Vasile Cake (New Year's Eve 2020)

Vasile Cake

Happy New Year and welcome to the new year! Get ready to impress at the New Year's table with a refined dessert that will surely become the star of the evening - the Vasile Cake. This recipe combines unique flavors and delicious textures, and the elegant white chocolate decoration will add a touch of magic to any celebration. I invite you to discover each step of this delicious recipe with me!

Preparation time: 1h 30min
Baking time: approx. 30min
Total time: 2h
Number of servings: 15

Necessary ingredients:

For the white chocolate decorations:
- 40 g white chocolate

For the sponge cake:
- 6 eggs
- A pinch of salt
- 5 ml sweetener
- Half a teaspoon grated orange peel
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 7 tablespoons ground walnuts
- 1 packet baking powder

For the syrup:
- 300 ml water
- 100 ml orange juice
- 3 teaspoons rum essence

For the dark chocolate cream:
- 250 g mascarpone cheese
- 50 ml liquid cream
- 70 g dark chocolate
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee
- 1 teaspoon ground coffee

For decoration:
- 250 g mascarpone cheese
- 150 ml liquid cream
- 40 g white chocolate
- 1 teaspoon natural purple food coloring
- Half a teaspoon natural green food coloring
- Sugar pearls

Recipe story:
The Vasile Cake is a special recipe that has won the hearts of many due to its refined taste and elegant decoration. This combination of dark chocolate, walnuts, and orange evokes pleasant memories and festive moments. Whether it’s a New Year’s party or an anniversary, this cake will bring a smile to the faces of all who taste it.

Step by step:

1. White chocolate decorations:
- Start by melting the white chocolate in a chocolate piping bag, submerged in a pot of hot water. This method will ensure even melting while keeping the flavor intact.
- Once the chocolate is completely melted, remove the piping bag from the pot and gently tap it on a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Let the chocolate cool for 5 minutes until it becomes slightly viscous. Then, cut the tip of the bag and draw the desired decorations on a piece of baking paper. Place them in the freezer until use.

2. Preparing the sponge cake:
- It is recommended to prepare the sponge cake the night before to make your life easier on New Year's Day.
- In a bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt and the sweetener until you obtain a firm foam. Use a mixer for the best results.
- Gradually add the egg yolks, gently mixing to avoid losing air from the mixture. Add the grated orange peel, baking powder, flour, and ground walnuts. Use a spatula to fold the ingredients from the bottom up.
- Pour the mixture into a round baking pan lined with baking paper, and bake it in a preheated oven at low heat for about 30 minutes, or until it passes the toothpick test. Let the sponge cool completely.

3. Preparing the syrup:
- In a saucepan, bring the water and orange juice to a boil, letting them simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes.
- Once you have obtained a flavored syrup, remove it from the heat, add the rum essence, and let it cool.

4. Dark chocolate cream:
- Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler, then let it cool for 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix the mascarpone cheese well with a mixer. Add the melted dark chocolate, ground coffee, instant coffee, and mix until you obtain a smooth cream.

5. Assembling the cake:
- Cut the sponge into 3 equal layers.
- Soak each layer with the orange syrup, then evenly spread the dark chocolate cream between the layers.

6. Decorating the cake:
- Melt the dark chocolate again over a double boiler, then let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Mix the mascarpone with the liquid cream and add the melted white chocolate.
- Coat the cake with the obtained white cream. Save two tablespoons of this cream to prepare cream flowers.
- Divide the remaining cream into two bowls. Color one green and the other purple with food coloring. Use these colors to create a vibrant decoration on the cake.
- Decorate the cake with flowers made from purple cream, green cream leaves, sugar pearls, and the previously prepared white chocolate decorations.

7. Cooling and serving:
- Let the cake chill until serving. It will taste much better after a few hours of cooling, when the flavors meld perfectly.

Useful tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially chocolate, as this will significantly affect the taste of the cake.
- You can replace the rum essence with another preferred flavor, such as vanilla or almond, to customize the cake to your taste.
- If you want a less sweet cake, reduce the amount of sweetener or white chocolate in the decoration.

Recommended pairings:
The Vasile Cake pairs perfectly with a glass of sweet wine or a fruit cocktail. Additionally, a cup of aromatic coffee will perfectly complement the taste of this dessert.

Nutritional information:
Each serving of Vasile Cake contains approximately 350 calories, making it an excellent choice for a special occasion, thanks to nutritious ingredients such as nuts and dark chocolate, which provide antioxidants and healthy fats.

I encourage you to try this recipe and adapt it as you wish. The Vasile Cake is not just a dessert but also a culinary experience that you will share with your loved ones. Happy New Year and may you have a year full of joys and culinary delights!