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Friday 21 December 2012

Strawberry Mousse Shortcake

Today is my birthday!  

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me......hee...hee.....


Eversince I have started this blog I have not made and post my own birthday cake.  Last year, I have injured my shoulder and can't even lift up a cake pan not to say to bake it.  For the past week, I have been flipping my cookbooks, browsing the web though I have bookmarked a list of cakes in my favourite folders, and I still can't decide what cake should I bake.

I don't feel like having a cake with lots of heavy buttercream but just a simple light sponge cake some cream in it.  And as I always loves strawberry (and recently bought the NZ Strawberries which is so good than others) and on offer,  so I made up my mind to bake this Strawberry Mousse Shortcake.

The Shortcake cotton cake is the same from my previous Strawberry Shortcake which I have made more than 3 times already, and it is proven how much I loves this cake texture!



STRAWBERRY MOUSSE SHORTCAKE

Ingredients

Cotton Cake
145g cake flour
15g corn flour
1 egg
5 egg yolks – whisk lightly with a fork
150g unsalted butter
65g fresh milk

5 egg whites
100g caster sugar
¼ tsp salt

Some strawberries for decoration on top

Method
Preheat oven to 160C.  Grease and line a 8” square or round baking pan, and wrap the bottom of the pan with aluminium foil.  

Warm the butter and milk (do not boil).  Turn off heat, and stir in the sifted cake and corn flour using a wooden spatula.  Transfer to a bigger bowl, and add in the eggs and continue to mix till smooth.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites till frothy.  Add in the salt and add in the sugar in 3 additions.  Whisk till soft peak.

Pour 1/3 of the egg whites into the egg/butter mixture and fold in gently.  Pour in the rest and fold in gently till combined.  Pour batter into the baking pan and bake it at Bain Marie method for about 45 minutes.


For the Strawberry Mousse:
Inspiration from Sweet Sensation

Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons  powdered gelatin
2 tablespoons water
200g fresh strawberries, pureed
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
180ml heavy cream

Directions:
In a small bowl combine gelatin and water and set aside to soften.
In a medium saucepan combine strawberry puree, sugar and lemon juice. Cook on low heat until hot but not boiling, stirring constantly. Add gelatin and stir until it is completely melted, making sure it doesn't start boiling. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for two hours.
Fold the whipped cream into the strawberry base and refrigerate until spreadable (it should be firm enough to hold its shape).


Stabilised Whipped Cream (for topping)
2 tsp gelatin powder
8 tsp cold water
2 cups whipping cream, cold
½ cup icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method
1.  Chill mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 10 minutes.

2.  Pour cold water in the small saucepan.  Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the surface
     of the water and let stand for 5 minutes.  Place saucepan over the low heat and stir
     constantly with a wooden spoon just until gelatin dissolves.  Removes saucepan from
     heat and cool to room temperature.

3.  Remove the mixing bowl and beaters from the freezer.  In the mixing bowl, combine
    the whipping cream, icing sugar and vanilla and whipped until slightly thickened. 
    Then, while slowly beating, gradually pour in the gelatin into the whipped cream
    mixture.  Then, whip the mixture at high speed until slightly stiff.

 
To assemble the cake:

Slice the sponge cake horizontally into 2 or 3 layers.
Place one sponge layer cut-side up on a cake board or serving plate.
Pour and spread over the strawberry mousse.
Place the cut-side up of the second layer cake and place it over the strawberry mousse and return to fridge to chill for 30 minutes.  
Once the mousse is set, spread the stabilized whipped cream all over covering the cake.
You may use some leftover cream to pipe out the cream as decoration.   
Chill in fridge for cream to set for an hour or so.   Decorate as desired and garnish with the strawberries.


Well, since I thought Christmas is just 4 days away, so I have invited little Santa to celebrate my birthday this year!
I know, my Sister S's santa strawberries are much nicer than me....


Oh, I am cutting the cake later on.....will post again the slice cake...
because I'm excited to let my mum and Sister S to view my birthday cake....hee..hee..
 





Here is a photo of me.... Mel...
     These are my favourite photos....my beloved mum and me.................  and my favourite animal, giraffe!

 christmas, tree icon  Merry Christmas everyone!    Ho..ho..ho..ho....



34 comments:

  1. Hi my dear Mel, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
    A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be. Wishing you a birthday filled with lights and love.

    Your cake sure look delicious and very pretty. Love it.

    Have a lovely day ahead, warm regards. With hugs and love to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Amelia
      Thank you for your well wishes...of course it is good to have good friends around us in life and you are of it. Thank you for being into my life!!

