Old-Fashioned Pink Jelly Cakes Recipe
Old-Fashioned Pink Jelly Cakes are a nostalgic treat featuring soft, buttery sponge cakes dipped in homemade strawberry jelly, rolled in coconut, and sandwiched with whipped cream. This delightful dessert combines tender textures with a refreshing fruity twist, perfect for afternoon teas or special occasions.
- Author: Amaya
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 3 minutes
- Yield: 24 jelly cakes (12 sandwiches) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Australian
Cake Batter
- 80g butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup (160g) milk
- 1 cup (130g) self-raising flour, sifted
Strawberry Jelly
- 85g packet strawberry jelly crystals
- 1 cup (240g) boiling water
- 1 cup (240g) cold water
Finishing
- 3 1/2 cups (280g) desiccated coconut
- 1 cup (240g) whipped cream
- Preheat and prepare pans. Preheat your oven to 175°C (fan-forced) and lightly grease two 12-hole patty-pan tins to prevent sticking.
- Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, caster sugar, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is pale and fluffy, ensuring a light texture for your cakes.
- Incorporate egg. Add the egg to the creamed mixture and beat until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Fold in milk and flour. Gently fold the sifted self-raising flour and milk alternately in two batches; start with half the milk, then half the flour, and repeat. This prevents overmixing and keeps the batter light.
- Fill patty-pan holes. Spoon the batter evenly into each patty-pan mold, filling just below the top for even rising.
- Bake the cakes. Bake in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes until the cakes are lightly golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes. Allow the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the jelly. Dissolve the strawberry jelly crystals in boiling water, stir in cold water, then refrigerate the jelly mixture until it is partially set, about 1 to 2 hours.
- Dip and coat cakes. Using a slotted spoon, dip each cooled cake into the partially set jelly, then roll it in desiccated coconut to coat evenly.
- Assemble the cakes. Spoon whipped cream onto one half of a cake and then sandwich it together with another jelly-coated cake half.
- Chill before serving. Place the assembled jelly cakes in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow the jelly to fully set before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the jelly is only partially set before dipping to achieve a sticky coating that adheres to the cakes well.
- You can substitute strawberry jelly crystals with raspberry or cherry for a different flavor.
- For best texture, use freshly whipped cream with no added stabilizers.
- If self-raising flour is unavailable, use all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder.
- Store cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days for freshness.
Keywords: Jelly cakes, Pink jelly slices, Coconut cakes, Strawberry jelly dessert, Old-fashioned cakes, Australian dessert, Afternoon tea cake