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Cakes: take 4 - Raspberry, Almond and Ricotta revisited.
July 01, 2008
I made the cakes I first posted about here for a second time this weekend, but tried a different icing. This time I made raspberry mousse to put on top! I had to improvise the recipe, because I am vegetarian and the mousse couldn't have any gelatin in it. Also I didn't really like the idea of a tofu mousse - sounds a bit odd. Anyway, I made a nice one using agar agar, but I think it could be even better, so I'll post the recipe when I've perfected it!
Here are the cakes:
I originally planned to fill them, using the cream cheese frosting from the first attempt, but I decided if a raspberry got in the way of cutting out a cone, the whole thing might fall to pieces. So I didn't bother.
When I first tried to ice the cakes, the mousse was too cold from the fridge and too firm - the tube of icing coming from the piping bag kept breaking when it bent round the edge of the cake, and the whole experiment was frankly a shambles. I used a spoon to smooth it instead:
I left the mousse out for an hour and tried again - it worked better, but I think the tips I'm using are too large. I thought bigger was better - but it's too thick to curl it around the cake, and does result in a spectacularly large quantity of icing. I will go down a size and keep practicing!
These are definitely an improvement though? And the topping was lovely - I will try another mousse next time with more raspberries and less whipped cream - it might be pinker and have more raspberry flavour.
I am also currently making a beaded wire tiara for a friend who is getting married, so it's not only cakes at the moment!
Posted by jen at July 1, 2008 12:37 PM
Comments
Thank you for including us in your wedding prep. Its fun watching you experiment.
Posted by: Nicole at July 1, 2008 12:58 PM
I'm loving reading all of this! Actually, it's a bit bizarre the coincedences - I'm getting married in September to another Adam. And I moved from Bristol a year ago to live with him near his job in Winchester - just down the road from you in Southampton! Weird eh?
The cakes look fab. And I love the idea of the dark chocolate and lemon! YUM.
Posted by: Fran at July 1, 2008 02:09 PM
I thought about you on Saturday. My first trip to Bristol in ten years had me driving through Brislington, when I suddenly thought ooh, get knitted is here somewhere, and there it was right in front of me, albeit with half a name sign as the other half had blown down. Then I thought ooh, theres that blogger lives around here somewhere too, so I thought I would come here and ask you if you think it is a good yarn store, as I didnt get a chance to go in this time and I wondered if it was worth a trip especially.
Posted by: Anne-Marie at July 1, 2008 02:55 PM
Were they any good?
Posted by: Stacy at July 2, 2008 12:22 AM
Those look yummy!
Posted by: Heather at July 2, 2008 01:51 AM
that pink mousse is so pretty in the bottom picture!
Posted by: sari at July 2, 2008 02:03 AM
Those look delicious. I love raspberries, so raspberry cupcakes sound like heaven. And I love the curly frosting top. Reading your blog lately has me drooling!
Posted by: Lulu at July 2, 2008 04:52 AM
I'd love to hear your veggie raspberry mousse recipe. I've been wanting to make some myself but haven't found a great veggie version yet.
Posted by: Kristin at July 2, 2008 03:24 PM
Gosh all these cupcakes are making me drool :) You look like you are having fun with this. I have always love cupcakes, thanks for sharing your adventures!
Posted by: Amy at July 3, 2008 07:05 PM
I live in Southampton, I'm sure you will make loads of new friends but in the unlikely event that upi dont you can e-mail me! Also there is a stitch and bitch in boarders in town on thurs I think, I dont go myself as I work shifts but I hear it is very nice there. Laura x
Posted by: Laura at July 3, 2008 10:02 PM
I love the idea of veggie raspberry mousse! These look gorgeous :)
Posted by: Izzy at July 4, 2008 08:27 PM
all your cupcakes are beautiful! you've definitely inspired me to go on a baking rampage this weekend.
Posted by: Olivia at July 5, 2008 08:57 PM
Your cupcakes look YUMMY! I can so understand how you feel, I got married last year, and the preparations were soooo stressful! Remember though, it's your day. Please yourself first, cos nobody will remember it the way that you do!
Posted by: Beth at July 5, 2008 11:32 PM
Hello my love
Do feel free to use us as your testing guinea pigs, we have excellent palettes and I am sure we could force down as many as you could throw at us! They all look amazing!
Cxxxx
Posted by: Caroline Buchan at July 10, 2008 06:01 PM
Yum, those look delicious!
Posted by: sarah at July 24, 2008 05:45 AM