Naked cakes are very big business. I do like them, after-all it cuts the decoration time by 3/4. I made this one with excess yoghurt and mandarins that I had in the kitchen.I started off the month with this EasiYo yoghurt maker*. I was musing the benefits of making my own yoghurt when I was offered the opportunity to road taste this one. I really like it. It ‘s simple to use and I’m making my own, sans packets. Here’s what I had to say. Well I made lots of yoghurt and I have had lots to spare. I wrapped a kilo in muslin and drained it to make yoghurt cheese. I folded it through some mandarin curd and filled this cake with it.
These beauties above are Sumo Mandarins. Before I could find them in the store I tested out some recipes with other juicy seedless ones. As well as making Mandarin curd for the filling I made a Mandarin syrup with the juice and painted it between the layers of cake. Later, I found some of the giant knobbly Sumos and I made the Sweet and Sour Sumo Pork.I have got a few Spice Tailor curries* tucked away for the busy times ahead. I like these curries because they have whole spices, that are quite fragrant, you add fresh ingredients and end up with some very good results. I haven’t tried the chutney’s yet but they look almost home made.I won all this Kitchen Aid equipment. How I love Kitchen Aid (luckily). I won it for a recipe I wrote that needed no social media voting , *win*. The recipe Caramel, Raspberry and Chocolate self Saucing Pudding.( Best recipes) is one that I wrote using some left over custard. I am very lucky and so was the left over custard..I have been loving this Maxwell and Williams pyromax baker*. It’s good for tray bakes and even cakes. It’s recently made Lasagne and Chicken Curry very easy.
And let’s not forget this bit of brilliance. I entered a competition at Lambs Ears and Honey a South Australian blog that I love, and I won. I had just thrown out my knife block and I was ever so grateful to win this Messermeister magnetic knife block . It is a beautiful piece of wood that holds all of my knives. xxxNow for Naked Cake.
Go and visit Celia @ Figjamandlimecordial.com who links everyone one up so we can see what is going on in kitchens around the world. (No longer active)
Now back to Naked Cakes. This Mandarin Yoghurt Layer Cake is naked and gorgeous any time. Maybe you’d like to try making this one too.
Mandarin, Yoghurt Layer Cake. Naked
Ingredients
- 300 cups gm sugar caster (1 1/4sugar)
- 150 ml oil plain or olive 2/3 cup
- 3 large eggs
- 360 gm yoghurt plain ( 1 1/2 cups)
- 300 gm flour 2 1/2 cups
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- vanilla
Microwave Mandarin Curd
- 8 egg yolks
- 150 gm sugar
- 2 mandarins zested
- 200 ml Mandarin juice 3 Mandarins
- 80 gm unsalted butter
- 360 gm yoghurt drained. (1 1/2 cups or whipped cream)
- 2 tablespoons of fine mandarin Zest from the decorating mandarins
Mandarin Syrup
- 250 ml Mandarin juice 2 or 3
- 100 gm sugar caster (1/2 cup)
Decorating
- 250 ml cream thickened or heavy whipped
- Mandarins and strawberries to decorate
Instructions
- Set the oven to 170C / 340 F. Total about 6 mandarins, 2 x 15 cm (6 inch) lined papered cake tins, you will need 1 1/2 cups of well drained yoghurt
- Mix the eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla and yoghurt together well.
- Mix the dry ingredients together (including the zest) and stir the two mixtures together.
- Pour onto two lined greased tins and bake 25-30 minutes or until a skewer comes out of the centre clean when tested. Set aside till cool
To make the syrup
- Mix the juice and sugar and warm in the microwave till sugar is dissolved (1 minutes)
- When the cake is cool, cut each in 1/2, and paint with mandarin syrup. (4 pieces. set aside on parchment paper.
To make the Mandarin Yoghurt Curd
- Zest the mandarins and juice, measuring 200 ml of juice pour into a heatproof bowl
- Add the sugar and mix well.
- Add the chopped butter and microwave on high for 2 minutes (1100 watts) . Then take it out and give it a whisk to mix in the sugar and incorporate the butter. Cool slightly,
- Beat the yolks well then add them to the juice mix and whisk well. Put back into the microwave for 30 seconds and whisk repeating the 30 second blasts till the mixture is hot but not boiling. After the second or third whisking you should notice that the mixture is quite thick or starting to get thick and is hot. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve
- Now that it is ready pour into a sterilized jar ( approx 500 gm or 16 oz) and refrigerate.
