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The Cake in the Mirror

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Mirror mirror upon the wall,

Who is the fairest of all?

Hmmm … good question. This is the question that all Daring Bakers attempted to answer this month as we tackled our latest challenge: Strawberry Mirror Cake. Our host for the month is the prolific, brilliant and talented Peabody of Culinary Concoctions by Peabody. Not only is Peabody one of my very favourite blog bakers, she’s also a kindred hockey spirit. Being a good Canadian girl, I know I can turn to her whenever I need comfort.

I’m a Leafs fan. Trust me. I need lots of comfort.

Anyway, back to the Strawberry Mirror Cake. Prior to this challenge, I’d never heard of a mirror cake. Some lightweight searching on Google didn’t reveal very much so I decided to just go ahead and jump in and not worry too much about the details.

The one good thing about waiting until the very last minute to complete these challenges is that I get to read about the experiences of other Daring Bakers on our private blog. In particular, Lisa and Helene provided some excellent guidance.

The mirror cake started with a very basic sponge cake made of eggs, flour, vanilla extract, cream of tartar and sugar. The cake was baked in a jelly roll pan. Once done, I cut out two 8-1/4 inch disks of cake and wet them with a simple syrup flavoured with Kirsch. Based on the end result, I suspect I did not wet the cakes enough as they were a bit dry.

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Once the cake disks were ready, I began preparing the strawberry Bavarian cream that would be the “filling and frosting” of the cake so-to-speak. The Bavarian cream consisted of unflavoured gelatin, strawberry puree, egg yolks, sugar, milk, lemon juice, red food colouring and heavy cream. It took me awhile to make the cream because I first had to puree strawberries and strain them. Then, I found that it took quite a while for the strawberry base of the cream to thicken. I began to panic a bit so started to add more ice cubes to the bowl of ice water that the cream was sitting in. This backfired on me as all of a sudden, the strawberry cream thickened too much. I proceeded with the recipe and whipped some heavy cream, which I then folded into the strawberry base. But my sense from the recipe, and also from other bloggers, is that the Bavarian cream should have been a bit more “pourable”, whereas mine was like a frosting.

No worries, though. It still tasted good. I placed one cake disk in the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan and covered it with half of the Bavarian cream, making sure to fill in all the gaps in the pan. I topped with a second cake disk and spread the remaining cream over and around the cake disk. I then popped my creation into the refrigerator to sit overnight and set.

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The next morning, I had some errands to run so I actually asked my mom to help me out by preparing the strawberry juice for the mirror part of the cake. What are moms for, after all?!

Essentially the strawberry juice involved cooking a heck of a lot of strawberries with water and sugar and then straining the end result. What you end up with is a lovely red juice that smells strongly of … what else … strawberries!

Making the mirror is actually quite easy as you combine the strawberry juice with unflavoured gelatin and place the mixture in a bowl of ice water to cool. Once it attains the thickness of syrup, you pour the mixture over the top of your set cake.

I actually found the mirror-making to be my favourite part of this cake. It was pretty cool to pour it over and then put it back in the refrigerator to set up. And it did look like a mirror!

After a few hours, it was time for the moment of truth and the unmolding of the cake. I followed the instructions very carefully and wrapped a hot towel around the pan for a few minutes. I also used a small knife with a hot blade (I kept running it under hot water) to carefully separate the mirror edge from the edges of the springform pan. When I felt confident, I released the springform and removed the ring. Surprisingly, it was quite easy.

I lifted the cake off the springform bottom (the recipe instructs you to wrap a cardboard round the same size as the pan bottom in foil and then put that on top of the pan bottom to make cake removal easier) and placed it on a cake plate. I didn’t want to overdue the decoration of the cake so I added a border of strawberries and mint and placed a flower in the middle.

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So far, the cake looked pretty good.

But now came the taste test. Using a knife with a hot blade (kept running it under hot water), I cut a nice wedge from the cake. Once I cut into it and removed the edge, I must admit that appearance-wise it looked impressive.

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So how did it taste?

Meh. It was okay. My cake layers looked pretty, but they were a bit on the dry side. I don’t think I wet them enough with the syrup. The Bavarian cream looked pretty as well, but to be honest, with all the strawberries we had to use, I thought there would have been a stronger berry flavour. I also don’t think it was sweet enough.

