Piña Colada Birthday Cake

Happy weekend everyone!! I am happy to share my Birthday Cake with you all! The traditional flavors that go in the famous tropical drink are nicely incorporated in this recipe. This was the first time I made dried pineapple flowers. Besides looking gorgeous they are also quite yummy!

Piña Colada Birthday Cake

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs, seperated, egg yolk at room temperature and egg whites cold,
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1 tsp almond extract

For the Filling:

• 500 ml whipping cream, 35%, chilled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 cup coconut flavored Rum like Bacardi or Malibu
• 1 cup finely cut pineapple pieces

-Line 3 9-inch baking forms with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 F.

-Seperate egg whites from yolks. Add a pinch of salt and baking powder and start whisking until stiff peaks form. Add honey and whisk just until well combined.

-Whisk egg yolks with the almond extract until foamy. Mix in the flour and shredded coconut. Carefully fold in the whipped whites, just until well combined.

-Pour batter into prepared baking forms. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely.

For the Filling:

– In a large bowl whisk the whipping cream until almost stiff, add the vanilla extract and honey then keep whisking until stiff peaks form. Fold in the shredded coconut.

How to assemble the cake:

– Place one cake layer onto a serving plate, brush top evenly with Rum. Spread evenly with about 1/3 cup of whipping cream. Then sprinkle 1/2 cup of pineapple pieces evenly on top. Place second cake layer on top and repeat with Rum, whipping cream and pineapple pieces. Add the third cake layer and brush with some Rum then cover the whole cake with the remaining whipping cream. Refrigerate until ready to se serve. Decorate with pineapple flowers.

How to make the dried pineapple flowers:

– Preheat oven to 200 F. Cut off the outside shell, and do not remove the core. With a sharp knife or mandolin cut about half of the pineapple into thin slices. Use paper towel to dry the slices and removing as much moisture as possible. I used a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place pineapple slices on the prepared sheet and place in the oven for 2 – 3 hours or until fully dried and edges are crisp. While still warm place each pineapple slice into the inside of a muffin tin to create the shape of a flower. Allow the pineapple flowers to completely dry. Decorate the cake with as many flowers as desired.

I hope you give it a try!

Ursula

xox

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Pecan Cake / Nusstorte

We’ve been having winter like weather here in Ontario, with lots of snow and cold temperatures.  It’s snowing as I’m writing this blog post and there is a snow squall warning in effect.

I made this Pecan Cake for my son’s 17th Birthday. The original recipe uses Hazelnuts but my son really likes Pecan nuts, so I used these instead. It was delicious with a simple whipped cream filling and a few maple caramelized pecans to finish it up.

Pecan Cake / Nusstorte

• 220 g coconut sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 2 tbsp rum
• 6 egg whites
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp honey
• 300 g ground pecans
• 1 tbsp spelt flour

-Grease and flour two 9-inch baking forms.

-Whisk together the coconut sugar, egg yolks and the rum.

-In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with the salt and baking powder until stiff peaks form. Add the honey and whisk until combined.

-Mix together the flour and pecan nuts then gently with the egg whites, a little at a time, stir/fold under the egg yolk mix until well combined.

-Fill into prepared baking forms and bake in preheated  350 F oven for 20 minutes then change temperatures to 300 F and finish bake for another 40 minutes or until tester inserted into centre of cakes come out clean.

-Let cool completely.

For the filling: 300 ml 35% cream, 2 tbsp honey

-Whisk the cream until stiff peaks form, add the honey and whisk until combined.

-Fill and decorate as desired, I also used some maple caramelized pecan halves to decorate which was really delicious. You can easily make it yourself. Combine maple syrup and pecan halves in a small saucepan and let simmer until caramelized.

Have a wonderful week!

Enjoy!

Ursula 

 

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Strawberry-Tiramisu Cake

This was my Birthday Cake, celebrating my 40th!!

It was so delicious; a creamy Mascarpone filling with strawberries and a touch of liquor, the base simply made with ladyfingers and butter. And the cake is a no-bake recipe, perfect for summer and strawberry season!

Strawberry-Tiramisu Cake

For the crust:

• 200g Ladyfingers, finely crushed
• 100g butter, melted

Filling:

• 500g Mascarpone
• 200ml 35% heavy cream
• 80g + 2tbsp honey
• 1 1/5 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp liquor
• 400g strawberries, finely cut
• a few strawberries for decoration

-grease a 22cm Springform.

-mix together the finely crushed ladyfingers with the butter, fill into baking form and press down evenly. Let rest in the fridge while you make the filling.

-in a large mixing bowl, stir together the mascarpone, honey, vanilla and liquor. Whip the cream until stiff peaks form add 2 tbsp of honey, whisk until combined. Gently fold whipped cream under the mascarpone filling, then add the strawberries. Pour the filling into the form. Let cool for at least 6 hours. Top and decorate the cake with some more strawberries.

Happy June!

Enjoy!

Ursula

 

 

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Strawberry Cake / Erdbeertorte

Happy June!!

