Description
This charming Shrek Cake features a moist chocolate and almond base topped with handcrafted green almond paste for a professional yet whimsical finish. It is an ideal centerpiece for themed celebrations, offering a sophisticated flavor profile that appeals to both children and adults.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter, softened to pomade consistency
- Granulated sugar
- Almond powder (almond flour)
- 4 Large eggs, separated
- High-quality dark chocolate bar
- Icing sugar
- 1 Additional egg white (for almond paste)
- Bitter almond essence
- Yellow and blue liquid food coloring
- Cocoa powder
- Linseeds
Instructions
- Gently melt the dark chocolate in a bain-marie or microwave and allow it to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, then stir in the almond powder, melted chocolate, and four egg yolks.
- In a separate clean bowl, whisk the four egg whites until they form stiff, glossy peaks.
- Gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture in two batches, being careful not to deflate the batter.
- Pour the batter into a greased and floured tin and bake at 180°C (350°F) for approximately 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the cake cools completely on a wire rack, pulse almond powder and icing sugar in a blender, then mix with one egg white and almond essence to form a smooth paste.
- Color the majority of the almond paste green with food coloring, reserving a small white portion for the eyes.
- Trim the cooled cake into a face shape, roll out the green paste between parchment paper, and drape it over the cake to define the features.
- Use cake scraps to form the ears and nose, cover them with green paste, and attach them with a drop of water before adding the eye details with white paste, cocoa powder, and linseeds.
Notes
To ensure a smooth finish on your character cake, sift the icing sugar before making the almond paste to eliminate any lumps that could tear the dough. If the cake scraps are too crumbly to sculpt into the ears and nose, try kneading them with a tiny amount of leftover chocolate or butter to create a more pliable, moldable texture.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American