Have a Taste of Scrumptious Japanese Christmas Cake
In Japan, a Christmas cake is a must-have during the holidays. Popularized in the 1970s and traditionally served on Christmas Eve, the cake is frosted with butter cream or whipped cream, decorated with strawberries, and often topped with chocolates and other fruits.
The first Christmas cakes produced in 1910 by Hujiya in Japan were said to be simple plum cakes decorated with silver balls and fondant. The introduction of shortcake in bakeshops gradually transitioned Christmas cakes from fruitcakes to shortcake.
Most Japanese Christmas cakes today are made with vanilla or white sponge cake, white icing, and strawberries. The cake is a favorite of most Japanese families. If you want to make your holidays a little more special by having a delicious Christmas cake as the centerpiece of your feast, here’s a simple recipe you can try.
Sponge cake
Ingredients:
2 eggs at room temperature
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1 c. sugar
½ c. milk
2 T butter
Pre-heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Combine the flour and baking powder in a bowl. Beat the eggs with an electric mixer on high speed until thick. Decrease the speed of the mixer to medium and gradually add the sugar to the eggs. Continue mixing until it is light and fluffy.
Heat the milk and butter in a pan until the butter melts. Add the milk and butter mixture to the eggs with the mixer on medium speed, and finally add the flour and baking powder.
Transfer the cake mixture to a 9-in. greased cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until cake is golden brown. Allow the cake to cool before you remove it from the cake pan.
Whipped cream for the cake
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipped cream
Whipped cream stabilizer (use required amount according to package)
4 T confectioner’s sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix everything together and beat at high speed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few minutes.
You can cut the sponge cake into two or more layers depending on how you want to decorate it. Use fresh strawberries and other seasonal fresh fruits to top your Christmas cake. Let your imagination run wild!