistic snow-capped mountain with a rotating airplane made from edible materials that appears to fly around the mountain!

    This tutorial is packed with high-level tips and tricks, everything from how to make food-safe molds of complicated shapes and toys like the airplane I molded, to hooking up motors and structure that will create some really cool special effects.

    2:06:47 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • Learn how to create a chocolate airplane from a mold you will make yourself
    • How to create the structure and use motors that will make the airplane rotate around the cake
    • Learn how to create one-part, two-part and pour molds using food-safe materials
    • How to airbrush the plane to add realistic details and designs
    • Learn how to sculpt and create a snow-capped mountain

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Stacking the cake 0:30
    2. Overview of the motor 5:40
    3. How to bend threaded rod 13:04
    4. How to cut threaded rod 14:23
    5. Making the structure 16:04
    6. Making the foam core box 20:39
    7. Attaching the motor to the base 23:29
    8. Adding the cake board 25:26
    9. Adding the rice cereal treats 26:22
    10. Adding the cake 27:54
    11. Overview of the tools 30:31
    12. Assessing the object 34:51
    13. Adding the clay 36:45
    14. Making the box 44:12
    15. Making the mold base 46:27
    16. Cutting out the walls 48:21
    17. Gluing the walls 51:54
    18. Mixing the silicone 54:10
    19. Pouring the silicone 56:55
    20. Removing the box and toy 59:06
    21. Testing the one-part mold 1:01:47
    22. Removing the test mold 1:04:05
    23. Preparing the wings 1:05:24
    24. Making a two-part mold 1:08:09
    25. Pouring the wing silicone: Part 1 1:20:36
    26. Pouring the wing silicone: Part 2 1:22:59
    27. Making a silicone rubber one-part mold 1:26:53
    28. Making a pour mold 1:30:03
    29. Unboxing the molds 1:30:36
    30. Making the chocolate molds 1:33:43
    31. Unmolding the chocolate pieces 1:36:28
    32. Shaving down the chocolate molds 1:40:45
    33. Attaching the rudder and elevators 1:41:24
    34. Coloring the fondant 1:42:27
    35. Adding and texturing the fondant 1:44:26
    36. Painting the snow 1:47:47
    37. Adding the fondant snowcap 1:49:18
    38. Making the airplane base 1:51:41
    39. Adding the airplane base 1:53:20
    40. Adding the wings 1:55:51
    41. Attaching the airplane 1:56:45
    42. Adding the fondant clouds 1:58:12
    43. Painting the plane 2:01:28
    44. Airbrushing the plane 2:03:29

    Downloads

    Materials List

    cake sculpted to look like an airplane flying around a snowcapped mountain

    December 25, 2021 Paid Video

    Rotating Airplane Cake

    Skill level: Advanced

    In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a realistic snow-capped mountain with a rotating airplane made from edible materials that appears to fly around the mountain!

    This tutorial is packed with high-level tips and tricks, everything from how to make food-safe molds of complicated shapes and toys like the airplane I molded, to hooking up motors and structure that will create some really cool special effects.

    2:06:47 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • Learn how to create a chocolate airplane from a mold you will make yourself
    • How to create the structure and use motors that will make the airplane rotate around the cake
    • Learn how to create one-part, two-part and pour molds using food-safe materials
    • How to airbrush the plane to add realistic details and designs
    • Learn how to sculpt and create a snow-capped mountain