      Delete
  2. happy birthday to u, happy birthday to u, happy birthday, dear mel.. happy birthday to uuuuuu.. ^^ here's to another blessed year, mel ^^ your "about me" pix isn't doing you any justice.. you're really very young and sweet ^^ so's mum ^^ love your very christmassy birthday cake, and puffy santas too ^^ will bookmark this shortcake recipe as it's not easy to find a really nice, soft and moist shortcake recipe ^^ enjoy your day ^^!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Hui,
      Thank you for you warm wishes. I am pleased to hear from your wishes. You flatter me...well I am not young anymore...my look do make me look young but age is not...hee..hee...

      Delete
  3. Hi Mel, happy and blessing birthday to you ^_^ I love your strawberries santa claus birthday cake, very cute.
    Just realized that you post the Madeleines recipe same with me on 17 dec, hehe...but yours is so special and mine is only original flavour.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Esther,
      Good to have you to visit my blog and I believe our friendship will start from here too.

      Delete
  4. Happy birthday Mel! Hope you have a wonderful day. I hv never baked myself a birthday cake, too lazy! Bt your strawberry mouse cake look so pretty and scrumptious. And so christmassy too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You Esther for your warm wishes. We have been baking for others so it is good to bake for our own birthday cake once in a while though we wanted and wished for others to bake for us too! hee...hee...

      Delete
  5. Happy Birthday Mel! Love your self-decorated strawberries santa on your cake, so gorgeous :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi DG
      Thank you thank you thank you for your warm wishes! I am happy of you coming to view my bday cake.

      Delete
  6. Happy Birthday to you Mel! Oh, look at you and your mom, like mother, like daughter, hehehe..What a great cake that you made for yourself..and love the cute strawberry Santa. And happy Tong Zhi to you too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sonia
      Thank you for your warm blessing and I am so pleased to have you as my friend. You are indeed a wonderful friend!!

      Delete
  7. Happy birthday and all the best wishes to you! Such a lovely cake to celebrate such grand occasion! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Gormantine for your warm wishes! Glad of you to visit.

      Delete
  8. Dear Mel, Happy Belated Birthday. Hope you had a good one. Loved your beautiful birthday cake. And Happy DongZhi to you and family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh thank you Veronica for your warm wishes. And thank you for passing the Liebster Blog Award to me.

      Delete
  9. Dear Mel, Congratulations! Through The Kitchen Door has been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award. You totally deserves it!
    http://mintyskitchen.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/the-liebster-blog-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mel,
    Happy Belated Birthday to you!! I hope it is not too late:p
    You make a lovely cake for yourself and cute little strawberry santa on top~
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too!!

    mui

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mui Mui
      No..it is not late to receive well wishes from my fellow bloggers and I am indeed pleased to have you to wish me!
      Merry Christmas to you and to your family too!

      Delete
  11. Mel美女,迟来的生日祝福~生日快乐哦!
    好多的圣诞老人陪你过生日呢!好热闹~哈哈...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Mel, Happy Belated Birthday to you! Hope you had a great one :) Lovely cake, a two in one occasion:) Here's wishing you and family a very Happy and Blessed Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mel, Happy Belated Birthday! Love your cake and the little Santas sitting on top are so cute :) Here's wishing you and all at home Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Belated Birthday, Mel! That is a beautiful cake!
    Lovely photo of you and your mom!
    Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. hi mel, happy belated birthday! wishing you all the best! that's a very cute birthday cake! Merry christmas to you and have a great new year 2013!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Mel! It's me again...

    Dropping by to wish you and your family a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a fruitful 2013 year ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Mel! Happy belated birthday and merry Christmas to you! It's been wonderful knowing you through your blog and look forward to more of your cooking and baking next year. Happy new year

    ReplyDelete
  18. This cake is super cute!! I love it! Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy belated birthday Mel! May you have a blessed years ahead. I love strawberry shortcake too. And I'm thinking of baking one too, from my newly-acquired book... you know which one, right...? Btw, those little Santas are sooo cute. I like!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Mel! It's me again!

    Congratulations - I have also nominated your blog for the Liebster Blog Award! You truly deserve the recognition and I look forward to reading more interesting posts from you in the coming new year!

    http://chefandsommelier.blogspot.com/2012/12/liebster-blog-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wish you a Happy belated Birthday and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
    Such a lovely birthday cake!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Mel. I love the effects you have put on the curser. What a delightful idea. Very charming. Thanks for the smiles and your lovely recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wish it would have been in English. The amounts of flour, etc.

    ReplyDelete