
0 from 24 votes
International Women's Day Cake (Torta Mimosa) for March 8th
A light sponge cake drenched in a boozy syrup, filled and covered with pastry cream and coated in tiny pieces of sponge cake.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Additional Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 10 slices
Calories: 362 kcal
Course:
Cake
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 ¼ cup caster sugar (fine sugar)
- 5 eggs
- 2 cups cake flour
Syrup
- ¾ cup water
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp Grand Marnier or Cointreau
Filling and coating
- 1 recipe pastry cream made using 12 oz (350 ml) of milk (see notes)
- 4 oz heavy whipping cream
To decorate
- confectioner's sugar to dust (optional)
Instructions
- Oven temperature 350℉ (175℃).
- Grease, and flour two 8" (20 cm) cake tins. You can line the bottom with parchment paper as well if desired.
Cup of Yum
Prepare the Pastry Cream (before, or while the cakes are baking)
- Make the pastry cream according to the crema pasticcera recipe below but use only 12 oz (350 ml) of milk. The rest of the ingredients remain the same.
- Once the pastry cream is made and chilled, fold in the Grand Marnier and whipped cream, then cover and refrigerate once again.
Cup of Yum
Make the Cakes
- With ingredients at room temperature, beat the eggs and sugar in a stand mixer (or with hand beater) until super thick and pale (between 5-10 minutes, depending on the mixer).
- Fold flour into mixture a little at a time (by hand), carefully keeping in as much air as possible.
- Gently spoon into prepared cake pans and place into the pre-heated oven.
- Bake the cakes for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes.
- Remove from pan, place on a cooling rack, then peel off the parchment paper. Allow to cool completely. It does not matter which side is on the rack as the entire cake is covered with cake pieces.
- Gently pour the batter into the 2 prepared cake pans.
- Bake the cakes for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove from pan, place on a cooling rack, then peel off the parchment paper. Allow to cool completely.
Make the Syrup
- Simmer the sugar and water for about 3 minutes.
- Add the Grand Marnier and set aside to cool.
Prepare the First Cake to Assemble
- Trim off the top and bottom browned parts of both cakes. This is similar to taking crust off bread for tea sandwiches.
- Cut one sponge cake in half with a bread knife (this one will be the main cake so choose the nicest of the two).
- Brush the top of each of these two layers with the syrup.
- Place one layer on a cake plate or serving tray and cover with some of the pastry cream (enough for a cake filling). Next, cover the top and sides with the remaining pastry cream.
Prepare the Second Cake to Assemble
- Slice the other cake horizontally into three layers, then cut each layer into long, thin strips.
- Cut each strip into tiny cubes which will be used to decorate the cake.
Assemble and Decorate the Mimosa Cake
- Begin decorating the cake by dropping cubes onto the top of the sponge cake.
- Continue adding the cubes and pushing them onto the sides and top of the cake so that they cover the cake completely. It doesn't take too long, and isn't difficult to do.
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours so that it can set, however, be sure to cover it to keep it from drying out. As much as I hate cling film, this is the best product for the job.
- Serve the cake as-is, or dust with powdered sugar, which I prefer. It gives it a more "finished" look.
Notes
- Make the pastry cream using less milk, as it needs to be more thick. All other ingredients remain the same (card below) .
- It is imperative that you use cake flour (in the US) for the sponge or it will NOT turn out properly.
- Use a scale for the very best results.
- An alternative decorating style is to make crumbs instead of cubes, and cover the cake with them. It's also a very pretty look. I plan to make one in this way and share the photo, as well.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1slices
Calories
362kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
68g
(23%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
0.01g
Cholesterol
106mg
(35%)
Sodium
41mg
(2%)
Potassium
72mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
50g
(100%)
Vitamin A
302IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
0.1mg
(0%)
Calcium
26mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10slices
Amount Per Serving
Calories 362
% Daily Value*
Serving | 1slices | |
Calories | 362kcal | 18% |
Carbohydrates | 68g | 23% |
Protein | 6g | 12% |
Fat | 7g | 11% |
Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
Cholesterol | 106mg | 35% |
Sodium | 41mg | 2% |
Potassium | 72mg | 2% |
Fiber | 1g | 4% |
Sugar | 50g | 100% |
Vitamin A | 302IU | 6% |
Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
Calcium | 26mg | 3% |
Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.