Five days ago, on my Japanese friend’s Facebook, I saw a photo of a candle cake served at a restaurant. I was intrigued. My curiosity peaked. Of course, I Googled it. There was nothing on the English side of the search engine. And then I entered it in Japanese and → this came up. Wow! Another example of Japanese ingenuity. Of course, I had to make it for myself.
I realized that this is an ‘idea’ about the shape of the cake topped with cream that looks like wax drippings and strawberry for the flame. It can be made with an upright narrow good ol’ American jelly-roll, Swiss-roll, baumkuchen, individual entremet with biscuit joconde or a simple cupcake.
As shown in the Google photos, it seems it is mainly served during Christmas time in Japan. However, I think a number of them placed together can be a birthday cake, cute Valentine’s Day treat with the red strawberry on top, or depending upon how they are served, the sky is the limit to your sweet imagination! Here is my first try, I chose jelly-roll to make the candles with.
I know there are many of you who are brilliantly talented bakers and food designers. And, I know some of you are already intrigued about making it. When you do, please send me a photo of your creation so I can add it on this post, as has been done in ‘Look, I made it!’ → here.
Dear Vegans, if you can create a vegan’ized version of this cake, please do share the recipe with us!
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Candle Cake • キャンドル ケーキ
Recipe by: Fae’s Twist & Tango (fae-magazine.com)
INGREDIENTS
• 3 large eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 100 g/ ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ tsp pure vanilla extract
• 100 g/ ¾ cup all-purpose, unbleached flour
• 28 g/ 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 100 g/ 7 Tbsp strawberry preserve/jam -or- marzipan, chocolate ganache, nutella, or …
For the top
• 118 ml/ ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 6 pointy, small, fresh strawberries
DIRECTIONS
◊ Position a rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat to 200°C/400°F.
◊ Spray a baking pan 28cm x 43cm x 2.5cm (11″x17″x1″), with a non-stick spray, line with parchment paper and also spray the parchment paper (also see [1] below).
◊ In a large bowl, at a high speed, beat the eggs and sugar together until thick, pale yellow, and fluffy, 9~10 minutes. Toward the end of beating, add vanilla.
◊ Sift the flour in three batches over the beaten egg mixture and fold in gently with a silicone spatula, just until the flour is incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add butter and fold in.
◊ Pour the batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly with an offset spatula or spoon.
Bake for about 6 ~ 7 minutes or until light golden and toothpick test comes out clean but moist.
◊ Immediately upon removing the cake from the oven, using a small strainer, sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar, and then invert the cake onto a clean dish towel supported by a cutting board or back of another baking pan. Remove the parchment paper and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Trim 7mm/¼” of hard crust off all sides of the cake to help roll smoothly. Also, to avoid a thick seam when sponge is rolled, very carefully, using a serrated knife, cut off the end edge (43cm/17″ length side) with a diagonal cut (trimmed seam area is seen in the photo where jam is being spread). Roll up the cake, together with the towel (from the 43cm/17″ length side). Place on a flat surface area, with the seam side down. Cool for 45 ~ 60 minutes. (This will give the cake a ‘shape memory’, so it will be easier to roll again with filling.)
◊ When fully cooled, unroll the cake, spread the strawberry preserve/jam and re-roll tightly. With the seam side down on a plate or a board, roll in a parchment paper and cover airtight with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator, for 2+ hours.
◊ When chilled and ready to serve, after placing the roll on a cutting board, measure the roll. Cut into
6 equal sized, approx. 6.5cm/2.5″ each, with sharp knife, straight down in sawing motion, so that the cakes have flat, stable base for standing.
Preparing the whipping cream
◊ Place beater’s mixing bowl and whisk attachment(s) in the freezer for 15 minutes. Then place the whipping cream and sugar in the bowl and beat until it just begins to thicken (no more). The quantity of sugar and not beating the cream until thick is to create a flowing consistency, so when poured over the top of the cut, standing cakes, it will flow down like dripping candle wax. Individually, or over all, pour the whipped cream from the top center of the cake, a little at a time, and stop when it is not excessive. Place a strawberry/flame on each candle’s icing!
◊ Decorate in a serving dish appropriate for that special treat occasion!
~ どうぞめしあがれ • Douzo Meshiagare ~
[1] If your baking pan happens to be larger than the amount of this recipe, or if it is not deep enough, make a baking pan out of parchment paper, as shown below.
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So, what’s cooking in your kitchen?
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That’s fabulous, Fae! おめでとう！
And very well explained.
Reblogged this on Canadian Dad and commented:
An amazing decorative cake
It’s very well executed, Fae. Yum!
This is SO cute!! I want to try and veganize it! Once I do, I’ll let you know how it goes..:)
Great! I’ll will be looking forward to it!
This is such a creative recipe Fae – I love it! Celeste
Hi Celeste, I agree. And, I’m sure you would think of how to veganize it! 😀
Reblogged this on BLUE HARVEST BEAT and commented:
If this doesn’t say Valentine’s day, I don’t know what does.
