Curly Pinscher Cake with Cherries and Walnuts
Chunks of sponge cake sit in a light mound with butter and condensed-milk cream, pitted cherries and walnuts.
Chunks of sponge cake sit in a light mound with butter and condensed-milk cream, pitted cherries and walnuts. The cake gets its uneven, curly surface from stacking the cubes rather than from a smooth layered finish. Dry the cherries first so the frosting stays creamy. Chill the assembled cake so it cuts cleanly, then scatter chocolate over the top. Heat oven to 180°C (350°F). Beat eggs with sugar until pale; fold in flour and baking powder with vanilla. Bake in a lined 22 cm pan 30 to 35 minutes until a skewer comes out clean; cool completely. Whip soft butter with condensed milk and vanilla sugar until smooth; drain cherries thoroughly.
Recipe card
Curly Pinscher Cake with Cherries and Walnuts
Equipment: 22 cm cake pan, mixer, spatula
Ingredients
Instructions
Sponge
Heat oven to 180°C (350°F). Beat eggs with sugar until pale; fold in flour and baking powder with vanilla.
Bake
Bake in a lined 22 cm pan 30 to 35 minutes until a skewer comes out clean; cool completely.
Cream
Whip soft butter with condensed milk and vanilla sugar until smooth; drain cherries thoroughly.
Stack
Slice off a thin base, cube remaining sponge and toss cubes gently with most of the cream, cherries and walnuts; mound over base.
Finish
Coat with remaining cream, scatter chocolate shavings and chill 2 hours before slicing.
How to tell when it is ready
Sponge springs back and finished chilled cake holds a slice.
Tips
- Cool sponge completely before cubing.
- Drain cherries well.
- Use soft, not melted, butter for cream.
- Chill mound before cutting.
Troubleshooting
- If cream becomes runny, chill briefly and rebeat.
- If the mound slips, use less cream between lower cubes and chill sooner.
Substitutions
- Use another sweetened condensed milk of similar thickness.
- Use toasted pecans instead of walnuts if preferred.
Variations
- Use pitted raspberries instead of cherries, draining well.
- Add a little cocoa to half the sponge cubes.
Serving suggestions
- Serve thin slices cold.
- Pair with unsweetened tea.
- Offer fresh cherries in season.
- Sprinkle extra chocolate at the table.
Make ahead
Prepare the measured ingredients in advance. Refrigerate covered up to 3 days.
Storage
Refrigerate covered up to 3 days.
Food safety
Keep butter-cream cake and fruit filling chilled.
Frequently asked questions
Why cube the sponge?
Stacked pieces create the characteristic irregular surface.
How should I store curly pinscher cherry and walnut cake?
Refrigerate covered up to 3 days.
Serve thin slices cold. Refrigerate covered up to 3 days.
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