Strawberry Mousse Shortcake

Today is my birthday!  

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me......hee...hee.....


Eversince I have started this blog I have not made and post my own birthday cake.  Last year, I have injured my shoulder and can't even lift up a cake pan not to say to bake it.  For the past week, I have been flipping my cookbooks, browsing the web though I have bookmarked a list of cakes in my favourite folders, and I still can't decide what cake should I bake.

I don't feel like having a cake with lots of heavy buttercream but just a simple light sponge cake some cream in it.  And as I always loves strawberry (and recently bought the NZ Strawberries which is so good than others) and on offer,  so I made up my mind to bake this Strawberry Mousse Shortcake.

The Shortcake cotton cake is the same from my previous Strawberry Shortcake which I have made more than 3 times already, and it is proven how much I loves this cake texture!

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE SHORTCAKE

Ingredients

Cotton Cake

145g cake flour

15g corn flour

1 egg

5 egg yolks – whisk lightly with a fork

150g unsalted butter

65g fresh milk

5 egg whites

100g caster sugar

¼ tsp salt

Some strawberries for decoration on top

Method

Preheat oven to 160C.  Grease and line a 8” square or round baking pan, and wrap the bottom of the pan with aluminium foil.  

Warm the butter and milk (do not boil).  Turn off heat, and stir in the sifted cake and corn flour using a wooden spatula.  Transfer to a bigger bowl, and add in the eggs and continue to mix till smooth.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites till frothy.  Add in the salt and add in the sugar in 3 additions.  Whisk till soft peak.

Pour 1/3 of the egg whites into the egg/butter mixture and fold in gently.  Pour in the rest and fold in gently till combined.  Pour batter into the baking pan and bake it at Bain Marie method for about 45 minutes.

For the Strawberry Mousse:

Inspiration from Sweet Sensation

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons  powdered gelatin

2 tablespoons water

200g fresh strawberries, pureed

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

180ml heavy cream

Directions:

In a small bowl combine gelatin and water and set aside to soften.

In a medium saucepan combine strawberry puree, sugar and lemon juice. Cook on low heat until hot but not boiling, stirring constantly. Add gelatin and stir until it is completely melted, making sure it doesn't start boiling. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for two hours.

Fold the whipped cream into the strawberry base and refrigerate until spreadable (it should be firm enough to hold its shape).

Stabilised Whipped Cream (for topping)

2 tsp gelatin powder

8 tsp cold water

2 cups whipping cream, cold

½ cup icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

1.  Chill mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 10 minutes.

2.  Pour cold water in the small saucepan.  Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the surface

     of the water and let stand for 5 minutes.  Place saucepan over the low heat and stir

     constantly with a wooden spoon just until gelatin dissolves.  Removes saucepan from

     heat and cool to room temperature.

3.  Remove the mixing bowl and beaters from the freezer.  In the mixing bowl, combine

    the whipping cream, icing sugar and vanilla and whipped until slightly thickened. 

    Then, while slowly beating, gradually pour in the gelatin into the whipped cream

    mixture.  Then, whip the mixture at high speed until slightly stiff.

 

To assemble the cake:

Slice the sponge cake horizontally into 2 or 3 layers.

Place one sponge layer cut-side up on a cake board or serving plate.

Pour and spread over the strawberry mousse.

Place the cut-side up of the second layer cake and place it over the strawberry mousse and return to fridge to chill for 30 minutes.  

Once the mousse is set, spread the stabilized whipped cream all over covering the cake.

You may use some leftover cream to pipe out the cream as decoration.   

Chill in fridge for cream to set for an hour or so.   Decorate as desired and garnish with the strawberries.

Well, since I thought Christmas is just 4 days away, so I have invited little Santa to celebrate my birthday this year!

I know, my Sister S's santa strawberries are much nicer than me....

Oh, I am cutting the cake later on.....will post again the slice cake...
because I'm excited to let my mum and Sister S to view my birthday cake....hee..hee..
 

Here is a photo of me.... Mel...

     These are my favourite photos....my beloved mum and me.................  and my favourite animal, giraffe!

   Merry Christmas everyone!    Ho..ho..ho..ho....