Cakes

Components of a Cake

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A cake is made by putting together many different layers.

A cake doesn’t need to have all of the layers to be considered a cake.

The cake base, syrup, and garnish are all optional components for a cake.

A cake needs at minimum the cake, filling, and coating.

Components of a Cake

Cake Base

Not all cakes have a cake base, but cakes with multiple layers do have cake bases.

Cake bases are sturdy and crispy to hold all of the layers on top of it.

It also makes the cake easier to cut having a stable base to cut through.

Components of a Cake

Cake

The cake itself is the spongy part of the cake.

The cake is made by mixing dry and liquid ingredients, and folding them together gently.

Cake layers should not be overmixed.

They should be only mixed until just combined so it can have those puffy air pockets which creates a light, bouncy cake layer.

Syrup

Syrup is infused into the spongy cake, and therefore absorbs the flavor.

This works especially well for infusing alcohol flavors as well (amaretto, bailey’s, etc.) into cake.

The alchohol is absorbed by the cake, without having to put the flavoring directly into the cake layers.

Filling

The filling of the cake adds more flavoring to the cake in between the layers.

A filling can be made of anything from custard to jam to place in between your cake layers.

  • curd
  • custard
  • mousse
  • pastry cream
  • jam
  • panna cotta
Components of a Cake

Coating

The coating of the cake is the outer layer of what encases the cake.

The coating will fully cover the cake in a layer of sweetness.

  • buttercream
  • chocolate ganache
  • mirror glaze
  • glaze

Decorations

Decorations for cakes can be made out of many different foods, like buttercream.

Buttercream has a sturdy texture and therefore works well for piping unique designs like stars, leaves, etc.

Praline Feuilletine Recipe

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Praline feuilletine is a crunchy cake base used in fancy dessert recipes.

Feuilletines are crispy wafers that give the cake base it’s crunchy texture.

Feuilletines are made by mixing together equal parts egg whites, flour, icing sugar, and butter and baking it in the oven until it’s golden brown.

The feuilletine is then broken up into small pieces that will be mixed into the cake base.

Praline paste is made by creating a caramel sauce, and then adding in roasted hazelnuts at the end of the caramel making process.

The caramel and hazelnuts are blended together until it creates a paste. The praline flavor gives the cake base a nutty and caramel flavor.

Melted chocolate brings this cake base together. You can use white chocolate, dark chocolate, or a combination if you like.

praline feuilletine recipe
praline feuilletine recipe
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Praline Feuilletine Recipe

How to make a praline feuilletine cake base recipe.
Prep Time1 hr 30 mins
Total Time1 hr 30 mins
Course: Dessert
Keyword: dessert
Yield: 1 12 x 16″ cake base

Materials

Feuilletine

  • 1/4 cup egg whites
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup icing sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter melted

Praline Paste

  • 35 g water
  • 100 g sugar granulated
  • 100 g hazelnuts roasted
  • pinch salt

Chocolate

  • 210 g milk chocolate

Instructions

Feuilletine

  • In a medium sized bowl, mix together icing sugar and flour until well combined.
  • Add egg whites, and whisk together until it's completely mixed through.
  • Add melted butter to the bowl and whisk together again until it's fully combined.
    praline https://kitchenfoliage.com/2022/10/23/feuilletine-crunch-layer-recipe/
  • Line a half sheet sized baking sheet with parchment paper. You can always use 2 – quarter sized baking sheets if you don't have a half sheet.
  • Place the mixture into the baking pan. Using a brush, spread the mixture out as thin as possible. This creates the crispy texture. If it's too thick it won't crisp up in the oven. It will be more squishy than crispy.
    how to make feuilletine wafers
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes at 325 degrees F. It should golden brown when it's finished.
  • Let the feuilletine cool fully. Then break up into pieces. Set aside.
    how to make feuilletine wafers

Praline Paste

  • Roasted ~100 g of hazelnuts at 360 °F for 15 minutes. Let the nuts cool to room temperature. Remove the skins by rubbing the cooled down nuts in your hands until most of the skins have come off. Remove as much of the skins as possible off of the hazelnuts.
    praline feuilletine recipe
  • In a medium saucepan, combine water and sugar over low – medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and begins boiling. Stop stirring the saucepan and let it boil on its own. Turn down the heat and let it boil on low (1-2).
  • The sugar will go through transformations as it becomes caramel. The sugar will begin to form crystals and be completely dry in the saucepan.
    how to make praline feuilletine
  • The sugar crystals will begin to melt and become a golden brown color. When it's turning a bit darker of a color, it's time to take it off the heat. You don't want to burn the caramel sauce.
  • Get a baking pan ready with a silicone baking mat lining it. Once your caramel sauce is finished, remove it from heat. Mix the sauce to make the crystals melt all the way through if there's any left in the pot. Pour the hazelnuts and salt into your caramel sauce and mix until they are fully covered.
  • Pour the hazelnut and caramel sauce onto the silicone baking mat. Let it cool to room temperature, it will solidify.
    hazelnut praline paste recipe
  • Break the caramel into smaller pieces. Place them into a food processor. It will be LOUD. Prepare yourself! It's best to do this step with ear protection. Blend on low, then on high. Scrape the sides down and blend until it becomes a paste (a couple of minutes). Set praline paste aside.
    praline paste for praline feuilletine

