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    Home » Popular » Baking

    March 13, 2017 Baking

    Tortine Soffici-Whipped Cream Mini Cakes

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    Tortine Soffici-Whipped Cream Mini Cakes
     

    This last week we celebrated Festa delle Donne-International Women's Day, and I didn't make these Tortine Soffice-Whipped Cream Mini Cakes for any ladies that I know. They were made just because.


    Just because my kids want a little snack after school and besides my usual something fast and easy with ripe bananas or apples, I decided to go a little different. Let's face it, my kids never turn down freshly whipped cream. I really don't know anyone that turns it down!

    In Italy, merenda time is such an important part of the day. The merenda is the snack that you have in between your very large lunch in the afternoon and the dinner that usually happens very late in the evening. In the summertime, dinner sometimes happens around 9PM. If I'm home and back on my schedule, that's when I'd like everyone to be already asleep (even in the summertime). So that in between lunch and dinner time is when everyone has some sort of a merenda. Usually it's something savory. Occasionally my mother-in-law will have a freshly baked cake or sweet and the kids will enjoy a little bit of that.

    But most of the times, the merenda is some fabulous bread that Teresa just baked and some freshly sliced mortadella or prosciutto (crudo or cotto)and that will hold off the gang until dinner is finally ready. When we first get back to Italy in the summer time, it takes a week or so for my stomach to adjust to the new schedule again. I normally don't eat quite a large meal when I'm alone at home. And I really don't ever eat right before bed. But you get used to it and you walk so much more than you do back at home, so it all works out.

    Tortine Soffici-Whipped Cream Mini Cakes

     

    There are also meals that are not rushed and last over an hour. I had one of those the other day with my in-laws who are visiting us from Italy. I was at lunch with them and one of our friends from Calabria. They are all grandparents (and Calabrian) and they have all seen it all. The conversation somehow switched from talking about making homemade Calabrian sausages to the topic of some cousins that have died. My mother-in-law started in with the story of her cousin's husband that was taken away too suddenly by a nasty cancer and it then proceeded to how the last person that left the wake was another cousin. He arrived home that evening to his mamma's house, went to bed, had a heart attack in his sleep, and died. It was all very morbid and our friend Aldo had some stories to match these recent deaths in my mother-in-law's family. A part of me wanted to get up and leave the three of them discussing sausages and sudden deaths in Calabria, and the more wise part of me decided to not be rude and to learn something from the moment.
     
    Tortine Soffici-Whipped Cream Mini Cakes
    You can't always rush lunch. Sometimes you have to sit even for a full hour or more and savor every thing you are eating, and not just when you are in Italy. The other thing is you won't always be privy to light conversations and you may have to just sit back and listen and witness your elders sharing history and hope that one day you will have people sharing your stories.

     

    Tortine Soffici-Whipped Cream Mini Cakes

    Some notes on the recipe:
    This cake was something I put together pretty quickly with ingredients I had here and it was decadent enough with the whipped cream for the kids to think we were celebrating something. Make your own whipped cream. It takes minutes to do and there is nothing strange added to it. You could flavor the whipped cream as you like it. I only added a touch of vanilla, but you could add more if you like a stronger flavor.

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    TORTINE SOFFICI-WHIPPED CREAM MINI CAKES

    These soft and light cakes are filled with fluffy homemade whipped cream. In Italy, merenda is all about the snacks and this is the perfect snack cake to enjoy with a hot cup of tea or coffee.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: cake, whipped cream
    Servings: 12 servings
    Author: Lora