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Stacking the cake 0:30
    2. Overview of the motor 5:40
    3. How to bend threaded rod 13:04
    4. How to cut threaded rod 14:23
    5. Making the structure 16:04
    6. Making the foam core box 20:39
    7. Attaching the motor to the base 23:29
    8. Adding the cake board 25:26
    9. Adding the rice cereal treats 26:22
    10. Adding the cake 27:54
    11. Overview of the tools 30:31
    12. Assessing the object 34:51
    13. Adding the clay 36:45
    14. Making the box 44:12
    15. Making the mold base 46:27
    16. Cutting out the walls 48:21
    17. Gluing the walls 51:54
    18. Mixing the silicone 54:10
    19. Pouring the silicone 56:55
    20. Removing the box and toy 59:06
    21. Testing the one-part mold 1:01:47
    22. Removing the test mold 1:04:05
    23. Preparing the wings 1:05:24
    24. Making a two-part mold 1:08:09
    25. Pouring the wing silicone: Part 1 1:20:36
    26. Pouring the wing silicone: Part 2 1:22:59
    27. Making a silicone rubber one-part mold 1:26:53
    28. Making a pour mold 1:30:03
    29. Unboxing the molds 1:30:36
    30. Making the chocolate molds 1:33:43
    31. Unmolding the chocolate pieces 1:36:28
    32. Shaving down the chocolate molds 1:40:45
    33. Attaching the rudder and elevators 1:41:24
    34. Coloring the fondant 1:42:27
    35. Adding and texturing the fondant 1:44:26
    36. Painting the snow 1:47:47
    37. Adding the fondant snowcap 1:49:18
    38. Making the airplane base 1:51:41
    39. Adding the airplane base 1:53:20
    40. Adding the wings 1:55:51
    41. Attaching the airplane 1:56:45
    42. Adding the fondant clouds 1:58:12
    43. Painting the plane 2:01:28
    44. Airbrushing the plane 2:03:29

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Chocolate sculpted to look like a giant ant with gelatin wings

    December 14, 2021 Course Preview

    Chocolate Ant Showpiece Tutorial

    Skill level: Advanced

    Ever wanted to learn how to create a free-standing edible showpiece made from just chocolate? Liz Marek breaks down how to create an enormous chocolate ant in this exciting tutorial.

    In this course, you will learn how to create a giant ant featured in Liz's episode on Disney's Foodtastic series streaming on Disney+ made from tempered chocolate. Learn two different ways to make robot coupe, a moldable, chocolate medium that can be used like modeling chocolate. You will learn how to airbrush onto chocolate, something that can be very difficult to do with the oil-based nature of chocolate.

    You will learn how to create the ant facial details, the antennae and eyes, along with the wings made from edible materials.

    There's a lot to cover in this video, so let's get our tools together, and let's get started.

    2:25:30 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • How to create an enormous ant showpiece made from tempered chocolate
    • Learn how to make two different kinds of robot coupe
    • How to make edible giant wings and how to airbrush with cocoa butter

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Scaling the ant 0:28
    2. Tempering the chocolate 6:46
    3. Pouring the chocolate 9:57
    4. Making wings from templates 12:32
    5. Making wings from templates 14:46
    6. Making sheet gelatin 16:25
    7. Pouring the wings 18:15
    8. Making the wings 21:10
    9. Putting the molded pieces together 25:56
    10. Shaping the body 30:56
    11. Connecting the body pieces 38:03
    12. Building up the body Pt. 1 50:30
    13. Smoothing down the chocolate 56:36
    14. Building up the body Pt. 2 1:05:01
    15. Smoothing the body Pt. 2 1:11:46
    16. Shining the body Pt. 1 1:16:07
    17. Making the legs Pt. 1 1:22:11
    18. How to make robot coupe 1:28:37
    19. Building the legs Pt. 2 1:30:16
    20. Cutting out the wings 1:34:16
    21. Painting the wings 1:36:20
    22. Building up the legs 1:40:51
    23. Smoothing the legs 1:44:49
    24. Shining the legs 1:48:30
    25. Building the body Pt. 3 1:48:50
    26. Setting up the airbrushing equipment 1:55:10
    27. Tempering the cocoa butter 2:02:43
    28. Painting the ant 2:04:25
    29. Adding the eyes 2:07:35
    30. Shining the ant Pt. 1 2:10:52
    31. Painting the ant Pt. 2 2:14:36
    32. Glossing the cocoa butter 2:17:42
    33. Shining the ant Pt. 3 2:19:07
    34. Putting it all together 2:21:55
    35. Finishing touches 2:24:12

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Left Wing Template 01

    Left Wing Template 02

    Right Wing Template 01

    Right Wing Template 02

    Ant Reference 01

    Ant Reference 02

    Ant Wing Reference

    Chocolate sculpted to look like a giant ant with gelatin wings

    December 14, 2021 Paid Video

    Chocolate Ant Showpiece

    Skill level: Advanced

    Ever wanted to learn how to create a free-standing edible showpiece made from just chocolate? Liz Marek breaks down how to create an enormous chocolate ant in this exciting tutorial.