I’ve had a hard time deciding on what kind of cake I would like for my birthday! There are so many I like…lol. In the end I choose to make a traditional European strawberry cake, similar to what you could find in a bakery.

It turned out pretty lovely and delicious! I was especially proud to have made it, because I’ve been having a lot of shoulder pain and numbness in my arm and hand, which makes everyday tasks very difficult, not to mention doing something that involves even more time. And writing down the recipe just had to wait a little.

I had a wonderful birthday!

 

The recipe is adapted from Kuchenfeelisa.de and Betty Bossi

 

Strawberry Cake / Erdbeertorte

• 80 g sugar or honey
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 lemon, only zest
• 4 egg whites
• pinch of salt
• big pinch of baking powder
• 2 tbsp sugar or honey
• 100 g all-purpose unbleached flour
• 40 g melted

-Line the bottom of a 24 cm spring form with parchment paper. Grease and flour the sides. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C.

-Mix together the sugar, egg yolks and lemon zest until creamy.

-Whisk egg whites with the salt and baking powder until stiff peaks form. Add 2 tbsp of sugar and whisk a little more.

-Add the flour alternately with the egg whites, a little at the time and gently fold under the egg yolk mixture. Mix in the melted butter and fill into prepared form.

-Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

-Let cool completely.

Vanilla Creme

• 125 g sugar or honey
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 egg
• 60 g all-purpose unbleached flour
• 500 ml milk or plant milk like cashew or coconut milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

-In a bowl mix together the sugar, egg yolks and egg, add the flour and mix well.

-In a saucepan bring the milk to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the vanilla.

-Add a few tablespoons of the hot milk to the flour/egg mix and stir well, repeat that 2 times.

-Then add the flour/egg/milk mix to the milk in the saucepan. Keep stirring and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, keep stirring until nice and creamy. Remove from heat. Let cool for a few minutes.

– Add the still warm creme onto the cake. Arrange strawberries onto the cake, I cut them in half to lay onto the creme. Then add the rest of the whole strawberries evenly. This will be a few layers of strawberries.

-Prepare cake glaze according to packing instruction and pour onto strawberries. Use about 100 ml less water to make a thicker glaze.  Leave some to brush on the top strawberries to make it look extra shiny. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

-Remove the spring form side, maybe using a knife first to loosen it from the form first.

-Brush warmed jelly around the side, then cover with the toasted almonds.

-Decorate with some pistachios or flowers if desired.

-Keep refrigerated.

Extras

• 1 kg small or medium strawberries, washed and hulled.
• 50 g strawberry jelly, warmed
• 200 g sliced almonds, lightly toasted
• Tortenguss, cake glaze (you can find it in a European deli)
• a few finely chopped pistachios or some flowers for decorating

 

 

 

Enjoy!

Ursula

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almond Coconut Birthday Cake

Happy weekend everyone!! This was a very special week for us; we celebrated our daughters 18th Birthday! I have to admit this comes with some mixed feelings and maybe a few secret tears:) Yes my babies are growing up, making me think back to when they were little, time goes by so fast indeed, but now I have a grown up daughter, and I am very proud of the young lady she’s become!

We share a love for all things coconut, usually my kids let me know what kind of cake they would like to have on their birthday, but this year they were both asking for a surprise:) I’ve made her a almond coconut cake with raw Raffaello truffles, you could of course use the real Raffaello truffles. I’ve made the cake refined-sugar free; almond coconut sponge filled with coconut whipped cream, so simple but so delicious!

If you love coconut you’ll love this cake!!

 

Almond Coconut (Raffaello) Cake

Almond Coconut Sponge

• 6 large eggs, room temperature
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup honey or sugar
• 1/2 cup almonds, ground
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 500 ml whipping cream, 35%, chilled
• 1 tsp vanilla sugar
• 1/4 cup honey or icing sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup canned coconut milk
• 8 or more Ferrero Raffaello truffles, optional
• lightly toasted shredded coconut, optional

-Grease and line a bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 340F/170C.

-Separate egg whites from yolks. Add a pinch of salt to the whites and start mixing until foamy. Gradually add honey or sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.

-Mix egg yolks with almond extract and fold into the whipped whites.

-Mix together ground almonds, coconut and flour then gradually and carefully incorporate into the whites.

-Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on a rack.

For the whipped cream frosting:

-In a large bowl mix the whipping cream and the vanilla sugar. Whip until lightly/almost stiff then gradually add the honey or icing sugar, as sweet as you like it, continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Fold in the shredded coconut.

Assemble the cake:

-Divide the sponge cake into 3 layers. Place one layer on a serving plate. Spread 1/3 cup coconut milk over the cake. Spread evenly with a bit less then a third of the whipped cream. Top with second cake layer and repeat. Add the third layer of cake. Cover the top and sides of the cake with whipped cream, leaving it like that or get creative with piping rosettes and so on. Decorate with Raffaello truffles and toasted coconut. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

Tip: You could get fancy and drizzle some coconut liquor (Malibu) over the sponge layers:)

 

 

Happy 18th Birthday!

Enjoy!

Ursula

 

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