Iorgo Cake

Car-shaped cake for Iorgo's birthday

What a special moment we are celebrating today! My grandson Iorgo is turning 4 years old, and I decided to prepare a cake that will bring a smile to his face. The cake is a delicious car, with a fluffy sponge and orange syrup, filled with fine vanilla and chocolate creams, all covered with a chocolate ganache glaze. Let me guide you step by step in creating this spectacular dessert!

Preparation time: 6 hours
Baking time: 1 hour
Total time: 7 hours
Number of servings: 12

Necessary ingredients

For the large sponge:
- 7 eggs
- 1 pinch of salt
- 5 tablespoons of sugar
- 180 ml oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 7 tablespoons of flour

For the small sponge:
- 4 eggs + 2 egg whites
- 1 pinch of salt
- 4 tablespoons of sugar
- 150 ml oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 tablespoons of flour

For the vanilla cream:
- 2 egg yolks
- 400 ml milk
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons (heaped) flour
- 1 packet Bourbon vanilla sugar
- 100 g butter
- 200 ml liquid cream

For the chocolate cream:
- 1 egg yolk
- 200 ml milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon (heaped) flour
- 50 g butter
- A few squares of dark chocolate

For the syrup:
- 300 ml water
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (kept in sugar in a jar)

For the ganache cream:
- 2 bars of milk chocolate (180 g)
- 200 ml liquid cream

For decoration:
- 150 ml liquid cream
- Wafer flowers
- Oreo cookies

Preparing the cake sponges

1. Start by separating the eggs for the first sponge. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until frothy. Gradually add the sugar, continuing to mix until you achieve a firm foam.

2. Add the egg yolks and oil, mixing further. Then incorporate the baking powder and flour using a spatula, gently folding from the bottom up to maintain aeration.

3. Pour the mixture into a rectangular baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 35 minutes, or until the sponge turns golden. Let it cool.

4. Repeat the same process for the second sponge, this time in a square tray, baking for about 30 minutes.

Preparing the syrup and creams

5. In the meantime, prepare the syrup. Boil water with sugar and orange zest until the sugar completely dissolves. Let it cool.

6. For the vanilla cream, heat the milk in a saucepan. In another pot, mix the egg yolks with sugar, flour, and warm milk. Place the pot on the stove and stir until it thickens. Add the butter and mix well. Let it cool.

7. Whip the liquid cream until it becomes thick and fold it into the vanilla cream.

8. The chocolate cream is prepared similarly, but add the dark chocolate after removing the cream from the heat. Mix well until the chocolate melts.

9. The ganache cream is made by heating the liquid cream until almost boiling. Add the finely chopped chocolate and stir vigorously until melted. Then let it cool in the fridge.

Assembling the cake

10. Once the sponges have cooled, cut the large sponge lengthwise into two uneven layers (the base should be thicker), and the small sponge into two parts.

11. Brush the sponges with syrup using a brush, then place the vanilla cream on the base of the cake and cover with the other part. Use the chocolate cream to stick the two parts of the small sponge together.

12. Using the whipped cream, decorate the cake, then cover it with ganache cream for a glossy and delicious appearance.

Decoration

13. Use the Oreo cookies to create the wheels and rearview mirrors of the car. The wafer flowers become the headlights, adding a playful detail to the cake.

14. After assembling, let the cake chill in the fridge for at least an hour, so all the flavors can harmonize.

Useful tips

- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature; this will help achieve a better texture for the sponges.
- Use good quality chocolate for the creams and ganache, as this will make a significant difference in taste.
- If you want a less sweet version, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the creams.

Nutritional benefits and calories

This cake is a delightful burst of flavors, but like most desserts, it is high in calories. A serving contains approximately 400-450 calories, depending on the size and ingredients used. However, ingredients such as eggs and milk provide protein, and butter contains healthy fats.

Possible variations

You can experiment with different flavors in the creams, such as adding almond essence or crushed roasted nuts. Also, by replacing chocolate with white chocolate, you will get a sweeter version.

Frequently asked questions

- Can I replace butter with margarine?
- Yes, but the taste will be different. Butter provides a richer flavor and better texture.

- How can I make this cake healthier?
- You can use whole wheat flour, brown sugar, or natural sweeteners like honey.

- What drinks pair well with this cake?
- A fresh orange juice or a fizzy lemonade will balance the sweetness of the cake.

This car-shaped cake is not just a dessert, but also a joyful cooking experience. I hope my recipe inspires you and brings smiles to the faces of your loved ones, just as it has for my family. Enjoy!

 Ingredients: For the large sponge cake we need: 7 eggs, a pinch of salt, 5 tablespoons of sugar, 180 ml of oil, a packet of baking powder, 7 tablespoons of flour. For the small sponge cake we need: 4 eggs + 2 egg whites, a pinch of salt, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 150 ml of oil, a packet of baking powder, 4 tablespoons of flour. For the vanilla cream: 2 egg yolks, 400 ml of milk, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons (heaped) of flour, a packet of Bourbon vanilla sugar, 100 g of butter, 200 ml of liquid cream (I used Megle). For the chocolate cream: 1 egg yolk, 200 ml of milk, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon (heaped) of flour, 50 g of butter, a few squares of dark chocolate. For the syrup we need: 300 ml of water, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of orange zest (kept in sugar in a jar). For the ganache cream: 2 bars of milk chocolate (I used Poiana, so 180 g), 200 ml of liquid cream. For decoration we need: 150 ml of liquid cream, Dr. Oetker wafer flowers, Oreo cookies.

 Tags:  dessert cake iorgo desert cake eggs sugar flour oil unt whipped cream milk chocolate