Praline Feuilletine

  • Melt 210 g of milk chocolate in the microwave. Using 30 second intervals, mix thoroughly until it's fully melted.
  • Add praline paste to the chocolate and mix together.
  • Add 1 cup of the feuilletine pieces to the chocolate-praline paste and mix together.
  • Pour and press your praline feuilletine into your cake base and let it set in the freezer for a couple of hours prior to using.

25 Cake Icing Flavors

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Cake icings can be made out of buttercream, cream cheese, and whipped cream for a rich, creamy, frosting.

Cake icings add flavor, texture, and an eye catching look to your beautiful baking creations.

Buttercream frosting or cream cheese icing are the perfect base to add a variety of flavors to create your own rich icing for cakes.

Whipped cream based frosting is has more liquid, and isn’t as thick, therefore it’s easily spreadable for your cake.

You can add a ton of flavor to cake icing using simple ingredients like freshly brewed espresso, vanilla beans, lemon zest, lime juice, jam, etc.

Try using one of these sweet cake icing flavors for your next cake!

Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream cheese frosting is a tangy, creamy frosting for cakes.

It’s not as sweet as buttercream, and has the memorable cream cheese and vanilla flavor.

Cream cheese frosting needs to have the right consistency to be piped into shapes using a piping tip.

Cream cheese frosting works well for carrot cake, red velvet cake, and vanilla cake.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Vanilla buttercream frosting is rich and creamy, with an aromatic flavor of vanilla.

It’s a stiff icing, therefore its works well for intricate piping like creating roses or petals.

Vanilla buttercream is made with heavy cream instead of milk to thin it out, therefore it has more of a buttery, velvety flavor.

You can easily color vanilla buttercream frosting using gel food coloring, or liquid food coloring.

Vanilla buttercream frosting can be used for almost any cake! Vanilla cake, lemon cake, pumpkin cake, etc.

Cake Icing Flavors

Strawberry Frosting

Strawberry frosting is one of the most fruity frostings you’ll ever eat!!

To make strawberry buttercream you have to first make strawberry puree. It smells as good as it sounds.

The puree is added to a buttercream base, and it produces a vibrant pink frosting.

Strawberry buttercream has a bit of unique look to it, it has tiny pieces of strawberry mixed throughout the icing.

I recommend using the buttercream within 1-2 days, as the flavor fades over time.

Strawberry frosting can be used for making strawberry shortcake, or on top of vanilla cake.

Orange Whipped Cream

Orange whipped cream is made by whipping heavy cream until stiff peaks.

Orange zest and a little powdered sugar make this cake icing refreshing with citrus and have a sweet flavor.

White Chocolate Buttercream

White chocolate buttercream is made by adding melted vanilla chocolate to a buttercream base.

White chocolate is a fairly sweet chocolate, but added to buttercream makes it a delicious and creamy frosting that isn’t too sweet.

White chocolate buttercream is a beautiful crisp white frosting, but you can color if desired using gel food coloring.

Coffee Icing

Coffee icing is an incredible flavored icing because it’s FULL of coffee flavor.

It tastes like you’re eating a latte.

Coffee buttercream icing is made by adding instant coffee (I recommend using freshly brewed espresso) to a buttercream icing base.

Coffee buttercream frosting has a hazel color to the frosting.

Cake Icing Flavors

Champagne Buttercream Frosting

Champagne buttercream frosting has a lovely hint of bubbly flavor.

Champagne buttercream frosting can be made using a sweet sparkling wine infused into a vanilla buttercream frosting. You could even use a strawberry sparkling wine for a little extra fruity flavor.

Champagne buttercream frosting is perfect for a wedding shower, NYE party, or birthday party celebration.

Chai Spiced Frosting

Chai spiced frosting has the flavor of a chai latte.

Chai spiced frosting is made by infusing chai spice into a vanilla buttercream frosting.

Chai spiced frosting has a birch color to it.

It’s a unique tea flavored frosting that goes well with a vanilla cake, pumpkin cake, or coffee cake.

Cookies and Cream Frosting

Cookies and cream frosting has a hint of vanilla buttercream frosting, and tastes like you’re eating cookies in the form of icing.

Crushed cookies and cookie crumbs are added to the frosting to create this decadent and rich buttercream icing.

Cookies and cream buttercream frosting can be used for chocolate cake or vanilla cake.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Chocolate buttercream frosting is a chocolatey, creamy frosting.

Chocolate buttercream frosting is made by adding a little vanilla extract, and cocoa powder to a buttercream base frosting.

