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Japanese Strawberry Shortcake | Japanese Christmas Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 114 reviews

This Japanese Strawberry Shortcake, also known as Japanese Christmas Cake, is a light and fluffy sponge cake layered with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. It features a delicate, airy texture with a tender crumb and a subtly sweet flavor, perfect for festive occasions or any special dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Strawberries

  • 8 oz strawberries (washed and dried)

Dry Ingredients

  • ½ cup cake flour (65g, sifted)
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt (½ g)
  • 6 to 8 tablespoons powdered sugar (for whipped cream)
  • 3 tablespoons sugar (for sugar syrup)

Sugar

  • ¼ cup white sugar (44g, for egg yolks)
  • 2½ tablespoons white sugar (37g, for egg whites)

Eggs

  • 3 large eggs (whites and yolks separated)

Liquids & Oils

  • 2½ tablespoons avocado oil (31g, substitute with neutral vegetable oil)
  • 1 tablespoon water (12g)
  • ⅓ cup hot water (for sugar syrup)
  • 1 teaspoon corn syrup (6g, substitute with honey)

Flavorings

  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Dairy

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream (cold)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Egg Yolk Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine egg yolks, ¼ cup sugar, salt, corn syrup, vanilla, and water. Beat on high speed with a stand mixer or hand mixer until the mixture becomes fluffy, pale yellow, and ribbons form when lifting the whisk. Set aside.
  2. Whip Egg Whites: In a large bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until foamy. Gradually add 2½ tablespoons sugar in three equal parts, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until firm peaks form, indicated by the meringue holding its shape with a slight droop at the tip.
  3. Combine Mixtures: Gently fold half of the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture, maintaining a light and airy texture. Next, sift the cake flour and baking powder into the mixture in three parts, folding gently after each to avoid deflating the batter.
  4. Incorporate Oil: Remove 2 tablespoons of batter and mix it with avocado oil until fully combined without separation. Fold this oil mixture back into the main batter. Finally, fold in the remaining egg white meringue gently until just combined.
  5. Prepare to Bake: Pour the batter into a round cake pan lined with parchment paper. You can use one 8-inch pan or two 6-inch pans. Tap the pan twice on a flat surface to release large air bubbles.
  6. Bake the Cake: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean—approximately 15 minutes for two 6-inch pans, or 23 to 25 minutes for one 8-inch pan.
  7. Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven, take it out of the pan, and peel off the parchment paper. Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack.
  8. Prepare Whipped Cream: Add cold heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until medium peaks form. Stop before the cream becomes grainy to maintain the ideal texture.
  9. Slice and Syrup the Cake: Slice the cooled cake into even layers. Dissolve the sugar in hot water to make a sugar syrup, then brush syrup evenly onto each cake layer, including the top.
  10. Assemble and Decorate: Slice half of the strawberries thickly for the inner layers, leaving the other half whole for decoration. Spread a layer of whipped cream on a cake layer, top with sliced strawberries, add another cream layer, and repeat layering as desired. Frost the top and sides with whipped cream. Decorate with whole strawberries and a light dusting of powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs for better volume during whipping.
  • Do not overbeat whipped cream to prevent it from turning grainy or separating.
  • To slice even layers, use a serrated knife and turn the cake slowly while cutting or use cake leveler tools for precision.
  • Substituting avocado oil with a neutral vegetable oil like canola or grapeseed works well and maintains the delicate flavor.

Keywords: Japanese Strawberry Shortcake, Japanese Christmas Cake, sponge cake, whipped cream cake, strawberry dessert

Find it online: https://lieblingsmahlzeit.com/japanese-strawberry-shortcake-japanese-christmas-cake-recipe/