    In this course, you will learn how to create a giant ant featured in Liz's episode on Disney's Foodtastic series streaming on Disney+ made from tempered chocolate. Learn two different ways to make robot coupe, a moldable, chocolate medium that can be used like modeling chocolate. You will learn how to airbrush onto chocolate, something that can be very difficult to do with the oil-based nature of chocolate.

    You will learn how to create the ant facial details, the antennae and eyes, along with the wings made from edible materials.

    There's a lot to cover in this video, so let's get our tools together, and let's get started.

    2:25:30 Minutes of Instruction

    What You Will Learn

    • How to create an enormous ant showpiece made from tempered chocolate
    • Learn how to make two different kinds of robot coupe
    • How to make edible giant wings and how to airbrush with cocoa butter

    Tutorial Chapters

    1. Scaling the ant 0:28
    2. Tempering the chocolate 6:46
    3. Pouring the chocolate 9:57
    4. Making wings from templates 12:32
    5. Making wings from templates 14:46
    6. Making sheet gelatin 16:25
    7. Pouring the wings 18:15
    8. Making the wings 21:10
    9. Putting the molded pieces together 25:56
    10. Shaping the body 30:56
    11. Connecting the body pieces 38:03
    12. Building up the body Pt. 1 50:30
    13. Smoothing down the chocolate 56:36
    14. Building up the body Pt. 2 1:05:01
    15. Smoothing the body Pt. 2 1:11:46
    16. Shining the body Pt. 1 1:16:07
    17. Making the legs Pt. 1 1:22:11
    18. How to make robot coupe 1:28:37
    19. Building the legs Pt. 2 1:30:16
    20. Cutting out the wings 1:34:16
    21. Painting the wings 1:36:20
    22. Building up the legs 1:40:51
    23. Smoothing the legs 1:44:49
    24. Shining the legs 1:48:30
    25. Building the body Pt. 3 1:48:50
    26. Setting up the airbrushing equipment 1:55:10
    27. Tempering the cocoa butter 2:02:43
    28. Painting the ant 2:04:25
    29. Adding the eyes 2:07:35
    30. Shining the ant Pt. 1 2:10:52
    31. Painting the ant Pt. 2 2:14:36
    32. Glossing the cocoa butter 2:17:42
    33. Shining the ant Pt. 3 2:19:07
    34. Putting it all together 2:21:55
    35. Finishing touches 2:24:12

    Downloads

    Materials List

    Left Wing Template 01

    Left Wing Template 02

    Right Wing Template 01

    Right Wing Template 02

    Ant Reference 01

    Ant Reference 02

    Ant Wing Reference

    close up of linzer cookies on a floral plate

    December 10, 2021 Blog

    Linzer Cookies

    Linzer cookies are a holiday staple. They are crisp, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Dusted with powdered sugar and filled with homemade cranberry sauce, these might be the best Christmas cookies ever!

    close up of linzer cookies on a floral plate

    These Linzer cookies will make you the star of the Christmas cookie exchange! What's more, if you enjoy baking and giving homemade cookies as gifts, these package really nicely if you wait 24 hours after the cookies have been assembled and the jam has had some time to set!

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Linzer Cookie Ingredients
    • How to Make Cranberry Filling for Linzer Cookies
    • How to Make Linzer Cookie Dough
    • How to Assemble Linzer Cookies
    • How do you use a Linzer cookie cutter?
    • FAQ
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Linzer Cookie Ingredients

    linzer cookie ingredients

    Almond flour - We are using almond flour today, but you could use any kind of nut flour like hazelnut or pistachio! 