For me, the best part of the cake was the mirror. It looked pretty and eating it was certainly a different experience. It had a cool, gel-like texture and it was fun to see your reflection in the top of the cake!

Overall, the cake was enjoyed by all who tried it but not enthusiastically so. In many ways, I found this cake to be like Martha’s crepe cake, an awful lot of work and expense for a so-so result.

Still, though, it was nice to try something different. Thanks so much to Peabody for challenging us this month! Stay tuned to see what untravelled territories the Daring Bakers venture to next month …

Ciao!

For the recipe, you can see it listed on Peabody’s site.

To see what the other Daring Bakers did with this challenge, please visit our official blogroll!

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64 Comments

Laura

07/30/07 at 3:20 pm

It’s definitely one of the fairest Ivonne! Beautiful as always. I loved the mirror part too, I had a little left over which I put into a jelly mould for my little one, and guess what it was her favourite too!

Farfallina -Roam 2 Rome

07/30/07 at 3:27 pm

Wow!

That is absolutely the prettiest cake I’ve ever seen!

My mother’s birthday is in a week, and I will have to make this one for her! It’s simply breath taking!

Grazie :)

connie

07/30/07 at 3:31 pm

yeah, this cake wasn’t all too sweet. which i liked because it was more refreshing. but for all the effort, i thought the texture was just too weird. yours, however, is the most beautiful i’ve seen! its perfect

Lydia

07/30/07 at 3:45 pm

Well, even if the taste wasn’t up to your expectations (and other bakers have said that, too), it looks absolutely beautiful! Once again, the Daring Bakers impress us all!

steph

07/30/07 at 4:14 pm

That’s too bad about the taste (mine had a really weird texture, but I used agar instead of gelatin). Your cake is very beautifully decorated tho!

Hilda

07/30/07 at 4:16 pm

Your decoration is so gorgeous! I went a lot more rustic on my end. I made the cake again a week later with raspberries and it tasted much better, the flavor was much stronger, so I’m not sure if strawberries are the best flavor for this cake. I want to try mango, hmmm…..

bea at La tartine gourmande

07/30/07 at 4:24 pm

What a lovely cake Ivonne. So inviting and nicely decorated. Beautiful.

Anita

07/30/07 at 4:26 pm

I’m sorry the cake wasn’t to your taste, but true to form you still made it look spectacular! I love how you decorated the top! And beautiful layers. Maybe you will be able to adopt the concept to some different flavors…

Andrea

07/30/07 at 4:31 pm

That looks so beautiful, Ivonne!

Anne

07/30/07 at 4:41 pm

the mint leaves added a nice contrast to the red mirror. The cake beautiful :)

Elle

07/30/07 at 4:55 pm

Super pretty cake Ivonne. I agree that the srawberry flavor was light, but I guess I was expecting something airy and not too strongly flavored or sweet. The mirror had the most flavor of all. As usual your photos are stelalr.

Kat

07/30/07 at 4:56 pm

looks wonderful!

Jen

07/30/07 at 4:58 pm

Looks beautiful as always Ivonne! I agree with you on the taste factor - a lot of work for little punch!

Claire

07/30/07 at 5:11 pm

I love the decorations on top…such a beautiful cake! I bet it is delicious.

Jenny

07/30/07 at 6:02 pm

Beautifully and simply done! Nice work, as usual Ivonne!

breadchick

07/30/07 at 6:07 pm

Ivonne, it is lovely! As usual, I love how you use fresh flowers on your creations. I agree about the cake btw, mine was pretty dry too and I wish it had more berry flavour. The pastry cream was good though!

veron

07/30/07 at 6:22 pm

Definitely one of the fairest of them all! I love the way you decorated the cake.Looks like a a strawberry laurel like a fairy would wear!

Chris

07/30/07 at 7:15 pm

Wow! You’ve decorated this beautifully! Love it!

MyKitchenInHalfCups

07/30/07 at 7:25 pm

The gap . . . ah, yes the gap . . . that would be the gap between the edge of the springform and the cake round . . . that gap I missed with the first one I did.!! One day I’ll learn to read.
I love your decorations Ivonne. Your is surely one of the fairest of them all.
I did find the strawberry strongest in the mirror but I thought is was lovely in the cream as well. I guess I have to think it was more about the differences in the strawberries we used but we can’t prove it at this distance can we.

Linda

07/30/07 at 9:08 pm

Certainly one of the fairest of them all!

