Basket Cake

The Basket Cake is an elegant and creative dessert, perfect for special occasions such as holidays or birthdays. It is a cake decorated to look like a basket of flowers. The preparation can vary depending on the specific recipe, but it generally uses a cake base (like sponge cake or chocolate cake), is covered with cream (such as buttercream), and is decorated with sugar paste flowers, whipped cream, or molded chocolate.

Here is a basic version of the Basket Cake recipe:

Ingredients

• For the Sponge Cake:

  • 4 eggs
  • 120 g of sugar
  • 120 g of flour
  • A packet of vanillin or a teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • A pinch of salt

• For the filling and frosting:

  • 500 g of buttercream or another cream of your choice
  • Food coloring (optional)

• For the decoration:

  • Edible flowers or sugar paste flowers
  • Decorating tools (piping bag, cream nozzles, etc.)

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the Sponge Cake. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Whip the eggs with the sugar until you get a frothy and light mixture, for about 10-15 minutes. This step is important for the success of the cake.
2. Gradually add the sifted flour, vanillin or vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, incorporating gently so as not to deflate the mixture.
3. Pour the mixture into a round pan (usually 22-24 cm in diameter) that has been previously buttered or lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
4. Once baked, let the Sponge Cake cool on a wire rack before proceeding with the other phases.
5. In the meantime, prepare the buttercream or the cream you have chosen to fill and cover the cake.
6. Slice the Sponge Cake into horizontal layers and sandwich them with the cream.
7. Use the remaining cream to cover the entire cake, creating a smooth surface for the decoration. You can color part of the cream to give different shades to the decorations if you wish.
8. With a piping bag and a special nozzle, create the “weaves” of the basket on the cake, interlacing on the surface and sides to give the effect of a basket.
9. Add sugar paste flowers or other decorative elements you have chosen, arranging them on the top of the cake as a bouquet of flowers.

Curiosity

You can personalize the basket with various types of decoration: sugar paste flowers for a more elegant effect, or use whipped cream or edible flowers for a more natural and rustic look. The important thing is to exercise creativity and harmony in colors and shapes.