    Cake flour - If you don't have cake flour, remove 3 Tablespoons of All-Purpose flour and replace it with cornstarch.

    If you're located in another country, you can find cake flour but it might need to be ordered online. In the UK, look for Shipton mills cake and pastry flour. 

    Cranberry Jam - I'm making a yummy cranberry jam for my Linzer cookies, but any kind of sweet jam or filling will work! You can even use store-bought jam if you don't want to make your own.

    Cake Crumbs - I always have leftover cake laying around, so this isn't an uncommon ingredient in my house. If you don't have extra cake crumbs on hand, you can either buy a cupcake or cake from the store and crumble that up, or just use more cake flour. The cake crumbs add more flavor to your cookies.

    How to Make Cranberry Filling for Linzer Cookies

    I like to make my cranberry filling ahead of time to allow it to cool down completely. You can easily make this a few days in advance. Don't like cranberry? Try making raspberry filling instead.

    1. Combine the water, sugar, zest, juice, and cranberries together in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.cranberry filling ingredients simmering in a stainless steel pot
    2. Lower the heat to medium and let the mixture reduce for about 10 minutes or until the mixture is thickened. simmering cranberry filling in a stainless steel pot
    3. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool before using. closeup shot of cranberry filling on a spatula
    4. Once your filling is cool, use an immersion blender or blender to make your cranberry filling smoother and easier to pipe. Totally optional. cranberry filling in a glass jar with a spoon

    Pro-Tip: For a thicker filling, combine 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with 1 Tablespoon of cool water to make a slurry. Add the cornstarch to the filling at the end of cooking, and then cook it for an extra minute to thicken. 

    How to Make Linzer Cookie Dough

    1. Combine your cake crumbs, cake flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and almond flour together with a whisk. (If you don't have cake crumbs you can replace them with more almond flour) Set aside. Pro-Tip: You can use any kind of nut flour for this recipe including hazelnut, pistachio, or cashew! Linzer cookie ingredients in a glass bowl
    2. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the room temperature butter and the sugar until it's light and fluffy. butter and sugar creamed together on an orange spatula
    3. Add the room temperature egg and vanilla to your butter/sugar mixture and mix it until it's incorporated. adding egg to linzer cookie mixture in a mixing bowl
    4. While mixing on low, add in your flour mixture and mix until the dough comes together. Don't over-mix it. adding flour to the linzer cookie dough mixture
    5. Divide the dough into two flattened disks. pressing linzer cookie dough into disks
    6. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for an hour or overnight. 

    How to Assemble Linzer Cookies

    1. Preheat your oven to 325ºF and line a cookie sheet with some parchment paper.
    2. Let your dough warm up until you can roll it out without it cracking. Mine took about an hour. linzer cookie dough wrapped in plastic wrap and flattened into a disk
    3. Dust the rolling pin and the surface with some flour to prevent sticking. Roll out your dough to ⅛″ thick. rolling Linzer cookie dough out with a wooden rolling pin
    4. Use the Linzer cookie cutter without the window attachment and cut out 24 backs. cutting linzer cookies
    5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
    6. Use the Linzer cookie cutter WITH the window attachment and cut out 24 fronts. cutting linzer cookies
    7. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn golden brown. Pro-Tip: If you have any leftover dough you can press it together and roll out more fronts and backs and bake them off.  
    8. Transfer your baked cookies to a cooling rack to allow them to cool.
    9. Dust the fronts with some powdered sugar.dusting linzer cookies with powdered sugar
    10. Fill a piping bag with your cranberry filling. Pipe some filling around the outside of one of the back cookies, about ¼″ thick. filling linzer cookies with cranberry filling
    11. Place the front cookie on top and gently press down. pressing linzer cookies together
    12. Fill the center of the cookie with some more cranberry filling.filling the center of a linzer cookie with more filling

    Your cranberry filling will develop a skin after 24 hours and will then be suitable to package if you desire. 

    How do you use a Linzer cookie cutter?

