“The secret lies in the love and the effort the maker puts into the creation. It really is a simple dessert to make. There’s nothing to it.”
Similar emotions currently apply to my passion with strawberries, and it was time to heed a certain call to experiment with the red velvet cake (RVC) again. You may recall I recently posted a Red Velvet Roulade which achieved it’s characteristic red colour from the red in a bottle, although just 1 tbsp and not the whole bottle as many RVC’s have. I’ve had it on my mind to try a natural food colour extract, and strawberries were something I wished to experiment with. Unfortunately, it was near impossible to get that deep red colour. So it ended up being a pink velvet cake!
I did make something sweet however! I had on hand my experimental PVC (eeeks, sounds like plastic!!) headed for dessert, and some homemade mascarpone. Strawberry season ensures plenty of fresh strawberries in the fridge all the time. I’ve just finished bottling 3 jars of strawberry conserve, the recipe of which I have yet to share with you. We are now looking at the end of strawberry season here, so I’m trying to make the most of it. No dismay though because hot on its heels are stone fruit! YES, I impatiently await them!!
Strawberry, Mascarpone & Chocolate Cakelets
Makes 10-12 3″ cakelets
Sponge
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar + 3 tbsps sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
A pinch of salt
10-12 strawberries
Filling
250gms Mascarpone (made from 400ml 25% fat cream, recipe here)
1/4 cup strawberry preserves, heated with 1tbsp water and cooled
2-3 tbsps powdered sugar
200-250gms strawberries
Method:
Serve chilled, garnished with fresh diced strawberries, slivers of pistachio, and a dusting of sugar.
You are now making all of us here drool for strawberry. They just looks so so good. How i really wish that it was the season for this delightful fruit.
These are so simple but seriously impressive!
I can't believe you make your own mascarpone all the time but I assume you can't buy it locally? No wonder you included it in Daring Bakers Challenge!!! My friends have all been very impressed I made my own mascarpone, I have been keeping quiet about how easy it was…
It looks fantastic, Deeba. And yes, food made with love takes no effort at all. One can only hope the recipient appreciates it.
* by the way, it's not exactly fatless… there's fat in egg yolks, after all.
Yes of course the fat in the 'yolks' Manggy… nothing like guilt free cake eh?
Strawberry and chocolate=yummmm!
Oh you should be crowned Strawberry queen. these creations looks as good as they taste. perfect clicks as well.
Absolutely mouth watering!
Such great care in your posts..
I find so many magazines boring now:)
The jam jar against the wood is beautiful.So natural.
Have a great day.
Happy Anniversary! These look so delicious! Strawberries are my favorite! Beautiful pictures!
ummm! deeba what lovely looking cakes – i am having a hard time resisting strawberries – still winning – but the stores are stocking up on them but it is not time yet then you make me drool with these. lol! lovely!
Lovely little cakelets! I really love your idea!
cheers,
Rosa
Great desserts as usual! I must get those rings!
As always beatifully photographed, presented and tempting!!!!
These small cakes look so beautiful!I like that velvet sponge cake!
I think all your treats look magical! Happy anniversary!
im going to make the strawberry cake…iv been wanting to make a red velvet but wth out using the food coloring….now I will. oh I love the square n round tins! did u buy them? ive never seen anything like those in that size.
Stunning! We have to wait til June for strawberry season here.. but there are imports around.
Beautiful cakelets.
My husband had to come over and have a look see at your beautiful cakes– really fantastic! I can hardly wait for the conserve recipe and the stone fruit!
What a fantastic idea! I love the looks of these little cakes but most of all the idea of making a red velvet sponge! Hurray for something not so rich ad heavy as the original! Love the addition of strawberries, they go real well with it!
Rather belated but heartfelt wishes for your anniversary, Deeba.
Your starwberry cakes look lovely.
I'm going a bit strawberry crazy myself, just haven't posted it all yet!
Where are you these days?
Waw,….Deeba!! Georgous little mini cakes!! Real beauties,…MMMMMMMMMM!!!
Thats a nice one deeba…belate wishes to u from my side….
Hi Deeba – can I say what stunning photos you have on your blog? It's difficult not to stare at that berry, chocolatey goodness!
I always love the combination of strawberries and mascarpone cheese (still haven't made them). This dessert is simply divine. And wow, how do you find the time to do all this?
Looks delicious Deeba! You could also try beetroot for the deep red color…..i made a beet cake (http://veggiewiz.blogspot.com/2010/03/beetroot-day.html) recently and the color was gorgeous! The recipe I used was a little too moist but maybe u could find a better one somewhere?
sei bravissima!!! una ricetta stupenda! adoro le fragole!!! complimenti! ciao!
Such pretty and tempting things Deeba!! Food made with love always tastes good – couldn't agree more..
Beautiful! I like how the sponge turned out red without the use of any colouring!
Cakeletes! So beautiful and I so adore strawberries! You truly are a talented baker, everything that comes out of your kitchen looks divine. Yum!
Wishing you a belated, yet happiest anniversary! No bakes so what? Ur blog holds such awesome creations, a glance at any one is enough!!
Wish you both many more years of joy!
Loved the PVC twist! Njoi!
So gorgeous Deeba! The colours are magnificent =D. The strawberries look sensational!
Your photos are absolutely stunning. Such beautiful colors and textures – it's like the food is jumping out at me from my screen!
Pink Velvet Cake is just fine with me….especially if it's in cakelet form!
Those are wonderful, Deeba! I love the colors and everything homemade!
Your photos are always so interesting and beautifully done. Such fun to visit your blog!
Belated Happy Anniversary!
Not much in the world I like better than mascarpone. And then to combine it with strawberries and chocolate? Must taste like Heaven.
Every time I think you've hit the summit of delicious-looking deserts, you top yourself again. Simply stunning.
Really lovely photographs as usual. I take off my hat to you, Deeba!
These look delicious!
You've made my favorite pleasures: chocolate and strawberry in one place…so posh and delicious mini-cakes!!
Cheers,
Gera
this looks AMAZING! i am really in awe at how beautifully you have presented this, just gorgeous :O)
What a simple but delicious idea. Little cakes are always such a treat for the eye
Deeba, they. are. divine!!! You have single-handedly made strawberries n cream out of fashion.
Oh, for a bite …
Ju
BEAUTIFUL! I love red velvet cake and love the idea of using strawberries. If I'm not mistaken (and I very possibly could have dreamed this last night or something), they used to use beets to obtain that red before food coloring was widely available.
Your treats make me want to get up and go play in the kitchen. Then I want to play with my camera! Your goodies and your pictures are always so inviting!
BTW-I made the chewy granola bars. Another recipe that will be put into the lunch treat rotation file! They didn't last long at all.
I could skip dinner now having looked this over. Goodness! What a beautiful dessert. I love strawberries and chocolate together. You've really outdone yourself on this one Deeba.
This looks like something that would be served in a fine dining restaurant! Great going!
This looks like something that would be served in a fine dining restaurant! Great going!