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Mikado Layer Cake with Chocolate Custard Buttercream

Mikado layer cake on a cake platter with a slice of cake.

Hey, hey! It’s Friday and the weekend is ahead of us! I’m here to tempt you with this delicious Armenian Mikado Cake  in hopes that you will make it for this weekend. You know, it’d be great on your Easter Table 😉   It’s not just any chocolate cake though, this one is made of thin, flaky cake layers that are then frosted with Chocolate Custard Buttercream.

A close-up slice of this delicious Mikado layer cake.

That buttercream though. I. Could. Eat. It. With. A. Spoon. I might or might not’ve licked the spoon like a hundred times. No calorie counting that day… #NoRegrets

Mikado cake on a cake platter covered in a creamy chocolate buttercream with buttercream swirls.

I first heard about this cake from a reader who contacted me on Facebook to see if I had a recipe for this cake. At the time I’ve never heard or tried anything like this. So when I saw Mikado Cake on this blog here by Armine (thank you Armine!!), I knew I had to make it and see why that reader was so eager to find the recipe for this cake.

Mikado cake on a cake platter next to a cup of tea with a spoon.

I knew I like chocolate and I knew that I liked the cake layers of this cake, so even before I started making it I knew that it would be a hit! and a hit it was! I hope you give this cake a try!

 

Mikado – Layer Cake with Chocolate Custard Buttercream

Credit:  Armine @ http://armushik.livejournal.com/

Yield: One 8 inch round cake

Ingredients for Chocolate Custard Buttercream:

  • egg yolks
  • sugar
  • milk
  • cocoa powder
  • cooked sweetened condensed milk or dulce de leche
  • 3unsalted butter, room temperature

Egg yolks, sugar, milk, cocoa powder, condensed milk and butter on a cutting board.

How to make Mikado Cake: 

  • In a saucepan whisk together egg yolks and sugar, then slowly add milk continuously whisking and trying to dissolve the sugar and egg in the milk.
  • Add sifted cocoa and mix until fully incorporated and no cocoa streaks are seen. If you’re having a hard time incorporating cocoa into the egg and milk mixture, run it through a sieve.
  • Now set over medium and heat until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Do not stop whisking or the custard will scorch. Do not boil or the eggs will curdle and separate.  You know the custard is cooked if you run your finger over the back of the dipped spoon and the streak stays clean, and no custard runs into it.
  • Remove from heat and cool completely before adding to the butter mixture in the next step.

 Preparing the chocolate custard buttercream.

  • With a mixer whip the room temperature butter for 5 minutes, or until whiter in color and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl several times throughout the process to prevent chunks of butter being unwhipped. Add dulce de leche in two additions, whipping after each one to incorporate one.
  • Then add the cooled chocolate custard in 2 additions until fully incorporated.
    Set aside until needed.

How to make the rich chocolate buttercream frosting.

Mikado Cake Ingredients:

  • unsalted butter, room temperature
  • eggs
  • sour cream
  • baking soda
  • all-purpose flour (450 grams)

All the ingredients needed for the Mikado cake layers.

  • With a whisk whip the room temperature butter for about a minute, add the whisked egg and thoroughly mix again.
  • Mix the sour cream with baking soda, then add it to the butter mixture. Add flour in two additions and mix until dough forms. Do not handle too much.

How to make the thin Mikado cake layers for this classic Mikado layer cake.

  • Split the dough into 13-14 pieces and form balls. Cover the dough  with plastic wrap and keep covered while you work with each dough ball.
  • Roll two balls on a floured surface to a circle a bit bigger than a 8 inch round baking pan. Place two rolled out balls onto the back of the jelly roll sheet or a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated to 400F oven until slightly golden in color, about 5-7 minutes.  Repeat with the rest of the dough.

 Forming the thin cake layers and baking them.

  • As soon as the cake is baked place the 8 inch round baking pan on top of the cake and trim right around the pan. Discard the trimmings or crush and keep in a ziplock in the freezer for next time when you need to decorate the sides of the cake with something.
  • While the cake layer is still warm put a dab of frosting on a plate, put the warm cake layer on top and add a generous spoon of frosting, spreading it around into an even layer. Reserve about 1/2 cup of frosting for covering the sides of the cake at the end.
  • Continue baking the layers, trimming them and then stacking with frosting until all cake is baked and frosted.\Cover the sides and top of the cake with reserved frosting, put a cake ring around the cake and secure it (if you have one). (The cake ring will help keep the sides straight and even as it sits. If you don’t have one, don’t worry about it, it’s not crucial). Cover with plastic wrap, then set a cutting board on top, next set something heavy on top of the cutting board to help the cake set. Let sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours before continuing.

Assembling the Mikado layer cake recipe!

  • Next day whip together 1.5 cup heavy whipping cream with 1/3 – 1/2 cup powdered sugar & 1-2 tablespoons sifted cocoa powder until fluffy and increased in volume.
  • Use some of this frosting to cover the cake in a thin layer, smoothing out the top.
  • Fit a ziplock bag with a large star tip. Fill the bag with leftover frosting. Pipe stars all along the border of the cake.
  • Place a peeled hazelnut in the middle of each star. Dust the cake with powdered cocoa if desired.