    Linzer cookies are often made using a Linzer cookie cutter. These cookie cutters usually have a fluted outer edge and a center cutter that is detachable so that you can make the cookies with the center cut out. 

    close up of linzer cookie cutter with cookie dough

    Some Linzer cookie cutters are all one piece. Use one side to cut the backs of the cookies and then flip the cutter over to cut the front of the cookie with the window.

    Linzer cookies being cut from dough shot from above
    close up of a womans hand holding a linzer cookie

    FAQ

    Do I need a Linzer cookie cutter?

    You don't have to have a Linzer cookie cutter to make these cookies. You can use any cookie cutter that you have, and then use another, smaller cutter to make the window. Whatever cookie cutter you use, be sure to dust it with a little flour to prevent sticking while you cut your cookies. 

    How do you store Linzer cookies?

    You can freeze the dough before rolling it out for up to 6 months (thaw in the fridge) or freeze the finished cookies airtight for 1 month.

    What flavor Linzer cookies are there?

    There are all kinds of Linzer cookie variations. They can be filled with any type of sweet filling like raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, or even chocolate ganache. 

    What is the filling of a traditional Linzer cookie?

    Traditional Linzer cookies are made with either apricot or red currant jam.

    Can I freeze the cranberry filling if I have leftovers?

    Absolutely! Allow the cranberry filling to cool to room temperature, and then store any leftovers in a freezer-safe storage container for up to 6 months.

    When were Linzer cookies invented?

    In the 1850s, Franz Holzlhuber, an Austrian immigrant, who immigrated to America as a musician, artist, and poet is credited for bringing Linzertorte to America. A Linzer cookie is a variation of Linzertorte.

    What nationality are Linzer cookies?

    Linzer cookies are Austrian German.

    Why are they called Linzer cookies?

    Linzer cookies are an Austrian sweet made from the dough of a Linzer torte which just happens to be the oldest written recipe in existence. Named after the city of Linz, Austria, the torte is a kind of pie with a sweet black currant filling, sliced nuts, and an almond-based lattice crust. Dating back to 1655 when nuts were much easier to come by than ground-up wheat flour and less expensive. 

    Eventually, someone had the grand idea to cut that dough into cookies shaped like hearts, stars, and circles. Half of the cookies would get the center cut out and this is called a Linzer eye. After the Linzer cookies were baked, they were traditionally filled with a black currant jam and dusted with powdered sugar. 

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    Pumpkin Spice Cake

    Tart Dough Recipe

    Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

    Hot Chocolate Cocoa Bombs

    linzer cookies on a white plate

    Recipe

    close up of linzer cookies on a floral plate
    Print Recipe
    4.84 from 6 votes

    Linzer Cookie Recipe

    Linzer cookies are a traditional Christmas cookie made from a crispy, buttery tart dough, dusted with powdered sugar and filled with a sweet cranberry jam.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    cooling2 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: german
    Servings: 30 cookies
    Calories: 133kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • Linzer cookie cutter (or two cutters, one about 2" and one ½")

    Ingredients

    Linzer Cookies

    • 6 ounces unsalted butter room temperature
    • 4 ounces granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 large egg room temperature
    • 1 ounce cake crumbs or cake flour
    • 8 ounces cake flour or substitute with All purpose flour, remove 3 Tablespoons of flour and replace with 3 Tablespoons of cornstarch.
    • 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 3 ounces almond flour or hazelnut flour, a combination of both, or pistachio flour

    Cranberry Filling

    • 12 ounces cranberries
    • 7 ounces sugar
    • 8 ounces water
    • 1 Tablespoon orange zest
    • 3 Tablespoons orange juice
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Cranberry Jam Instructions

    • Combine water, sugar, zest, juice, and cranberries together in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
    • Reduce the heat to medium and let the mixture reduce for about 10 minutes or until the mixture is thickened. 
    • Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool before using.
    • Once your filling is cool, use an immersion blender or blender to make your cranberry filling smoother and easier to pipe (optional). Pro-Tip: For a thicker filling, combine 2 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 Tablespoon cool water to make a slurry. Add the cornstarch to the filling at the end of cooking, and then cook it for an extra minute to thicken. 

