Anyway, I am proud to be included in this month challenge, which is hosted by the talented Peabody of Culinary Concoction. She has chosen a marvelous challenge for all of us – A Strawberry Mirror Cake. Truth to be told, when I first read about this during my holiday in Sydney, I almost fainted. I used to have very bad experience with any type of sponge cake, let alone a mousse cake with the mirror topping. The recipe did sound long and complicated, I wasn´t sure if I was ready for it…
Contrast with my worry, the sponge cake itself turned out all right. Reading the instructions and tips from other daring bakers really helped (thanks guys!). After the cake was done, everything else was pretty smooth. The Bavarian cream set wonderfully and so did the mirror topping.
However, I did make some mistakes during the assembling process. Adapting and scaling the recipe to fit my mini ring, I miscalculated a little (my work involves math you know?) and ended up with a lot of leftover Bavarian cram. But the strawberry cream was so delicious that I and my flatmate didn´t waste a single bit. We had it as filling for our pancakes and it was marvelous!
You also have noticed that I served my cake with some dusted cocoa powder. Initially, I intended to make some chocolate sauce instead. However, the sauce may be too rich and sweet for this. Pure cocoa powder is much better choice. It gives a light contrast and lifts the flavors of the whole cake without overpowering the fruitiness. There are pieces of dark chocolate here or there to tease the palate a little, too.
If you are looking for the recipe, please head over to Culinary Concoction (I´ll link to the recipe when Peabody posts it).
Lovely! I like how you’ve decorated the cake and isnt that little cocoa butterfly just fantastic! I didnt have time (nor the energy) to decorate my cake as we had visitors over that were just as impatient as my family and I to try the cake…!! Well done again!
Beautiful, stunning, pretty and oh so gorgeous! I’ve always admired your creations and your photo’s are really awesome! The cake looks heavenly. I love the decorations
Your cake looks lovely! The cocoa decorations are very pretty with the cake!
Gorgeous! I love that cocoa butterfly!
Well, welcome to the Daring Bakers! Your cake is totally lovely. Great first challenge for you!
What can I say? This is stunning.
That is absolutely divine! I can’t wait till Peabody posts the recipe so I can give this a try 😀
Too beautiful for words. I wish I was as creative as you.
WOW! You totally put me to shame. Such gorgeous presentation. Your cake looks wonderful!
You did an amazing job, Anh!
All I can say is ITS GORGEOUS!
Your cake looks awesome Anh! I wish my mirror looked as good as yours.
I love the colors of the cake!
Mini versions of fancy cake always look so cute – and the colour of your mirror is wonderful, so intense pink – mine was a much lighter shade. Great job!!
That looks so stunning Anh…. simply breathtaking beauty… love that color!
Looks great and I love the butterfly!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Beautiful decoration, Anh!
Your cake is simply wonderful, Anh. I love the photo and the way you decorated it was brilliant!
Dhram, thank you. I was aiming for the minimum decorating. :)
It looks if it comes straight from a French patisserie! Lovely!
Everything about your cake is just perfect! The size, the cocoa, the plating, and that butterfly.
Anh, what a precious looking cake. I love the chocolate swirl and that nice touch with the butterfly. Now chocolate and strawberries are a match made in heaven!
That looks so lovely…can’t help staring.
Another success from the Daring Bakers, and how nice that you are now one of them! Congratulations on your first challenge — the cake is beautiful!
This is the fourth Mirror cake I am looking at today and your’s is the best looking so far!! Stunning Anh,great job!:))
This is so cute Anh. Well done
Oh I not only love the color, but I love the butterfly!
Your cake looks so pretty!I love the decoration!
Beautiful job on the challenge! I too must chime in and say what a beautiful butterfly decoration!
That is truly stunning! Absolutely beautiful and the butterfly just makes it perfect!
hmmmm i love your cake looks great
Anh, before I praise for that mirron cake, let me tell you, I liked your butterfly a lot
I feel it makes a lot of difference to that presentation…so cute 
and the mirror cake…..i have seen 4-5 so dar…liked yours and anne’s for the presentation and now i wish I could taste a piece :)
Just gorgeous, Anh! I love the plating – darling butterfly!
Nice job on your first challenge! Welcome to the crew.
well done!!! Your first DB challenge is a success. Love your presentation!
Wow, it’s beautiful. I’ve never heard of anything like this, both the cake and the challenge. Congratulations.
Amazing photos! You did an amazing job.
Gorgeous presentation. I love when the cakes are made in mini versions.
Your cake is adorable and how original of you to decorate with cocoa and chocolate instead of strawberries! The pictures are lovely. =)
Your decoration is wonderful!!
Hi,Anh Nice to meet you.
want to know about Tamara Milstein. I `m really liking to watch her TV Program( Tmara and word`s cake ) in Japan (local cable TV though) and i want to know about her more.
OMG! Pretty in pink! Elegant…so so pretty! I’m jammed on words now, cos I love even the cocoa butterfly on your plate! 😀
Anh, I was so sure your cake was gonna be wonderful – and I wasn’t wrong!
I love how you decorated your cake! Beautiful job!!
Anh,
Very elegant decorations and the mini size is adorable. It is a pretty tasty cake, isn’t it? Beautiful photos as well.
its tricky adapting a recipe down to a smaller scale. and i had leftover cream too. your decorations are so perfect! mmm… chocolate strawberries
Goodness me! Your strawberry mirror cake is flawless! It’s simply astounding! I wish I could have it:P
I absolutely love how you have decorated this. What a stunning creation!
looks really beautiful – and daring too! The chocolate rose on the pink topping looks most impressive – can’t say I am about to make it any time soon but I hope one day maybe!
Such a beautiful cake, Anh. Is that gold leaf you used in the mirror?
I like how you added the chocolate, maybe I needed to try doing that. I guess I am to much of a rush to eat to have the thought to decorate.
Gorgeous Anh! The cake turned out wonderful! And you are right…it’s so pretty!
your presentation is simply marvelous . looks so pretty and tempting. now going back to your pics:)
What an ingenious idea to use the leftover Bavarian cream for pancakes! And your chocolate accented cake is a stunner!
Strawberry bavarian cream? Yup. I want a slice.
Lovely! I love it in the mini form! Great job!
Anh! what a stunning piece of work that is! You totally blew me away! I love the butterfly stencil touch. If this isn’t eye candy, I don’t know what is!
It is so pretty! I like the additions your made like the cocoa and the choc. The butterfly is a nice touch.
Hi all, thanks so much for all of your compliments. :)
Your cake is beautiful! The little cocoa butterfly is really adorable!
Absolutely delightful. Its so very pretty.
the cake is charming! First time on your blog..Loved the recipes and pictures.
Intense decorations!! Looks great!
Beautiful Ahn… when you offer a class in plating and decorating, know I will be among the first to sign up. I love your chocolate butterfly.
Beautiful work!
It’s so pretty, I really love the presentation of your lovely cake! Well Done!!!
What an accomplishment! It looks great, Anh! Congratulations on completing your first challenge.
Lovely cake and great presentation, the little butterfly makes it extra special
Anh, thank you for your comment:
Cute presentation!
Very pretty cake…Lovely colour!
It looks wonderful! I love the way you had a butterfly stencil decorating the plate.
You have lots of recipes which r interesting.I will drop in soon and try to prepare some.
Beautiful cake Anh!! It looks amazing