Meeta

07/30/07 at 10:30 pm

Very fair indeed! I agree with your comaprison - the flavor of this one was very subdued and I used lovely organic strawberries hoping to get the full strawberry flavor. But Ivonne if looks could kill I’d be a goner with your cake!! Hugs!

sher

07/30/07 at 11:11 pm

My goodness Ivonne. Your cake looks so elegant. I love the way you decorated it. It was a challenge thinking how to do that and not obscure the mirror. I think my cake layers were too dry, as well.

Pille

07/30/07 at 11:21 pm

That’s a truly impressive looking and beautiful cake!!! I echo your thoughts about the taste - but the challenge was enjoyable nevertheless!!

Katiez

07/31/07 at 12:40 am

It’s a gorgeous cake! But so disappointing that the taste didn’t live up to the package! Still, very impressive. Maybe the ‘mirror’ part can be used again to better advantage….

Amrita

07/31/07 at 2:05 am

You used the same recipe, but managed to produce such a WONDROUS looking cake! What’s your secret?!!?

Inne

07/31/07 at 2:23 am

Your cake looks beautiful, Ivonne, especially with the little flower in the middle. Like you, I enjoyed the mirror bit the most - so simple to do and suddenly it ends up looking rather professional :) It still won’t make me a cake lover though.

Annemarie

07/31/07 at 3:24 am

It does look very, very impressive. I love playing with gelatin so I would have been tempted to make it, but thanks for being honest about the taste - it seem like a fair amount of effort to be a bit disappointed in the end. Still, great to look at!

Lisa

07/31/07 at 4:32 am

Well.. you can definitely tell you put a lot of effort into this cake as it is amazingly gorgeous - but this is the norm for you and your spectacular creations. =)

Hmm.. Strawberry crepe cake…….

*shudder*

xoxo

joey

07/31/07 at 5:30 am

So pretty!!! Well, even if it wasn’t up to par taste-wise it sure looks perfect :) I so enjoy reading all the Daring Bakers posts…you guys rock!

Patricia Scarpin

07/31/07 at 6:19 am

I’m in awe, Ivonne! Awe!

Nicisme

07/31/07 at 6:19 am

This is fabulous! I really enjoy reading the Daring Bakers exploits.

Maria

07/31/07 at 7:27 am

Absoulutely beautiful!! Sorry it wasn’t your favorite cake in the end, but I think you mastered this one! Your pictures are amazing!!

Chew on That

07/31/07 at 9:37 am

HOLY COW! I saw this cake on Peabody’s site, as well as some others, and I have to say YOURS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL! Each layer is executed so artistically, and the final product - wow!

Compliments all around!

P.S. I tried to get Peabody to submit the recipe to www.Recipe4Living.com because it looks absolutely delicious too!

Deborah

07/31/07 at 10:08 am

Your cake is gorgeous! The majority of people seem to agree with you (myself included) that it was a lot of work for not a whole lot of flavor. But it looks good!!

Kristina

07/31/07 at 10:18 am

Isn’t it funny how sometimes the recipes requiring more fuss don’t produce results equal to the fuss? Though as with the others, I agree the cake is beautiful. And sometimes lots of work can produce delicious creations… Perhaps you will take the concept of the strawberry mirror and use it to top other types of cakes–perhaps a simple cake of strawberries and whipped cream? Or perhaps with other fruit juices? I’m imagining a cake topped with a deep purple grape mirror! Hope you are enjoying your summer Ivonne!

Ari (Baking and Books)

07/31/07 at 10:44 am

Taste aside, I have to say: I’m just so impressed with how all these cakes on the foodblogosphere look! So colorful, so pretty, so shiny! I like shiny.

No wonder it’s called a mirror cake. :)

Nazca

07/31/07 at 10:53 am

I mirror your conclusions… see what I did there? ;-)

Mary

07/31/07 at 10:56 am

Your cake is so lovely with the ring of strawberries and mint leaves. I think your cake is the fairest one of all!

Ceendy (Strawberry)

07/31/07 at 12:32 pm

Hi Ivonne,
Your new site looks wonderful and your baking skills are improving by the minute!
You may not remember me though.. Ha ha..
Used to be SourCream Timbits, but it’s no longer active =)
Hoping to see you soon in blogging world.

sunita

07/31/07 at 12:53 pm

The cake looks soooo pretty!! Absolutely amazing!!