    Linzer Cookie Dough Instructions

    • Combine your cake crumbs, cake flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and almond flour together with a whisk. (If you don't have cake crumbs you can replace them with more almond flour) Set aside. Pro-Tip: You can use any kind of nut flour for this recipe including hazelnut, pistachio, or cashew! 
    • In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the room temperature butter and the sugar until it's light and fluffy. 
    • Add the room temperature egg and vanilla to your butter/sugar mixture and mix it until it's incorporated. 
    • While mixing on low, add in your flour mixture and mix until the dough comes together. Don't over-mix it. 
    • Divide the dough into two flattened disks.
    • Refrigerate for an hour or overnight.

    Cookie Assembly Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 325ºF and line a cookie sheet with some parchment paper.
    • Let your dough warm up until you can roll it out without it cracking. Mine took about an hour.
    • Dust the rolling pin and the surface with some flour to prevent sticking. Roll out your dough to ⅛″ thick. 
    • Use the Linzer cookie cutter without the window attachment and cut out 24 backs.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
    • Use the Linzer cookie cutter WITH the window attachment and cut out 24 fronts.
    • Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn golden brown. Pro-Tip: If you have any leftover dough you can press it together and roll out more fronts and backs and bake them off.
    • Transfer your baked cookies to a cooling rack to allow them to cool.
    • Dust the fronts with some powdered sugar.
    • Fill a piping bag with your cranberry filling. Pipe some filling around the outside of one of the back cookies, about ¼″ thick. 
    • Place the front cookie on top and gently press down. 
    • Fill the center of the cookie with some more cranberry filling.

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. Bring your butter and eggs to room temperature or even a little warm to ensure your batter does not break or curdle. 
    2. Use a scale to weigh your ingredients (including liquids) unless otherwise instructed (Tablespoons, teaspoons, pinch etc). Metric measurements are available in the recipe card. Scaled ingredients are much more accurate than using cups and help ensure the success of your recipe. 
    3. Practice Mise en Place (everything in it's place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.
    4. If the recipe calls for specific ingredients like cake flour, replacing it with all purpose flour and cornstarch is not recommended unless specified in the recipe that it's ok. Substituting ingredients may cause this recipe to fail. 
    5. If you're in the UK, search for Shipton mills cake and pastry flour. If you're in another part of the country, search for low protein cake flour.
    6. You can use any kind of nut flour including pistachio, cashew, or hazelnut in place of almond flour.
    7. You can substitute cake crumbs for more almond flour. The cake crumbs just add moisture to the cookie.
    8. You can blend your cranberry filling so that it's smoother if you desire.
    9. Your cranberry filling will develop a skin after 24 hours, and will then your cookies will be suitable to package up. These cookies are excellent for holiday cookie exchanges and homemade gifts!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 161IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
     
    close up shot of double chocolate chip cookie

    December 10, 2021 Cookies

    Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

    These chewy double chocolate chip cookies are a chocolate lover's dream come true! Rich, chocolatey, moist, and chewy. These cookies are basically brownie cookies. Oh, and they only take 20 minutes to make! 

    close up shot of double chocolate chip cookie

    Double chocolate cookies are nice and chewy and go perfectly with a tall glass of cold milk. Make a big batch ahead of time for a special gathering or freeze them and have a cookie to cure those chocolate cravings any time.

    What's In This Blog Post

    • Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients
    • Why These Are The Best
    • Instructions
    • FAQ
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients

    I like the ease of using chocolate chips, but you can make these the best cookies ever by adding chopped chocolate instead. You can use anything really, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips. The flavor combos are endless.

    double chocolate chip cookie ingredients

    This recipe uses all-purpose flour, which results in a perfectly chewy cookie.

    I used natural cocoa powder in this recipe (Hershey's is a common brand) because the alkaline nature of the cocoa powder reacts with the baking soda to give that perfect rise and texture, resulting in a thicker cookie. You can absolutely use Dutch process cocoa powder but for best results, replace the baking soda with baking powder instead.

