Matcha Fruity Bento Cake

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Matcha Fruity Bento Cake

NICOLEYONG93
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NIKO NEKO

As an interactive multimedia designer, Nicole's keen eye for visuals is translated into baking, one of her recent pastime pursuits that she picked up during the Movement Control Order (MCO). Since the reignition of her passion in baking and a bread-lover herself, she started to create her own recipes such as breads, desserts and drinks. Her recipes a must-try for anyone who wants to learn, as they are simple, down-to-earth and achieves that deliciously eye-catching result.

"What makes baking enjoyable is when my creations look appetising and visually appealing in the photo."

Nicole / @nicoleyong93

Instagram: nicoleyong93

INTERVIEW WITH @nicoleyong93

What do you do for a living?
I’m an Interactive Multimedia Designer who works in a digital marketing agency. I’m passionate in creating visuals on variety of platforms including photography, illustration and 2D animation. I believe that colourful and meaningful artworks will bring joy to viewer’s life!
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What do you do for a living?

I’m an Interactive Multimedia Designer who works in a digital marketing agency. I’m passionate in creating visuals on variety of platforms including photography, illustration and 2D animation. I believe that colourful and meaningful artworks will bring joy to viewer’s life!

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You've recently started to share your baking creations on your Instagram. Has baking always been a passion of yours?

Baking has always been my passion but I couldn't find a time to do it. Due to Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia during March this year, I finally took the opportunity to start baking. It all started by creating the trendy Dalgona drink using Niko Neko Matcha powder during MCO period. As I really love eating bread, so I asked myself why not try to bake one? From there, I experienced the fun of baking.

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What's the most enjoyable part of baking in your experience?

I love baking bread! The process of kneading dough with your own hands is so enjoyable! Even though it’s not easy to knead dough perfectly by hand, it’s so satisfying when I succeed! Besides, what makes baking enjoyable is when my creations look appetising and visually appealing in the photo.

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How did you come up with Matcha Fruity Bento Cake recipe?

Pitaya or Dragon fruit is a nutritious and exotic fruit you can easily find in Malaysia. I think the colour combination of green and red will look aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, Pitaya has very mild sweetness which it won’t overpower the Matcha flavour. Then, I came across a recipe called Bento cakes. They are Korean-style miniature cakes, around 3-4 inches in diameter that can fit neatly inside takeaway boxes. They are great as little adorable gift for someone or a mini cake just right for yourself! Therefore, I decided to combine the fruit cake and bento cake concept into one.

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Why did you choose YURI / Matcha for this recipe?

I chose YURI / Matcha for this recipe as the slight bitterness and vegetal grassy notes from YURI Matcha can balance out the sweetness from the white chocolate.

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You've recently started to share your baking creations on your Instagram. Has baking always been a passion of yours?

Baking has always been my passion but I couldn't find a time to do it. Due to Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia during March this year, I finally took the opportunity to start baking. It all started by creating the trendy Dalgona drink using Niko Neko Matcha powder during MCO period. As I really love eating bread, so I asked myself why not try to bake one? From there, I experienced the fun of baking.
What's the most enjoyable part of baking in your experience?
I love baking bread! The process of kneading dough with your own hands is so enjoyable! Even though it’s not easy to knead dough perfectly by hand, it’s so satisfying when I succeed! Besides, what makes baking enjoyable is when my creations look appetising and visually appealing in the photo.
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How did you come up with Matcha Fruity Bento Cake recipe?
Pitaya or Dragon fruit is a nutritious and exotic fruit you can easily find in Malaysia. I think the colour combination of green and red will look aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, Pitaya has very mild sweetness which it won’t overpower the Matcha flavour. Then, I came across a recipe called Bento cakes. They are Korean-style miniature cakes, around 3-4 inches in diameter that can fit neatly inside takeaway boxes. They are great as little adorable gift for someone or a mini cake just right for yourself! Therefore, I decided to combine the fruit cake and bento cake concept into one.
Why did you choose YURI / Matcha for this recipe?

As this recipe contains whipped cream and fruits, I think YURI / Matcha is a good option to balance out the sweetness with its rich grassy note and umami-ness. 

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RECIPE

Matcha Fruity Bento Cake

by @nicoleyong93

Serving: 3 Bento Cakes

Preparation time: around 50 min
Cooking time: 35 min
Total time: around 1 hour 25 min

Ingredients

4 Eggs
40g Almond Milk (or any other preferred milk)
30g Vegetable Oil
40g Cake Flour
5g YURI / Matcha
30g Brown Sugar
A pinch of Salt

Filling & Topping
100g Whipping Cream 
10g Brown Sugar
Few drops of Vanilla Extract
1 Pitaya / Red Dragon fruit, chopped (or any other preferred fruits)
YURI / Matcha powder for dusting

Packaging (Optional)
4-inch Bento Boxes

Method To Assemble

  1. Separate egg white and egg yolks into 2 different bowls.
  2. Whisk together almond milk, oil, salt and egg yolks.
  3. Sift in cake flour and YURI / Matcha. Whisk with zigzag method until there’s no trace of powder. Set aside.
  4. In another bowl, beat egg white with electronic mixer and gradually add in sugar, 1/3 at a time. Beat until stiff peak is formed when you lift up the mixer. (Do not over beat the egg white)
  5. Preheat the oven at 150°C.
  6. Mix 1/3 of egg white into the egg yolk mixture using folding method.
  7. Pour the egg yolk mixture into the remaining egg white. Mix well with folding method.
  8. Line a square cake pan* with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pan slowly from the position one foot above the base. Gently spread the batter evenly on the surface. Slam the cake pan a few times to remove air bubbles.
  9. Bake for 30-35min at 150°C.
  10. Slam the cake pan a few times and remove the cake from cake pan. Place it upside down on a cooling rack to cool.
  11. While waiting for the cake to cool, in a bowl, whip together whipping cream and sugar with ice bath. Add a few drops of vanilla extract and continue to whip until stiff peak is formed. Pour the whipped cream into a piping bag. Set aside.
  12. After the cake is cooled down, gently remove the parchment paper.
  13. Use a round cookie cutter** to cut the cake, 6 pieces of round cakes in total.
  14. In a 4 inches bento box (optional), place a piece of cake and layer with whipped cream and chopped pitaya. Place another layer of cake on top and decorate your cake with another layer of whipped cream and pitaya. Dust some YURI / Matcha powder on the surface as a final touch.
  15. Chill the cake in refrigerator before serve.

Note:

*10 in x10 in pan is used in this recipe. Use bigger cake pan if you prefer thinner cake layers.

**8cm diameter cookie cutter is used in this recipe. Use 10cm diameter cookie cutter if you prefer a bigger bento cake.

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Start Baking Your Matcha Fruity Bento Cake With YURI / Matcha Powder.

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