A break from all things savoury, I thought to introduce to you a new cupcake-tery in town. Ok, not literally “in town”, for the outlet is located in Putra Heights, Subang (* yeah..can visualise all of you going.. “where???” *), but fret-not, they have got a website, (with a map!) a blog, a stall in Subang Parade every weekend, on the 1st floor selling their delectable creations. Even better, they do deliveries as well, with certain terms and conditions, of course.
Pictured above is their signature, the Velvet Cake, with the drool+mention-worthy smoothest cream cheese layers ever, unlike the gummy or sugary plaster, thick sticky type commonly encountered.
Served slightly warm, the taste was somewhat complex, for it was my virginal experience with the red velvet. The moist, velvety-red sponge layers was rich, and slightly dense in composition, with very strong buttery aroma.
The layers were in harmony with the alluringly rich fluff of soft cream-cheese, made from imported cheese and mixed in-house. Mr Filen, the Manager proudly pro-claimed that they have the best cream cheese frosting, of which moi here sees no reason to dispute.
After much research in the internet, I realized Red Velvet Cakes are indeed rich, for one of its main ingredient is buttermilk, which explains the luxuriant flavour. When queried about the beetroot/colouring or whether cocoa was added, Mr Filen merely shared that it is a blend of their secret recipe.
It was difficult for me to pin-point on whether cocoa was added, as the taste was very subtle. My guess? I would say there was.
Overall, I liked the fact that their cakes and cupcakes was not too sweet, striking a very good balance between richness and taste.
I was reminded too, of the Get Cheesy Workshop featured by thestar & also by one of my favourite mag Flavours, by Catherine Lau a few months back. That was the first time I have heard of this cake.
One of the recipes she shared was the Red Velvet Cheesecake. (No, I didn’t managed to attend the workshop, was unavailable on both weekends..*regret* )
For those whose curiosity is piqued and would like to attempt this, below is the recipe shared by Catherine Lau. Don’t thank me; just save a piece for me when you bake it and I’ll be there to collect!!! ;p
RedVelvet Cheesecake by Catherine Lau
Beetroot sponge
* 335g superfine cake flour (also known as high-ratio or low-protein flour)
* 40g cocoa powder
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 1/4 teaspoons fine salt
* 4 Grade A eggs
* 200g caster sugar
* 335ml vegetable oil, warmed
* 2 teaspoons vanilla flavouring
* 120ml beetroot juice from 1 large beetroot mixed with
* 2 teaspoons bright red colouring (optional)
* 250ml buttermilk (or 230ml milk mixed with 20ml lemon juice, left to stand
for 10 minutes)
* 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
* 2 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
Cream cheese filling
* 450ml whipping cream, chilled
* 40g icing sugar
* 500g cream cheese at room temperature, chopped
* 90g icing sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla flavouring
* 45ml water mixed with 7g gelatine powder (or 10g for a firmer filling),
dissolved in a double boiler for 10 minutes
* 2 tablespoons Irish cream or Jamaican dark rum cocoa powder, for dusting
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease, line with parchment, and grease again 3 round 25×2.5cm (10”x1”) cake pans.
To prepare beetroot sponge: Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt together. Whisk the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is thick and creamy, slowly adding the warm oil, vanilla and beetroot juice. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed, alternating with the buttermilk or milk-and-lemon juice mixture in three batches. Scrape the sides of the bowl during mixing so that mixture is well-combined.
Mix bicarbonate of soda and vinegar in a small bowl, then add to the mixture with the mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Divide the cake mixture evenly among the baking pans and place in the oven. Reduce the temperature to 160°C and bake for 15 minutes until cooked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pans for 20 minutes; remove and cool cakes completely. Slice the top crust off to level (if necessary), and trim about 1cm around the edge (so that it will leave a gap round the pan when assembled into the 25x8cm or 10×3” pan).
To prepare cream cheese filling: Whisk the whipping cream and icing sugar in an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Place in a bowl, cover and refrigerate.
Beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and creamy. Add icing sugar and vanilla and beat until combined. Add the gelatine mixture, then fold in the whipped cream and the Irish cream or rum. Divide into three equal portions.
To assemble cake:
Place a cake layer in a 25x8cm or 10×3” pan and spread 1 portion of the cheese mixture over it evenly, and down the sides. Place a second layer of sponge on top and spread another portion of cheese mixture on the top and down the sides.