    Light brown sugar adds a little moisture and flavor to these cookies but you can use white sugar or dark brown sugar.

    I like to use a kitchen scale to measure my ingredients because it makes it so much easier to get accurate measurements, especially when measuring flour.

    Why These Are The Best

    If you are a chocolate lover like my daughter, then you will LOVE these cookies. They have everything a chocolate lover is looking for.

    • A little crispy on the outside, soft and chewy in the center.
    • Big chocolate chunks.
    • Lots of chocolate flavor without being overly sweet.
    • 10 minutes to make and 10 minutes to bake!
    • Freeze these cookies and take one out whenever you have a chocolate craving.

    Instructions

    1. Bring your cold ingredients to room temperature. Room temperature ingredients mix together properly and create an emulsion; cold ingredients will split, and the dough will spread during baking.
    2. Preheat your oven to 350ºF (176ºC). Preheating is important for baking cookies so they puff up and don't spread.
    3. Prepare your cookie sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    4. Melt the unsalted butter in a medium bowl.
    5. Once the butter is melted, add in the cocoa powder and stir it until it's smooth and combined. Adding cocoa powder to the butter hydrates the cocoa and helps make a ooey-gooey chocolate cookie!close up of melted butter and cocoa powder being whisked in a glass bowl
    6. While mixing on low, add in the room temperature eggs, letting each egg mix in fully before adding in the next. If you add all the eggs in at once, they may not fully mix in.close up of eggs being added to double chocolate chip cookie recipe
    7. Add in the vanilla extract and mix everything on medium speed for two minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.closeup of whipped eggs, cocoa powder, and butter
    8. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is combined.
    9. Add in your dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, and salt) and the chocolate chips.double chocolate chip cookie ingredients in a mixing bowl
    10. Mix everything until JUST combined. Do not over-mix. closeup of double chocolate chip cookie dough
    11. Use a small cookie scoop to make small dough balls (about two Tablespoons).
    12. Dip each ball into some of the chocolate chips and then place them onto the prepared cookie sheet about 3" apart with the chocolate chip cookies facing up.double chocolate chip cookie dough balls on a sheet pan
    13. Place the cookies into the fridge for 30 minutes. This allows time for the flour to absorb the moisture and for the butter to firm up, resulting in a thicker cookie that spreads less.
    14. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the center of the cookie just starts to lose it's shine, and the edges are set. Resist the urge to over-bake the cookies, or they will be hard and dry.top view of double chocolate chip cookies on a cooling rack
    15. Place your sheet of cookies on a cooling rack for 5 minutes, then transfer them off the cookie sheet to cool on the wire rack to cool fully.

    FAQ

    Do I need a stand mixer to make chocolate chip cookies?

    No, you do not need a stand mixer, but it can save you a lot of work if you do have one. If you do not have a stand mixer, you can absolutely mix this cookie dough by hand. Just be sure to mix by consistency, and not by time. You will get a nice arm workout from doing it!

    What is the difference between this recipe and your chocolate chip cookies recipe?

    This recipe is based on my chocolate chip cookie recipe, so they do taste similar. The only difference between these cookies and my chewy chocolate chip cookies is a little more butter and some delicious cocoa powder. I'm using HERSHEY'S cocoa powder, but you can use any kind of cocoa powder that you want. 

    Why are my cookies so hard?

    Overworked dough is usually the culprit for hard cookies. When you mix the dough longer than you need to after adding flour, it will form more gluten and result in tougher or harder cookies. Your cookies can also get tough from over-baking.

    How long do chocolate chip cookies last at room temperature?

    If you store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, they will last for up to 5 days.

