Dessert Alert: Glorious Garden Party ‘Gateaux’
Let them eat cake!
For those of us on the East Coast, the recent reprieve from blustery winds and cloyingly grey skies has given rise to an eager anticipation for the true arrival of spring, and all of the opportunities warmer weather brings with it.
One of my favorite things to do in the spring is to throw a garden party to celebrate the return of soft breezes, warm sunshine and colorful flowers, complete with a delicious dessert. While COVID has certainly put a damper on the level of springtime celebration, you can take advantage of the warmer weather and hold a small (socially distanced) outdoor gathering of your own. It also provides an opportunity to give your baking skills a little boost and try something new, or a bit more complex, than your usual repertoire.
We’ve got you covered with 4 amazing recipes for cakes perfect for any springtime occasion. Whether you plan to share or not is completely up to you!
Berry Cheesecake Poke Cake
Recipe from Tasty
If you’re looking for a light, fluffy and fruity cake that’s still easily achievable for a novice baker, this recipe is “parfait,” as the French say, for you. Poke cakes typically start with preparing a simple box cake a la Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines. Once the cake is finished baking, holes are poked into the surface and a mixture of some kind is poured on top, allowing it to sink in and permeate the cake to add an additional dimension of flavor. In this particular recipe, a mix of spring fruit and cream cheese are combined with a traditional vanilla cake and garnished with fresh berries to create a confection that would be the perfect conclusion to a countryside picnic amidst a field of wildflowers.
Spring Sunshine Cake
Recipe from Port and Fin
The name says it all! A bite of this delightfully-retro, citrusy creation and you’ll feel like you’re standing in a warm ray of springtime sun. Sweetly tart pineapple, orange and grapefruit collide in order to create something bursting with tropical-inspired flavor. Whipped egg whites and whipped cream icing create a feather-light cake, reminiscent of a fluffy array of clouds, drifting along in a brilliantly blue sky.
Spring Lemon Pound Cake
Recipe from Happy Happy Nester
If you’re looking for a cake that not only tastes delicious, but looks that way too, this lemony pound cake is the recipe du jour. Depending on your level of comfort in the kitchen, you can either make the pound cake from scratch or use a box mix (Williams Sonoma Meyer Lemon mix is a good option for those opting for the mix alternative). While you can’t ever go wrong with a pound cake, what truly makes this dessert special is the French Sabayon buttercream. Sabayon buttercream is created using a combination of sugar syrup and egg whites in addition to softened butter. While a little more time-intensive than traditional American buttercream, the end result is worth it, giving your finished cake an extra level of sophistication.
Blackberry Lime Cake
Recipe from The Cake Blog
While the flavor combinations in this particular gateau might seem a little unorthodox, the tart citrus of the lime and the corresponding sweetness of the blackberries work in perfect harmony, making for a winning confection in all of its pastel glory. This cake is a celebration of everything this season represents—the blooming flowers, the sweet bird song, and budding trees. There’s nothing artificial to be found in the delicious dessert, as even the frosting is tinted with the natural violet hues of fresh blackberries. While not required, garnishing with edible flowers adds another layer of dimension to this already picture-perfect pastry.
If you’re as eager for the long-awaited return of spring as I am, hopefully these wonderful recipes will provide ample baking and party inspiration in the next few months. This is only the tiniest glimpse into the wide variety of springtime sweets available to the eager baker. Happy Vernal Equinox and stay safe!
Au Revoir,
Matea xoxo