Sometimes when you're stressed you need cake. Just a little 6-inch personal-size cake with flecks of vanilla bean throughout, and possibly surrounded with your favorite guilty pleasure - strawberry pocky.
It helps you forget that you're making a wedding cake and a groom's cake next week.
And the fact that you'll have to transport it in 592 degree weather.
And that somehow you'll have to manage all this while looking fresh-as-a-daisy in your bridesmaid's dress.
Clearly, I needed a cake.
This is a straight-forward yellow cake recipe with an American buttercream from the SprinkleBakes book. I used cake flour instead of all-purpose and vanilla bean paste instead of extract. Both cake and icing have the taste and texture of the birthday cakes I remember as child.
Dress it in pocky- or don't. It's delicious either way!
Pink Vanilla Pocky Cake
Yield: One six-inch cake, or one slightly shorter 8-inch cake [click for printable recipe]
Note: Cake flour is recommended for this recipe.
Yellow cake:
2 ¼ cups cake flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
3 eggs
¾ cup whole milk, room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- In a standing mixer, beat butter using the paddle attachment until creamy and lightened. Add the sugar gradually; scrape down the sides of the bowl and then beat in the vanilla.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour.
- Divide batter between pans and bake approximately 22 minutes for 6-inch layers, 24 minutes for 8-inch layers. Cool cakes in pans for 5 minutes, unmold and cool completely on wire racks.
Note: if making an 8-inch version, increase the frosting recipe by 1/2
1 cup of unsalted butter, softened
1 cup of unsalted butter, softened
2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar - the finest you can find (usually 10x)
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
Pink gel food coloring
- In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together the butter and confectioners sugar. Begin mixing on low speed until crumbly, and then increase to high and beat for 3 minutes.
- Add vanilla bean paste and beat again for another minute until light and fluffy. Beat in food coloring a little at a time until the desired color is achieved.
Assembly:
6-inch cake: Fifteen 6 quantity packets (90 pcs.) of strawberry cream pocky
8-inch cake: Seventeen-Eighteen 6 quantity packets " "
8-inch cake: Seventeen-Eighteen 6 quantity packets " "
- Frost cooled cakes with an off-set spatula and transfer remaining frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large plain tip (a zip-top bag with the corner snipped would probably work also).
- Pipe icing in strait lines across the top of the cake. When finished, smooth the edges with an off-set spatula. Press the strawberry pocky dipped-side down into the sides of the cake until completely covered.
- The finished cake slices easily if you place the knife between pieces of pocky.
Gosh. It looks so good.
ReplyDeleteI want one.
Beautiful & looks so yummy! Now I need cake! Can you tell me what pocky is please, as I've never heard of this?
ReplyDeleteHow do you cut your cakes so beautifully? I always mess mine up, thanks, anne of anniebakes
ReplyDeleteSo pretty and girly and love the pale pink icing!
ReplyDeletelove! Pocky Sticks, my love!
ReplyDeletevery cool cake idea ;o)
greetings
shira
What a great idea! And it looks just lovely.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I had pocky. I was in the 3rd grade and we had Japanese people come to our class and teach us about the Japanese culture. They taught us how to write our names and how they read from right to left, up and down. We learned how to make oragami bunnies. It was a blast. At the end of the day, they gave us strawberry pocky that we all enjoyed outside. I can't wait to make this cake! It looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of pocky! It looks so adorable!
ReplyDeleteNow to put some of those Koala Yummies on a cake:)
ReplyDeleteOmg, I friggin love Pocky! This cake is bonkers, but awesomely so!
ReplyDeleteThis is a masterpiece of pink. I LOVE it!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely the neatest cake decoration idea!
ReplyDeleteWonderful cake, I am thinking for the next birthday of my princess...
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun little pocky fence all around just teasing you to "peek" over and see the cake inside! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is so very pretty and I love the way you frosted it.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! A great birthday cake.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
I love you! LOL! You basically summed up my week. No weddings but lots of birthdays! I literally have 10 cakes on the counter and 3 more in the oven! I'm thinking of trying this recipe right now! Whats one more cake? Ha! I've never had Pocky though, I will have to try that! Your definitely right on with 592 degree weather, I'm in south Texas and probably could bake outside!