 Decorating the Mikado layer cake with the chocolate buttercream.

  • The cake is best served at room temperature.

Try these other CAKE recipes:

Mikado Layer Cake with Chocolate Custard Buttercream

Chocolate Cake Mikado - thin, flaky cake layers that are frosted with Chocolate Custard Buttercream. | by LetTheBakingBeginBlog.com | @Letthebakingbgn
4.34 from 12 votes

The best Mikado layer cake recipe with thin layers of flaky
layers that are covered in a chocolate custard buttercream.

Author: Armine @ http://armushik.livejournal.com/
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Armenian
Keyword: mikado layer cake
Calories: 507 kcal
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

Frosting Ingredients:

  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2/3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 full can + 1/4 cup from the second can of cooked sweetened condensed milk or dulce de leche
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter 340 grams, room temperature

Cake Ingredients:

To Decorate

  • 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream at least 33% fat content
  • 1-2 Tbsp powdered cocoa powder sifted
  • 1/3 - 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Make the frosting first

  1. IIn a saucepan whisk together 3 egg yolks and 2/3 cups of sugar, then slowly add 1 cup milk continuously whisking and trying to dissolve the sugar and egg in the milk. Add 4 tbsp sifted cocoa and mix until fully incorporated and no cocoa streaks are seen. If you're having a hard time incorporating cocoa into the egg and milk mixture, run it through a sieve. Now set over medium and heat until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Do not stop whisking or the custard will scorch. Do not boil or the eggs will curdle and separate. You know the custard is cooked if you run your finger over the back of the dipped spoon and the streak stays clean, and no custard runs into it. Remove from heat and cool completely before adding to the butter mixture in the next step.

  2. With a mixer whip, 3 sticks room temperature butter for 5 minutes, or until whiter in color and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl several times throughout the process to prevent chunks of butter being unwhipped.

  3. Add dulce de leche in two additions, whipping after each one to incorporate one.

  4. Then add the cooled chocolate custard in 2 additions until fully incorporated.
  5. Set aside until needed.

To make the cake layers

  1. With a whisk whip 7 tbsp room temperature butter for about a minute, add 2 whisked egg and thoroughly mix again. Mix 1 ½ cups sour cream with 1 tsp baking soda, then add it to the butter mixture. Add flour in two additions and mix until dough forms. Do not handle too much.

  2. Split the dough into 13-14 pieces and form balls. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and keep covered while you work with each dough ball.
  3. Roll two balls on a floured surface to a circle a bit bigger than a 8 inch round baking pan. Place two rolled out balls onto the back of the jelly roll sheet or a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated to 400°F oven until slightly golden in color, about 5-7 minutes. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

  4. As soon as the cake is baked place the 9 inch round baking pan on top of the cake and trim right around the pan. Discard the trimmings or crush and keep in a ziplock in the freezer for next time when you need to decorate the sides of the cake with something.
  5. While the cake layer is still warm put a dab of frosting on a plate, put the warm cake layer on top and add a generous spoon of frosting, spreading it around into an even layer. Reserve about 1/2 cup of frosting for covering the sides of the cake at the end.
  6. Continue baking the layers, trimming them and then stacking with frosting until all cake is baked and frosted.
  7. Cover the sides and top of the cake with reserved frosting, put a cake ring around the cake and secure it (if you have one). (The cake ring will help keep the sides straight and even as it sits. If you don’t have one, don’t worry about it, it’s not crucial). Cover with plastic wrap, then set a cutting board on top, next set something heavy on top of the cutting board to help the cake set. Let sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours before continuing.

To decorate:

  1. Make the chocolate whipped cream first: Next day whip together 1.5 cup whipping cream with 1/3 cup powdered sugar & 1-2 tablespoons sifted cocoa powder until fluffy and increased in volume. Use some of this frosting to cover the cake in a thin layer, smoothing out the top. Fit a ziplock bag with a large star tip. Fill the bag with leftover frosting. Pipe stars all along the border of the cake. Place a peeled hazelnut in the middle of each star. Dust the cake with powdered cocoa if desired.

  2. Cake is best served at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Mikado Layer Cake with Chocolate Custard Buttercream
Amount Per Serving
Calories 507 Calories from Fat 360
% Daily Value*
Fat 40g62%
Saturated Fat 24g150%
Cholesterol 228mg76%
Sodium 246mg11%
Potassium 209mg6%
Carbohydrates 36g12%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 32g36%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 1451IU29%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 132mg13%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Erica Harrah

    This looks really good but there seems to be a bit of an assumption that everyone knows how to make dulce de leche.
    Could you clarify. Is that something you can get premade in a can or something you have to make ahead of time with sweeten condensed milk. If the latter, can you add a how to?

    Thanks! 🙂

    · Reply
    • Hi Erica,
      Dulce de leche is commonly purchased canned at the store.
      But, if you’d like to make your own just get sweetened condensed milk, place in a pot and cover with water. Simmer on low for 3 hours. Then, submerge in cold water and allow to cool. Then use as you wish. Hope this helpS!