Chocolate buttercream is a heavy frosting.

Chocolate buttercream can be used for frosting chocolate cake.

Cake Icing Flavors

Hazelnut Icing

Hazelnut icing is a nutty and chocolatey frosting.

Hazelnut buttercream icing is made by adding cocoa powder, and hazelnut sauce to a buttercream frosting.

Hazelnut frosting is a unique frosting in that it has a nut flavored undertone with chocolate flavor.

Hazelnut frosting goes well with chocolate, vanilla, or mocha cakes.

Peanut butter Frosting

Peanut butter frosting is a fluffy and light buttercream.

Peanut butter icing is made by simply adding peanut butter to a buttercream base.

It’s a bit unique, in that the frosting is thinned out by adding freshly whipped whipping cream.

The whipping cream adds a creamy texture to the buttercream frosting.

Peanut butter frosting goes well on top of chocolate cakes.

Elderflower Buttercream

Elderflower buttercream is a floral and refreshing buttercream frosting.

Elderflower buttercream is made by adding elderflower cordial to a buttercream base.

Elderflower buttercream goes well with lemon cake or vanilla cake.

Mint Chocolate Icing

Mint chocolate buttercream is a minty fresh, chocolatey icing.

Mint buttercream icing is made by adding mint extract, and dark chocolate chips to Italian buttercream icing.

You can also color the icing using liquid or gel food coloring if desired.

Mint buttercream icing goes well on top of a chocolate cake.

Marshmallow Vanilla Frosting

Marshmallow vanilla frosting has a hint of marshmallow and vanilla flavors.

Marshmallow vanilla frosting is made using marshmallow fluff and vanilla extract, which is infused into a buttercream base icing.

Marshmallow vanilla frosting can be piped onto chocolate cake or vanilla cake.

Lemon Frosting

Lemon buttercream is a citrusy frosting with a burst of lemon flavor.

Lemon buttercream is made by adding lemon extract and freshly grated lemon zest to infuse into buttercream icing.

Lemon buttercream is goes well on top of lemon cake or vanilla cake.

Cake Icing Flavors

Amaretto Icing

Amaretto buttercream is a sweet, cherry flavored frosting.

Amaretto buttercream is made by infusing amaretto and vanilla extract into buttercream frosting.

Slowly add the powdered sugar into the frosting, and taste test for yourself. Only add as much sugar as you need to. It might be too sweet otherwise.

Amaretto icing can be piped onto vanilla cake for a sweet cherry cake flavor.

Raspberry Buttercream Frosting

Raspberry buttercream is a fruity, sweet flavored frosting for cakes.

Raspberry buttercream is made by creaming together butter and shortening with powdered sugar.

The flavor of the buttercream comes from the concentrated flavor of raspberry jam, and vanilla extract.

Hot water is used to thin out the icing as needed, depending on how thick you want the icing for your cake.

Banana Buttercream Icing

Banana buttercream frosting has a creamy banana flavor to it.

Banana buttercream icing is made with banana extract to buttercream frosting. You can add a little yellow liquid food coloring as well for a pop of color.

Banana buttercream icing can be piped onto banana cake or vanilla cake.

Coconut Frosting

Coconut frosting has a woody-fruity flavor to it.

Coconut buttercream icing is made by adding cream of coconut and coconut emulsion to buttercream icing.

Coconut frosting goes well on top of vanilla cake.

Cream Cheese Lime Frosting

Cream cheese lime frosting has a refreshing citrus lime flavor, combined with tangy cream cheese.

Cream cheese lime frosting is made by adding fresh lime juice to a vanilla cream cheese base frosting.

You can add a couple of drops of green food coloring if desired.

Cream cheese lime frosting can be paired with vanilla cake.

Cinnamon Buttercream

Cinnamon buttercream frosting is a fluffy, buttery frosting, infused with delicious cinnamon and vanilla flavors.

Cinnamon buttercream is made by creaming together shortening, butter, and powdered sugar.

Heavy cream is used to thin out the icing.

Vanilla extract and cinnamon are added to the frosting at the end, so you can taste test and make sure the flavor is just right before icing your cake.

Mocha Icing

Mocha icing has a coffee-chocolate flavor to it. It’s rich and decadent.

Mocha buttercream icing is made by adding freshly brewed coffee or espresso, and cocoa powder to a vanilla buttercream icing.

Mocha icing can be piped on top of chocolate or vanilla cake.

Dulche De Leche Frosting

Dulche de leche frosting has a hint of caramel flavor.

Dulche de leche frosting is made by combining dulche de leche with butter.

Whipped cream is folded into the butter mixture, making a creamy frosting for cakes.

Irish Cream Frosting

Irish Cream frosting has a creamy vanilla flavor to it with a hint of whiskey.

Irish cream buttercream is made by adding Irish cream to a buttercream frosting.

Irish cream frosting goes well on top of vanilla cake.