Incredible! No wonder you were intrigued when you first saw one. This is delightful! Thanks so much for sharing this Fae. Cheers, Gina
Very cute!
That has got to be the cutest cake! Love it Fae!
Geez! This is freaking awesome!
Beautiful !
This cake looks adorable, with a simple design. Sure the swiss roll would require some assembly, but as you said any cake would serve well as a base. Either way, the results look worth it.
Your cakes are always amazing and impressive. Gorgeous as always!
Fabulous Fae!
Wow Fae that looks amazing!
So glad you added the extra pictures. I can see it is a Swiss Roll but have never seen it presented like that. What a brilliant idea.
Yes, that is why I wanted to make it. This particular Swiss roll recipe is not too soft and has a satisfying oomph.
Wow, Fae. This looks so good! What beautiful photos! I love how your dishes span the globe and incorporate both sweet and savory. You really are a resource that keeps getting better and better.
Amanda, You made me very happy. Since I am putting the effort, might as well write something of interest for my readers. As they say, practice makes it perfect/better… but I am learning from the masters like you in my blogging community!
That’s fabulous!
So, so gorgeous and looks delicious too. I am loving your photography, it just keeps getting better, more artistic and dramatic. Thank you for sharing, Fae!
I tell you my secret. I don’t know why my photos are getting better. I attribute it to the time of the day I’m taking the photos and I just get lucky. I take over 20 photos for each dish, and by the time I’m done, I am so exhausted.
Wow! How interesting & what an adorable cake! I think your idea of making a bunch of these for a birthday cake is absolutely genius!!! It’ll be cute and unique and take care of the cutting slices bit of the business.
Cute cake Fae.
This is gorgeous and delicate, Fae! I’m sure Her Majesty will love this cake. I was surprised about the ingredients of the top. I thought the cream was just sugar and water!
When I first saw the photos, I also thought it was some kind of sugar and milk. However, every recipe I checked called for whipped cream and sugar. But none of them specified how long to beat. Her Majesty will definitely love it! 😛
How creative! This cake looks beautiful 😀
Wow, love it! I’m up for the challenge to create a vegan’ized version of this cake. Thanks for sharing, Fae
How cute! Do you think this could somehow work with a mini cinnamon bun too?
Check this out → La Petite Casserole’s Beet and Apple Muffins with Lemon Icing.
It is a version of a Candle Cake, don’t you think?!
What a great looking cake!
This is so clever! My daughter is telling me she wants strawberry candle cake now!
Oh, please make it for her. 😀
Reblogged this on Slimma Chick.
Ooh how cute is this! I cannot wait for the next birthday in my family to make this
Wow, I love this Fae! What precious little cakes and I bet they tasted fantastic too! I know this type of cake from Switzerland too, the biscuit it super airy – so good! Love the pictures, especially the close-up brings out the beauty of the cake! Congrats! Sylvia
Love this idea! Can’t wait to try it’
Have never seen those before! Brilliant
oh wow that is so cool! I love it!
I love this Fae! I want to make it too. I really love your presentation and the cake itself looks so spongy…just the way I love it.
Thank you so much. I made the cake again, and I love the consistency and the taste very much. 😀
I’ve been making jelly rolls, but never thought of styling it that way. Would be perfect for Christmas or New year’s celebration. Thank you so much for the idea.
A lovely Japanese pastry innovation, Fae. It looks beautiful, rich – light and moist. Delicious! Have a great day… Shanna
Awesome! I love how you made something new, and your way of lining the pan with parchment is inspiring.
Thank you, Cteavin. 😀
Oh wow, it’s beautiful Fae, I have been looking for a good vanilla sponge. This looks fabulous. Saved!! Your presentation as always is so artistic, just gorgeous!
Thank you so~ much, Suzanne. My sponge cake recipe is quite good too. Just add vanilla to it. 😀
That is a beautiful and fun idea. Next time I need to make a cake will take your challenge – I think vegan would be interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so~ much, Hilda! Looking forward to hear from you about it! 😀 )))
Your cakes look so neat and too pretty to eat.
What a special cake! So pretty looking too!
Another must make! Yummm!
It’s Swiss roll here too
What a lovely idea!!
lovely – jam roly-poly Japanese style!
You know, Fae? You always make an amazing food!! <3 This cake is beautiful!!
Your candle cake is beautiful Fae. This style of sponge roll with a jam filling is known as a Swiss Roll in Australia, though it’s generally served laying down. It’s a light and delicious cake, that’s for sure!
Thank you. After posting it, I noticed I had omitted one paragraph which explains that the body of the candle could be any kind of cake. It is the look/shape/idea of the cake that I was intrigued with. I chose roll-cake (Swiss roll or jelly roll) to make the candle with. Omitted paragraph has been added now. 😉