ReplyDeleteSo unbelievably pretty, elegant and creative! Love your mind. :)
ReplyDeleteChristina
www.becauseofmadalene.com
I love Pocky. and cakes. and pink. You're amazing :)
ReplyDeleteI'm soooo making this cake this weekend. Also, I have to tell you, I love your book! The Banana Pudding cake = DIVINE!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! And mmmmm pocky....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cake, where do you get so many ideas from? Congrats!!!
ReplyDeleteSigh - perfect, as always!
ReplyDeleteYou have just given me my Step-Daughter's next birthday cake. She loves pocky, it's her favorite!
ReplyDeletePocky. On a cake. Amazing. I wish we could get the abundance of flavors they have in Japan. I'll have to settle with the few I have had. My husband, who is from Australia, and surrounded by Japanese culture, hates pocky. And we're both anime fans. He's a little crazy, though.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely and elegant. I would never be able to get the frosting on the top straight. It would look like I had a few too many to drink before frosting the cake. Haha!
ReplyDeleteI always need cake though my waistline doesn't. That is one of the prettiest cakes I have seen in a while. All that thick frosting is to die for.
ReplyDeleteThis is all kinds of pretty. Lovely, as always :)
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly adorable and oh-so-girly, just the way I like things to be!
ReplyDeleteThe cake is lovely. I love the pattern you used to frost the cake.
ReplyDeleteYou are the baking master! Lord, this looks so delicious and CUTE! I LOVE how you piped that frosting on the top, SO pretty. And it's like a little "secret" cake with the "strawberry pocky" around it! I've never seen or HEARD of that. You are truly an innovator and "sharer" of ideas! Again, YOU are the master baker!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Gloria
p.s. good luck with your wedding cake and groom's cake that you said you will be doing! I KNOW they will come out beautifully and deliciously if you are at the helm! The bride and groom will be SO pleased and happy.
ReplyDeletegv xxoo
I have never heard of strawberry pocky - gotta look them up. Lovely way to decorate such a cute cake... and I really like the way you piped on the buttercream.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute. Never heard or seen pocky sticks but it looks amazing.
ReplyDeletewww.cancerinthecity.com
Best use of pokey yet!
ReplyDeleteummm you had me at Pocky! This is gorgeous!!! HUGE fan of yours!! :)
ReplyDeletexx ♥ Melissa @ mamamiss.com
So unique for a cake! And so lovely, really!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this cake!! Don't think I have ever seen pocky sticks in pink. Pretty!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter loves pocky! We buy a ton at our commissary! What a stupendous cake:)
ReplyDeleteYou're killing me, Heather! Must... find... pocky!!!
ReplyDeleteI love pocky sticks! Never imagined lining a cake with them...BRILLIANT!
ReplyDeleteWe live off of pocky sticks at my house. The cake looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOh! My! God! This cake is absolutely stunning. I love pocky sticks!
ReplyDeleteI need to get myself some mini cake tins - there is ALWAYS time for a mini 'just for me' cake in my life :-)
ReplyDeleteSo pretty!! Love the pocky sticks :)
ReplyDeleteOh my this cake is SO adorable and girly! I love it. I'd love this as a birthday cake. I've never heard of pocky, it's not something I've heard of in Australia.
ReplyDeleteThose pretty pink layers of thick thick frosting are calling my name!
ReplyDelete@Emma, Koala Yummies! Oh my goodness, I saw something just like them at Target yesterday and I almost screamed in excitement! No one else remembers them but me!
ReplyDeleteDelicious & Pink !
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever heard of pocky sticks, but they are s gorgeous on this cake!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you piped the frosting on this cake, looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOoh, yummy! I love how cheerful and adorable your cakes are! And this looks delicious :)
ReplyDeleteThis is just too cute, I love it!
ReplyDeletestunning. simply stunning! love it!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a genius for using the pocky as a "fence." It is absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteHoly Jeez! This is one for the memory bank! So adorable!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are gorgeous! Lovely cake. Been looking for a new yello cake recipe and will have to try this out:)
ReplyDeleteSweet and elegant at the same time! I cant wait to try this with chocolate!!
ReplyDeleteYou' re absolutely a dessert genius Heather ! I love you so much and the gorgeus stuff you' ve been doing.
