Description
Bake an adorable and trendy bento cake with this easy recipe! Perfect as a mini cake or Japanese lunchbox cake, ideal for gifting or personal enjoyment. Customize with your favorite flavors and decorations for a cute and personalized treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Cake:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (optional)
- For Decoration:
- Sprinkles, edible glitter, chocolate ganache, or any desired toppings
Instructions
- Baking the Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your 4-inch cake pan.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl, beat the sugar, egg, milk, oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Preparing the Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined.
- Add the milk and vanilla extract, then increase the speed and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- If desired, add a small amount of gel food coloring to achieve your desired shade.
- Decorating the Bento Cake
- Once the cake is completely cool, use a serrated knife to level the top if necessary.
- Apply a generous layer of frosting over the entire cake. Smooth the frosting with a spatula or knife.
- Get creative with your decorations! Use sprinkles, edible glitter, or chocolate ganache to add visual appeal. You can use piping bags and tips to create intricate designs or write a personalized message.
- Final Touches
- Carefully place the decorated bento cake into a Japanese lunchbox or small container.
- Add a small spoon or fork for easy enjoyment.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the frosting to set before serving.
Notes
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the cake batter can result in a tough cake. Mix until just combined.
- Cool Completely: Ensure the cake is completely cool before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Using high-quality ingredients will enhance the flavor of your mini cake.
- Get Creative: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors and decorations to create a unique cute cake.
- Practice Piping: If you’re using piping bags for decoration, practice your designs on a piece of parchment paper first.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Japanese-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake
- Calories: 750 Kcal
- Sugar: 70g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 95g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: bento cake, mini cake, Japanese lunchbox cake, cute cake, small cake, single serving cake, dessert recipe, baking recipe, easy cake recipe