      · Reply
  • Tsu Dho Nimh

    Similar to the Mexican “Carlota Negra” (Black Charlotte) that is made with a crisp chocolate pastry filled with chocolate and orange buttercream and dusted with cocoa

    · Reply
  • Betty Wiggle

    Delicious, lots of work but worth it

    · Reply
  • Jenna

    Hi,
    I want to make this cake for a wedding, so i’m wondering if it can be made in a square form?
    Thank you!

    · Reply
    • Sure, Jenna, I think it would work fine.
      I would roll it out larger than what you need and trim it after it comes out from the oven.

      · Reply
  • Deane

    I’m Kind of puzzled! You’ve titled this as “Mikado” Layer Cake but listed the cuisine as Armenian. I am Japanese. Mikado is a Japanese word translated Emperor. My Armenian friends have told me “Mikado” is not an Armenian word.

    · Reply
    • Hi Deane,
      To be honest, I am not sure as to the origins of the name of this cake, but if you google Mikado cake you’ll see actual Armenians posting a version of this cake with the same exact name. I also had a reader introduce me to this cake, who said that their grandma used to make it (in Armenia) and they would love to have the recipe. Thank you for sharing what it means in Japanese, I never knew that! By the way, ask your friend if they know a cake by this name, even if they don’t know what Mikado means 😉

      · Reply
  • Kwan

    Can I substitute buttermilk to sour cream?

    · Reply
  • Hi Deanna,
    So sorry to hear about your troubles with this cake 🙁
    I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I can help you troubleshoot.

    The cake layers are supposed to be very thin, and flaky once baked. Did the cake layers shrink a lot during baking? If that’s the case, the dough was overmixed and when the cake layers shrunk in the oven, they became much thicker than they needed to be.

    The cake layers ARE supposed to be dry, but once they sit with the frosting, they should soften up. I wonder if because the cake layers were too thick, they never softened up 🙁

    · Reply
  • ALMA

    Kinda like a Napoleon, eh .

    · Reply
  • Hi Marina. Does the cake need to refrigerate while its settling for 24 hours? And also do we put it on fridge after you put whipping cream on it?

    · Reply
    • No, do not refrigirate the cake while it’s settling. It IS better to refrigerate it once you put the whipping cream though, since it spoils easier.

      · Reply
  • Natalya

    Hi Marina –
    Thanks for the recipe, have ?
    My frosting look like маленькые пузырки, как манная каша когда свариш то мой крем так вышел, that normal, or what i did wrong?
    Thank you so much

    · Reply
    • Hmm… I am a little puzzled.. at what point did it turn grainy? when you got to the end or when you cooked the egg yolks, milk & cocoa? If you give me a little more details may be I can help…

      · Reply
      • Nataliya

        When I whip butter for 5 min, than I add dulce de leche, and after that when I mixed the frosting turn grainy :(, but cake turn very good, didn’t know what to expect the taste. Thanks for the recipe. Good work, keep going that way, good job.

        · Reply
        • Thanks Nataliya for your feedback.
          When you say that it turned grainy, I am assuming that it separated. This usually happens when the buttercream is overwhipped. This sometimes happens when the butter is too soft before whipping, so then when you add the dulce de leche it just can’t hold on to it and separates. Was your butter very soft before you started whipping? If you were to push on it with your finger would it easily just sink in or did it have some resistance to it?

          · Reply
          • I

            Hi. If i have grainy creme, ussually after adding dolce leche, i am sticking the bowl to microwave for 20 sec and lightly whipping again. Ussually it works 🙂

          • Hi,
            does the cream become very runny after you heat it?

          • Nataliya

            yeah the butter was too soft, next time i would know what to do, thanks for answering my ? 🙂

  • I grew up on this stuff. In fact, there was a very popular bakery in Tehran that specialized in the best mikado.
    I’ve never tried to make it myself, but now I will!

    · Reply
    • Really?? I wonder how authentic this recipe is. The reader that asked for the recipe was describing a very particular flavor and this cake does not sounds like what he described (he said his grandma was a pro at making this cake and it was the best) although very delicious.
      How do you remember the flavors of the cake? or, do you? 🙂

      · Reply
  • Anna

    i wish this recipe was more detailed, I had to reread the instructions a few times, you never mentioned to add the coco in the first part of frosting, I figured it out by the picture, and the last next day cream wish you had pics of what kind of whipping cream and pics in the making. making it now, cant wait to try it though thank you for the recipe

    · Reply
  • tanya

    What degrees to bake on?

    · Reply
  • Zoya

    This cake looks so good! Such a perfect timing, I wanted to make something new for this Easter. Do you think that cream would be good for Waffle Cones/Tubes {Вафельные Трубочки} ?

    · Reply
  • This cake looks delicious! Would love to have that cut off piece right now. Have a great Easter Marina!

    · Reply
  • vikalinkafood

    This cake is a killer!!! Wow, I can’t believe how gorgeous it is in every single way! Beautiful photos too as usual. Happy Easter, my friend.

    · Reply

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