Cake Pastries

Cake pastries are small sweets that can be customized according to taste and are perfect for a sweet buffet or tea time. Here I present a simple version from which you can start for your creations:

Ingredients

• 125 g of all-purpose flour
• 125 g of sugar
• 3 medium eggs
• 125 g of melted and cooled butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• ½ packet of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Icing sugar for decorating

(Or you can use a sponge cake base)

For the filling:

• Pastry cream
• Nutella or other chocolate spread
• Fruit jam
• Buttercream
• Fresh fruit to taste

For the topping:

• Sugar icing
• Melted dark chocolate
• Sugar paste
• Decorations such as sugar pearls or dried fruit

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until you get a light and frothy mixture.
3. Add the vanilla extract, melted butter, sifted flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well combined.
4. Pour the mixture into muffin cups or a mini cake pan, filling them about 2/3 full.
5. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the pastries are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely.
7. Once cooled, hollow them out slightly to create a small cavity and fill with the chosen filling.
8. Decorate the cake pastries with your preferred topping and decorations.

To give it an Italian touch, you might opt to add some lemon or orange zest to the cake mixture to further flavor it. And for a pairing, nothing beats a good espresso coffee or, if it’s for a special occasion, a glass of Vin Santo or Limoncello to dip the base of the pastry slightly.

Did you know?

In the world of sweets, pastries are often linked to festivities and celebrations. Choosing to make them at home allows for personalization and creates an emotional connection with those who will enjoy them, making the moment of their consumption even more special.