- When cool fold the yoghurt through the mandarin curd.
- Put the cake onto a board or cake stand. Spread 1/2 cup of curd onto the bottom layer spreading to the edges. Continue for the next two layers.
- Spread the whipped cream onto the outside of the cake spreading thinly over the whole cake.
- decorate with mandarins and strawberries
Notes
- * Some products were given to My Kitchen Stories to test
sherry from sherrys pickings
okay i have to admit it – the main part about cakes that i like is barrel loads of icing on top! i wondered about those sumo citrus when i saw them in the shop. you buy by weight and that cute top is costing extra only to be thrown away instantly. i guess alot of food is like that:) love all the kitchen aid stuff.
Kim | a little lunch
Tania, I voted for you (even at this late date) and they confirmed and counted it! I also printed off your recipe because it sounded fabulous (okay, I printed off your naked cake recipe, too — couldn’t help myself!) Sometimes less is more, not counting contest votes obviously! Wishing you all the best in your continued inspired cooking adventures and contest entries.
P.S. Your Kitchen Aid stash is such a gorgeous hue… and that magnetic knife set… stylish and ingenious!
@ChristineSalins (FoodWineTravel)
Lots of wins there, Tania. Aren’t you lucky!
Cooking With Munira
This looks so sweet , I want to make one fast !
Miss Food Fairy
WOW!! look at your beautiful naked cake – look delicious Tania! And all your lovely kitchen gadget prizes you won – congratulations & fantastic! I’m sure you set up for life with those beautiful appliances & knife block!
Moya
Tania, love the look of your naked cake and am sure it is delicious too. I have Kitchen Aid envy, congratulations on your win and love the magnetic knife block. 🙂
My Kitchen Stories
Hi Moya, thanks for dropping buy and yes I am very lucky!
Kavey
Lovely prize you won yourself there and how refreshing for it to be a comp with no social media voting!
InTolerant Chef
Wow, you have done well indeed Tania! I voted for you, what a shame you can’t go to LA 🙁 Naked cakes are lovely and a nice change from overly sweet frosting, I don’t have the biggest sweet tooth so your cake would be perfect sweetie xo
Sally - My Custard Pie
Left over custard? An anathema to me 🙂 Some incredible things in your kitchen – especially all that Kitchenaid stuff. Mabruk.
Lauren @ Create Bake Make
Ahh you’ve to to love a competition that needs people to vote for you to ‘win’. I think your dish looks great and have already voted for you 🙂 This cake looks stunning, you really are too clever x
thanks for linking up with us for Fabulous Foodie Fridays
My Kitchen Stories
Thank you Lauren, that’s so nice of you x
grace
what a delicious way to use up some yogurt! i don’t see nearly enough recipes featuring mandarins. 🙂
Vicki @ Boiled Eggs and Soldiers
Well done to you on all your winnings, looks like you did very well even without social media! I love Kitchen Aid (just bought myself the pasta making attachment & will give it to myself for my birthday!), I seem to have lots of yoghurt too but that naked cake – wow just yum!
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts
the cake looks amazing. Great kitchen aid products too!
Gretchen
Love the cake. I also prefer less frosting, though in having a difficult time teaching that to my boys! Congrats on the Kitchen Aid win, lucky you.
Amanda (@lambsearshoney)
Wow – what a great haul. I adore all KitchenAid appliances for their durability, reliability and (of course) their colour range – lucky you!
I’m glad you love the Messermeister knife block – I adore mine.
Napoli Restaurant Alert
Well done on the KitchenAid win – that’s awesome!!
Ania @ milktoastandhoney.co.uk
What a superb bounty you have! Lady Luck is clearly shining down upon you 🙂 I love naked cakes and yours looks divine. Happy September!
Jennifer @Milk and Honey
Oh my goodness. Your cake is epic. I love a naked cake. I actually prefer the smaller ratio of frosting to cake.
Nancy | Plus Ate Six
Great win on the Kitchen Aid – and no social media required at all. You’ll have to give us all a bit more notice next time! I didn’t realise ‘naked cakes’ had a name – but I really like it.
Liz Posmyk (Good Things)
Wow, lovely haul indeed…. I (almost) have kitchen envy… though I am at the stage of my life where I really don’t need or can’t fit another thing. Love your cake… so pretty!