Jerry

07/31/07 at 2:42 pm

It looks so pretty! You made it look tropical!

Dolores

07/31/07 at 5:00 pm

There just aren’t words Ivonne. Your cake is beyond gorgeous… even as you express your disappointment in the flavor, I find myself wanting to taste it for myself…

Amy

07/31/07 at 10:54 pm

Your cake is beautiful! I love how you decorated it, the green adds a lovely contrast to the red. The mirror was my favorite part too. :)

Anh

07/31/07 at 11:02 pm

Beautiful… I love the refreshing greeny colour. Very nice! :)

ilva

07/31/07 at 11:28 pm

So beautiful! And we used the same flower, that’s nice!

peabody

07/31/07 at 11:36 pm

I have come to the conclusion that you always post later on in the day so that you can show us all up :) lol
Beautiful job Ivonne!

Ash

07/31/07 at 11:38 pm

That is a very pretty cake! :)

Caffienated Cowgirl

08/1/07 at 1:12 am

That is beautiful! But I am not sure about the gelatin top…but strawberry-anything is always worth a try!

KJ

08/1/07 at 3:43 am

What a beautiful cake. I agree with your assessment. I found the cake to be a bit bland, with the strawberry jelly being the best bit. Still, I’m glad I tried it. If you don’t try things, how will you know?

gilly

08/1/07 at 12:54 pm

Oh Ivonne, you cake is so beautiful - and I love how gorgeously decorated it is! It truly is the fairest of them all! Wonderful job - and I have a lot of catching up to here - I’ve missed you!

Cheryl

08/1/07 at 1:04 pm

Definitely not an overly sweet cake, but yours is just simply gorgeous.

Jenny

08/1/07 at 5:09 pm

I agree about the taste. I always look forward to your posts because you always make everything look so stunning! Beautiful as always.

Yours Always Tartelette

08/1/07 at 8:45 pm

Stunning! You did a fabulous job! I love the touch of green on the cake. I agree with you on the flavor. Raspberries work quite well this type of cream.

brilynn

08/2/07 at 2:46 pm

When you said this was like the crepe cake I couldn’t help but wonder how that would have tasted if it were turned into ice cream….

monica

08/3/07 at 3:42 am

so pretty, ivonne! i’m very impressed with the cake layers and gorgeous decorating!

Dagmar

08/3/07 at 6:24 am

It’s beautiful. I agree on the mirror, I liked that one best as well!

Orchidea

08/3/07 at 12:33 pm

Semplicemente stupenda!!! Bellissima!
Ciao.

Anna

08/3/07 at 6:08 pm

it’s so impressive, especially that cross section photo where you can see all the layering. beautiful!

Kristen

08/4/07 at 7:52 pm

You did such a beautiful job! Very well done, Ivonne.

Nicole from: For the Love of Food

08/7/07 at 1:26 am

Hi Ivonne,
I was just tagged by another foodie in regards to 8 random facts about myself, and I’m supposed to pass it on. I thought it’d be interesting to find out more about you! You can find the rules at my post here:
http://forfood.rezimo.com/?p=358

I hope you join in!

Sudha

08/7/07 at 1:28 am

Hi,
I am becoming a regular to your blog.Most of your recipes are all mouth watering. The cake looks lovely.Even thou it takes a few stages to prepare the cake,I think the mirror make the cake look grand and attractive .No doubt the cake was tasty as well .

You say Jello I say Goodbye « HouseGirls

09/24/07 at 5:59 am

[…] And talking of daring, I stumbled upon the ‘Daring Bakers’ Blogs http://daringbakersblogroll.blogspot.com/  a fantastic group of food bloggers who set themselves a collective challenge every month to make some new and courageous confection and their results are displayed for all to see how they performed. The Bavarian Mirror cake demonstrates how just a little bit of jelly can be a very beautiful thing – here’s a couple of the bloggers attempts - so kitschly appealing  don’t you agree?   http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2007/07/30/mirror-mirroron-the-wall/ http://creampuffsinvenice.ca/2007/07/30/the-cake-in-the-mirror/   […]

Anka

09/28/07 at 10:20 am

Wow kawaii!So cute, I love my food, and your food looks so damn good. YuM,but I’m not a very good cook.Bleh O.oBut I have to try , coconut cream cake and the strawberry mirror cake. Thank you for your amazing recipe!!

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