Totoro Black Sesame Chiffon Cake

Ever since I came across Bento Monsters recipe on what she did for her kids, I fall in love with her beautiful work and her generous heart in sharing her recipe. Recipe I share from her will only be those I think I am able to do.

I love black sesame and I felt that it is easy to decorate this cake; that’s the reason I am sharing this. Being a lazy bum, I buy ready-made pandan or orange chiffon cake from bakery and I don’t mind a green or orange Totoro.

BLACK SESAME CHIFFON CAKE

Ingredients:
3 egg yolks
20g caster sugar
30ml fresh milk
20ml corn oil
30 g black sesame paste
48g cake flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

Meringue Batter:
3 egg whites
40g caster sugar
5g cornflour

Whipped cream:
50g heavy cream
5g castor sugar

Method:

1.    Beat egg yolks, caster sugar, and salt over a water bath until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved, and the egg yolks are creamy. 

2.    Add in black sesame paste and milk to the egg yolk mixture and continue to mix them well over the water bath. Leave to cool down, stir in oil.

3.    To make the meringue, beat the egg whites with a mixer on low speed until they become white and frothy. Gradually add the sugar and cornflour in intervals and beat until stiff peaks have formed. 

4.    Add 1/3 of the meringue to the egg yolk mixture and mix well. 

5.    Sift in the cake flour and baking powder and mix to combine. 

6.    Fold in the rest of the meringue. 

7.    Transfer to a 5 inch chiffon cake mould. Tap against the table to allow air bubbles to escape.

8.    Bake in a preheated oven at 170C for 20-25 minutes. Remove and rest the cake tin upside down. Make sure it is completely cool before unmouldng.

9.    For decoration, beat the heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. 

10. Frost bottom half of chiffon cake. 

11. Place a little whipped cream in pipping bag and pipe out Totoro's eyes.

12. Use melted chocolate to pipe on eyes, nose, whiskers, and details on its stomach. 

13. Make small incisions on the side of the cake for its ears. Use almond and dip the ends in as 'glue' and attach the ears.