    Ingredients

    • 5 eggs
    • 3/4 sugar
    • 1 cup flour
    • 3 teaspoons baking powder
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • for the whipped cream:
    • pint of heavy whipping cream I used organic
    • 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour (or spray with baking spray) a rectangular cake pan (I used a 9x13).
    • Beat the eggs all at one time with the sugar on high speed until it is nice and frothy. Beat in the vanilla.
    • Beat in the sifted flour on medium speed in small doses.
    • Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the Pan di Spagna for 30 to 40 minutes, until it is well risen and feels firm when pressed gently with the palm of the hand. Use a skewer to make sure the center is no longer wet if you have doubts about it not being ready.
    • While the cake is baking, prepare the whipped cream.
    • Chill a medium sized metal bowl in the freezer. Remove bowl from the freezer and add the heavy whipping cream to the bowl. Using a hand mixer on high speed, whip the cream until soft peaks begin to form; gradually add in the 1/4 cup of confectioner’s sugar. Continue to beat the whipped cream until it is thick and velvety. (about 1-2 minutes). Don’t over beat or you will have butter. Keep in the refrigerator while the cake is baking.
    • Check the cake after the first 20 minutes of baking to make sure it isn't getting too brown. Every oven is different. If needed, lower the temperature to 325 for the rest of the baking time. Let the cake cool on a rack. When the cake is cooled, cut the cake in half and spread the freshly whipped cream onto one layer. Top with the next layer. Carefully cut into the individual pieces and with dust confectioner’s sugar on top.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @savoringitaly or tag #savoringitaly!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura at I Heart Naptime says

      March 13, 2017 at 3:37 pm

      This cake looks absolutely divine!

      And I'm finding the older I get, the better I feel when I eat more slowly. Even my little bowl of yogurt and blueberries took me over an hour to eat this morning (in part, because of so many kid interruptions) but meals are so much better shared with others and with stories (even if they turn to unfortunate stories of people lost). xo

      Reply
    2. Des @ Life's Ambrosia says

      March 13, 2017 at 8:11 pm

      These look like perfect little treats!

      Reply
    3. Jennifer Baver says

      March 13, 2017 at 9:38 pm

      Slowing down is still something I'm trying to learn. With kids, work and life in general, it's so easy to get wrapped up in a tight schedule. Thanks for the reminder and for these great mini cakes. I definitely wouldn't turn down anything with fresh whipped cream either! They look so yummy!

      Reply
    4. Dorothy Reinhold says

      March 13, 2017 at 10:43 pm

      How pretty! I am hosting a shower next month, and these would be perfect.

      Reply
    5. Kimberly Killebrew says

      March 14, 2017 at 3:26 am

      Those look so light and fluffy - I want some! 🙂

      Reply
    6. Jessica | The Novice Chef says

      March 14, 2017 at 12:10 pm

      Sometimes long meals are the best. Forces us to slow down and relax a little. We spend so much time running around and stressing out, no matter the conversation long meals, help ease that. 🙂 These little cakes... i could sink my teeth into them!

      Reply
    7. Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says

      March 14, 2017 at 4:38 pm

      I loved reading about the food traditions in Italy! The idea of sitting down to a lovely meal between lunch and dinner feels so special...something that I would like more of in my life! This cake is a beauty, especially with that layer of cream. xoxo

      Reply
    8. What The Fork Food Blog says

      March 14, 2017 at 7:49 pm

      This was a very interesting read about Italy and gave me some great insight! This cake looks like perfection!

      Reply
    9. Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says

      March 14, 2017 at 7:51 pm

      This is the perfect looking dessert!

      Reply
    10. Souffle Bombay says

      March 14, 2017 at 11:09 pm

      Fresh whipped cream is one of the perks of life! I never hear of this cake...But man do I want a big piece...looks and sounds delicious!

      Reply
    11. Alyssa | EverydayMaven says

      March 14, 2017 at 11:10 pm

      I think slowing down and listening is something we all need to do more of!

      Reply
    12. Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says

      March 15, 2017 at 1:09 pm

      The look outstanding and I totally agree. Taking time to sit back and relax and enjoy life... We all need a little more of that.

      Reply
    13. Angie Barrett says

      March 15, 2017 at 2:20 pm

      I never, ever turn down freshly whipped cream! I'd be totally happy with these!

      Reply
    14. Scott says

      March 29, 2017 at 7:06 pm

      This recipe was a bit difficult to prepare but was well worth the effort. what kind of camera do you use for your photos? they look great!

      Reply

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    Welcome to our Italian kitchen! We are Lora and Gabriella, the mother-daughter team behind Savoring Italy. With more than 30+ years of experience in the kitchen, Lora has had a great advantage – receiving guidance from both her husband who is an executive chef/restaurant owner and her mother who is a renowned private chef. 

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