Celebration Cake - Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse Celebration Cake: A Delight for Your Little One

Total Preparation Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Baking Time: 40 minutes
Number of Servings: 12

Welcome to the magical world of cakes! Today, I will show you how to prepare a spectacular cake inspired by children’s favorite character: Mickey Mouse. This recipe is perfect not only for birthdays but also for other festive occasions, such as a June 1st party. With a light sponge cake base and delicious cream, this cake will surely become the star of any meal. Let’s get started!

Ingredients

For the cake:
- 8 eggs (preferably at room temperature)
- 12 tablespoons of sugar (fine sugar will dissolve more easily)
- 8 tablespoons of flour (use type 000 flour for a finer texture)
- 1 vanilla essence
- 1 rum essence
- Grated zest of 1 lemon (for a fresh taste)
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 3 tablespoons of cocoa (to achieve a brown base)

For the cream:
- 250 ml of liquid cream (choose a high-fat quality cream)
- 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa (or melted chocolate, depending on preference)
- Optional: a pack of Dr. Oetker cream with your favorite flavor (for a quick option)

For decoration:
- Dark and white chocolate (to create Mickey Mouse’s figure)
- Food coloring (optional, for personalizing the cream or glaze color)

Preparing the Cake Base

1. Separating the eggs: Start by carefully separating the egg whites from the yolks. Make sure no traces of yolk remain in the whites, as they need to be very clean to achieve a firm meringue.

2. Beating the yolks: In a large bowl, beat the 8 yolks with 12 tablespoons of sugar, the vanilla and rum essences, and the lemon zest until the mixture becomes light in color and fluffy.

3. Beating the egg whites: In another bowl, beat the egg whites with 4 tablespoons of sugar until you get a firm meringue. You can use an electric mixer to make this process faster and easier.

4. Combining ingredients: Carefully pour the yolk mixture over the meringue. Use a spatula to gently fold the two mixtures together, being careful not to lose the air in the meringue.

5. Adding flour and cocoa: Sift the flour and baking powder, adding them gradually to the mixture. Mix everything with gentle up-and-down motions to keep the air in the batter. If you want to achieve a brown base, add the 3 tablespoons of sifted cocoa.

6. Baking the cakes: Pour the mixture into a baking pan lined with parchment paper and level the surface. Bake in a preheated oven at 180-200°C for 30-40 minutes, or until the cake passes the toothpick test (when the toothpick comes out clean).

Preparing the Cream

1. Whipping the cream: In a cold bowl, whip the liquid cream until it becomes firm. You can add 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa or melted chocolate during whipping, depending on preference.

2. Fruit cream (optional): If you prefer a fresher option, you can dissolve a few tablespoons of syrup or fruit jam in the cream before whipping, resulting in a flavorful and delicious cream.

Assembling the Cake

1. Cutting the cakes: Once the cake has completely cooled, cut it into 3 equal parts. Make sure to use a sharp knife for clean cuts.

2. Filling the layers: Between each layer of cake, spread a generous layer of cream. You can alternate between chocolate cream and fruit cream, depending on the kids’ preferences.

3. Covering the cake: Once the cake is assembled, cover it completely with cream or white chocolate glaze. If desired, you can add a few drops of food coloring to achieve a cheerful color.

Creating Mickey Mouse’s Figure

1. Preparing the chocolate: Melt dark and white chocolate separately. Use cut-out cardboard shapes covered with parchment paper to create Mickey Mouse’s ears and face.

2. Pouring the chocolate: Pour the melted chocolate into the molds and let it harden in the fridge. Once hardened, carefully remove the figures from the cardboard.

3. Assembling the figure: Gently place the chocolate figures on the cake, creating Mickey Mouse’s face. This detail will add a touch of magic to your cake.

Serving and Variations

The Mickey Mouse celebration cake is perfect to be served with a glass of natural fruit juice or a refreshing lemonade. It also pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a serving of fresh fruit.

Practical Tips

- Complementary drinks: Pair the cake with a fruit tea or a refreshing drink to enhance the culinary experience.
- Flavor variations: You can experiment with different flavors of cream, such as coconut or caramel, to customize the cake.
- Decoration: Use colorful candies or grated chocolate to add a splash of color to the decoration.

Nutritional Benefits

The sponge cake is lighter than other types of cakes, being a source of energy from carbohydrates. The cream adds a note of fat, but when consumed in moderation, it can be part of a balanced diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

- Can I use whole wheat flour? Yes, but the texture of the cake will be denser.
- What can I do if I don’t have cocoa? You can omit the cocoa or replace it with carob powder for a healthier option.
- Can I freeze the cake? Yes, the cake can be frozen, but it is recommended not to add the cream and decoration before freezing.

This Mickey Mouse celebration cake is not just a visual delight but also a true feast for the taste buds. Try it at your next special occasion and watch how the smiles of the children turn into pure joy! Enjoy!