Repeat with the third layer of sponge, spreading the remaining cheese mixture over the cake evenly and down the side using a spatula. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove cake from the refrigerator and set aside for about 10 minutes before loosening the pan; remove pan.
Dust cake with cocoa powder. Cut and serve.
For orders from the atasteboutique, contact:
Tel: 603 – 5192 0577
Email: mail [a] atasteboutique.com / atasteboutique [a] gmail.com
Address:
A Taste Boutique Sdn Bhd
22, Jln Putra Markota 7/4b, Sect 7
Putra Heights 47650 Subang Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
More salivating inducing PICS & review of their cupcakes and other creations coming up later this week..
Some excerpts I got from my online research to share with you guys..
A Red velvet cake is a type of rich and sweet cake, with a distinctive dark red to bright red or red-brown color. Common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, flour, cocoa powder, and often either beets, or red food coloring. It is most popular in the Southern United States, though known in other regions. The most typical frosting for a red velvet cake is a butter roux icing also known as a cooked flour frosting. Cream cheese buttercream frostings are also popular.
Traditionalists believe that red velvet cakes must contain cocoa, although recipes are available that do not contain any chocolate flavoring.
The best were moist and tender, not too sweet, like yellow cake with an extra wink of flavor. The winning cakes and cupcakes did not taste strongly of chocolate, an essential ingredient, some say, in the classic version of the cake. But cocoa had a noticeable presence in them.
I want a piece, pleaseeee….
Rebecca,
Wah lau! Your English so good, must kau tao to you already! I like the way you describe the items that you review. Next time in KL, you must bring us to those areas.
Now in sales can move around more already,can explore more already. No more imprison in the office!
Yes, i have tasted their cupcakes sold in Subang Parade during the weekends and i find them to be pretty average only (think i can make better ones, haha!). I have not tried this Velvet Cake but it looks nice from your pic 🙂
Selba: can try to bake frm the recipe?? hehe..anyways, my invitation for u to come to Msia is still open..
Jason:hahah..thks so much fr the compliment *ahem*
well, I jz want to do the food justice! readers should be able to imagine the taste if not the texture when they read. I liked ur Blue reef post very much, almost like i can taste the fish there n then!
as 4 travellin ard – true, but got to “report” where I’m going one u know!
PureGlutton: weiii! Welcome back ;p
Yup me hoping u would comment since ur ard tat area.. and i tk ur word for it that u can make better ones!
ya know, i’ve never really had a velvet cake before. perhaps cos it’s kinda rare in the market…
subang parade, eh? cool! will check it out when i’m in that area! cool stuff… 😉
Nic: Yup,kinda rare. I’m sure its available elsewhere too..or mayb get the celeb baker FBB to bake us one??
Fui yoh …. your England so KOW! Respect and kow tow ….. hahaha …. The red velvet cake really make us wonder what is inside …. Very complex yet taste good ….
Oooh… I love Red Velvet Cakes … The best I had was a couple of Xmas-es ago when the Just Heavenly bakers did it for the Yuletide season. Nic, you really gotta try this. 😀
email2me: aiyah u all, dont mk fun of me laa…
LIF: me sure FBB and JHP kinda mastery std sure know hw to make this..mayb if we all hint hard enuf??
i nd to hunt out n try more Velvet cakes, for comparison..
i been meaning to make this for the longest time…red velvet. JHP does a lovely one, so do the daily grind.
fbb:meanin to??so when?when? ;p make make make! nic myself n LFB wil b ur customers!
oooooooh, now you’ve piqued my curiosity. have we met?
So what happened to the makan plan?? LOL
ah i saw red velvet recipes flying over in the blogosphere earlier on. but it never quite got to be really big here in malaysia. have always wondered what it would taste like. thanks for sharing the recipe!! see la if im not too lazy i’ll bake up a batch soon! lol
Andrew: ahhaha..I think we r goin for Big Bro – Western food that Ken jz cant stop raving abt..wanna set a date?
Lingzie: hhmm..wonder why hor..i was askin myself the same Q. aft all, there was the cupcake frenzy, donuts rage, so why not Velvet cakes which i think deserve more accolade since it actually requires skills to bake one!
Great cake recipe. It sounds like I’ll enjoy it a lot. Thanks, Adam
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