    More Recipes You'll Love

    Master Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Copycat Chocolate Chip Crumbl Cookies

    Easy Homemade Brownies

    Death by Chocolate Cake

    Recipe

    double chocolate chip cookie held by a hand close up being dunked in a glass mug of milk
    Print Recipe
    4.84 from 314 votes

    Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

    These chewy double chocolate chip cookies are perfect for the chocolate lover in your life! These cookies are moist, tender, rich, and chocolatey. Oh, and they only take 20 minutes to make!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 24 cookies
    Calories: 194kcal
    Author: Liz Marek

    Equipment

    • #20 cookie scoop

    Ingredients

    • 1 ⅛ cups unsalted butter melted (2 sticks + 2 tablespoon butter)
    • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
    • 1 cup granulated sugar packed
    • 2 large eggs room temperature
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 cups all purpose flour
    • ¾ cup cocoa powder natural
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups chocolate chips semi-sweet
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 350ºF (177ºC) and prepare a sheet pan with parchment paper. 
    • First, melt the unsalted butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
    • Once the butter is melted, add in the cocoa powder and vanilla extract and stir it until it's smooth and combined. 
    • Combine the butter mixture with the brown sugar and white sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment attached and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy. About 2 minutes.
    • Next, add in the room temperature eggs while mixing on low, letting each mix in fully before adding the next.
    • Mix again on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until it's light and airy.
    • Scrape the bowl.
    • While mixing on low, add in the flour, salt, baking soda, and chocolate chips.
    • Next, mix the dough just enough so that it's combined. 
    • With a #20 cookie scoop, divide the dough into 2 Tablespoon-sized cookie dough balls. I like to dip the top of the ball into a bowl of chocolate chips to get even more chocolate into the cookies!
    • Next, place the cookie dough balls onto a sheet pan about 3″ apart.
    • Chill your cookies in the fridge for 30 minutes.
    • Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes, or until they are no longer shiny in the center and the edges are set.
    • Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet.
    • Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to allow them to cool all the way.

    Video

    Notes

    Important Things To Note Before You Start
    1. Bring your eggs to room temperature. I like to put my eggs (still in the shell) in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes. Room temperature eggs ensures that everything creams up nice and fluffy and you get that craggly top to your cookies.
    2. Let your cookie dough rest for 30 minutes for less cookie spread.
    3. If you have leftover dough, bake up all of the cookies and then you can freeze them. That way, you can have thaw and have baked cookies whenever you want!
    4. It is important to not crowd the pan, these are large cookies and will bake into each other. When too many cookies are on the pan they don't bake as evenly and can spread more than they do with more space. More space around the cookie allows more even air flow and makes a prettier cookie. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 288IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    « Previous Page
    Next Page »

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Liz! I'm passionate about creating reliable, foolproof recipes that don't just tell you how to cook, but why things work - so you can skip the guesswork and confidently make the best sweet and savory dishes of your life.

    More about me →

    Our Cake Greatest Hits

    Check out our best cake recipes

    🐰 Celebrate Easter

    • pink speckled cake with easter eggs on top
      Speckled Easter Cake
      Cook Time50 Minutes
    • bunny butt cake on a cake board
      Bunny Butt Cake
      Cook Time3 Hours
    • Carrot cake bar held up by a server
      Carrot Cake Bars
      Cook Time1 Hours 30 Minutes
    • M&M cookies on cooling
      Easy M&M Cookie Recipe
    • Moist carrot cake with pineapple, toasted coconut, candied pecans and big chunks of carrots. Frosted with brown butter cream cheese frosting
      Carrot Cake With Pineapple Recipe
      Cook Time55 Minutes
    • slice of pink velvet cake with whipped cream frosting and fresh raspberries on a white plate
      Pink Velvet Cake
      Cook Time40 Minutes

    Popular Recipes

    • close up of ganache drizzling into a bowl
      The Best Chocolate Ganache Recipe
      Cook Time20 Minutes
    • Piping easy buttercream rosettes onto a cake using a 1M star piping tip
      Easy Buttercream Frosting
      Cook Time10 Minutes
    • close up slice of marble cake
      Moist and Fluffy Marble Cake Recipe
      Cook Time40 Minutes
    • close up of red velvet cake slice
      Red Velvet Cake Recipe
      Cook Time1 Hours 40 Minutes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Us

    Copyright © 2024 Sugar Geek Show, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required