ReplyDeleteI'm stunned by this cake. It's... so, well, beautiful! I'm such a quick loaf cake kind of baker, and you're so inspiring to take baking to the next level.
ReplyDeletefreakin' genius! i'm so mad at myself for not thinking of this.
ReplyDeletethis is just so cute!
ReplyDeleteOmg this is awesome! My sistet in law loves pocky sticks. Now I have an idea for her birthday! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen anything like this! It's absolutely stunning!!
ReplyDeleteNote to self - get a 6" cake pan. By "personal size" you mean "single serving", right??
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! my daughter loves those things!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. Pink pocky... my favorite. Never thought to bake with it. What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI just marvel at how you do it all!! xo ~Lili
ReplyDeleteI came here from Jen's site. WOW, my favorite Ichigo Pocky became a cake!!!! I'm in love with this! I'm very impressed at your gorgeous cake!
ReplyDeleteWhat stunning photos, and gorgeous cake! I think I need one too:)
ReplyDeleteSo adorable; I think I'll make this for my niece's birthday this year. :)
ReplyDeleteMy sister would LOVE this!! It's so beautiful and imaginative!!! Next you'll be doing something with the Green Tea Pocky, right? RIGHT? Hee hee!
ReplyDeleteOMG....I love Pocky!! Since grade 11 when my friend send them for my birthday from her exchange year in Japan. I am in Thailand now, and they have so many more flavors here. Blueberry crunch is awesome!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the look of this cake! I would love to make this with a chocolate buttercream and line it with pirouette cookies...done and done.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I love this!!!! Will attempt to make for my birthday!
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative! I love pocky! This cake just looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteMeravigliosa ...
ReplyDeleteciao
Preciosaaaaaaa...beautifulllll...
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative! My favorite Pocky are the chocolate almond ones, so maybe I'll make a cake featuring those! Also, you're on my list of favorite blogs!
ReplyDelete-Allison
Wow amazing cake love it!
ReplyDeleteI guess I've been living under a rock because I've never heard of Pocky.
ReplyDeleteI loooooveeeee Pocky. I used it eat it all the time when I was a kid. It's funny, since i've moved to Prague (totally different demographic)Pocky has disappeared off my radar! What a creative edible accessory to the cake.
ReplyDeleteSarah (Lamb)
http://www.lamb411.com
Wow thank you for putting this up this is so creative!
ReplyDeletehttp://thebrokebitchguide.blogspot.ca/
Love your cake! I'm so excited to bake it, but just noticed you have not indicated a temperature to bake the cake at in your recipe. Am I just not finding it? I'm going to go for 350 and hope it's right!
ReplyDeleteYes - 350! Thanks for letting me know!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are gorgeous! Beautiful lighting and composition. Do you use natural light or studio lights?
ReplyDeleteSo sweet!
ReplyDeleteThere is no temp for baking, you didn't mention to butter pans either :(
That is mad cute... how did I not think of that? I can only imagine how awesome it would be with strawberry pocky. Or other kinds of Japanese cookie-foods as inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYour cakes are so gorgeous. love them <3
ReplyDeleteI love this recipe so much!! The crossing between pocky sticks and cake! but please lease can someone help me convert this recipe into metric scale/grams cos i don't have cups at home. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am in the process of making this cake for my daughters birthday dinner party tonight. What degree do we preheat the oven? I probably missed it but read it over a few times and didn't see it. Thanks for this beautiful cake recipe!
ReplyDeleteOH my goodness, sorry about that! I can't believe the mistake wasn't caught earlier. Bake at 350F.
ReplyDeletexo
H
Great-Thanks so much!! :)
ReplyDeleteHeather! It was YOU!!
ReplyDeleteI could NOT remember who make this Pocky Cake! Tate is obsessed with strawberry pocky (as are my nieces). I'm pinning this so I don't lose it again!
Thanks, friend!
:)
Pocky! Used to eat a lot of 'em when I lived in Asia, but I liked chocolate ones more than strawberry.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely recipe! I hope you don't mind I share it on my Facebook! =D
ReplyDeleteI shared this on my blog ^^ hope it was okay, gave you credit ofcourse!
ReplyDelete-Gabby
Hi, planning to bake this cake for my SIL's Birthday, may I know after press the strawberry pocky, will the pocky turn soggy?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!