How to Make Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling
If you’re looking to impress your friends and family with a stunning dessert that captures both spooky vibes and sweet berry goodness, you’ll love this Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling. This creative cake combines moist layers wrapped like a mummy with a luscious cherry jam center, making it perfect for Halloween parties, themed celebrations, or whenever you crave a fun and fruity treat. The Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling pairs a soft, tender crumb with a tangy-sweet surprise inside, wrapped in a delightful frosting that looks just like mummy bandages. It’s a show-stopper you’ll want to bake over and over again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive and Fun: It’s visually playful and perfect for spooky celebrations that also please berry lovers.
- Perfect balance: The cherry jam filling adds just the right amount of tang and sweetness inside the soft cake layers.
- Easy to Make: Despite its impressive look, this recipe uses simple techniques and accessible ingredients anyone can master.
- Customizable Design: You can adapt the mummy decoration to be as detailed or minimalist as you want.
- Great for All Ages: Kids and adults alike enjoy this mix of fun presentation and familiar, comforting flavors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling recipe plays a crucial role, from creating tender cake layers to achieving the perfect texture and vibrant flavor. These simple pantry staples come together effortlessly to create an extraordinary treat.
- All-purpose flour: The base for fluffy, soft cake layers that hold the filling well.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Leavening agents that ensure a perfect rise and light crumb.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake without overpowering the cherry filling.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Adds depth and a mild chocolate undertone complementing the cherry jam (optional for a chocolate version).
- Vegetable oil: Keeps the cake moist and tender with a subtle richness.
- Eggs: Provide structure and help bind ingredients for a smooth batter.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, aromatic notes.
- Buttermilk or plant-based milk with a splash of apple cider vinegar: Adds acidity to react with leavening and tenderize the crumb.
- Cherry jam: The star ingredient inside, delivering sweet and tart fruitiness with every bite.
- Buttercream or cream cheese frosting: The mummy’s wrap, smooth and creamy for easy piping and decoration.
- Black gel icing or edible markers: To create spooky mummy eyes on the decorated cake.
Variations for Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling
Feel free to personalize this Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling recipe to suit your taste buds, dietary needs, or the occasion. Swapping a few ingredients or changing the decoration style can make it your own unique creation.
- Fruit filling swap: Use raspberry or strawberry jam for a slightly different berry twist that still pairs beautifully.
- Chocolate or vanilla cake base: Omit cocoa powder for a classic vanilla flavor or add more for a rich chocolate version.
- Dairy-free frosting: Use coconut cream or a cashew-based frosting to keep it plant-based and creamy.
- Spiced cake option: Add cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter for a warm, cozy spice profile.
- Gluten-free adaptation: Substitute with a gluten-free flour blend without altering the moisture and texture too much.
How to Make Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling
Step 1: Prepare the Cake Batter
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing your cake pans. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and optionally cocoa powder. In another bowl, blend the wet ingredients—vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk mixture. Slowly combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring just until smooth to maintain a soft texture. Pour the batter evenly into your pan(s) and bake according to your pan size, generally about 25-30 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Cherry Jam Filling
If you’re using store-bought cherry jam, make sure it’s slightly warmed to spread easily between the layers. You can also make your own cherry filling by simmering fresh or frozen cherries with a little sugar and plant-based texture solution until thickened.
Step 3: Bake and Cool the Cake
Once baked, allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes before turning them out onto wire racks to cool completely. This step ensures your layers will stack nicely and the jam won’t melt into the cake.
Step 4: Assemble and Fill the Cake
Place the first cake layer on your serving plate, spread a generous amount of cherry jam filling evenly over the top, then add the second layer. Press gently to secure but avoid squishing the jam out of the edges.
Step 5: Frost and Decorate the Mummy Cake
Use your chilled buttercream or cream cheese frosting to create “bandages” by piping thin strips across the cake. Arrange them in overlapping lines to mimic mummy wrappings. Finally, add eyes using black gel icing or edible markers, placing two dots close together for a fun and spooky finishing touch.
Pro Tips for Making Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling
- Even layers: Use a serrated knife to level cakes for tidy stacking and filling.
- Chill frosting: Refrigerate your frosting if it’s too soft before piping bandages for better control.
- Room temperature ingredients: Eggs and liquids at room temp blend more smoothly for a tender crumb.
- Less is more with jam: Avoid overfilling to prevent messy edges and sliding layers.
- Practice piping: Try piping “bandages” on parchment first to get the hang of the ribbon pattern.
How to Serve Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling
Garnishes
Top your mummy masterpiece with some fresh cherries or a dusting of powdered sugar for added charm. A few edible flowers or mint leaves can also brighten up the presentation while complementing the fruit flavors.
Side Dishes
Serve slices with a scoop of vanilla or cherry sorbet for a refreshing counterpart, or a simple dollop of whipped coconut cream for extra richness without overpowering the fruity jam.
Creative Ways to Present
Place your mummy cake on a spooky Halloween platter surrounded by candy eyeballs or plastic spiders for festive effect. You may also cut smaller cupcake-sized “mummies” to share at parties, decorating each with tiny candy eyes.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and keep the cherry jam filling from spoiling. The frosting and jam help seal in moisture, ensuring each slice stays delicious for 3-4 days.
Freezing
You can freeze your cake layers ahead of time without the jam and frosting. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before assembling and decorating.
Reheating
For the best taste, enjoy the cake chilled or at room temperature. If desired, warm a slice in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to enhance softness but avoid overheating which can alter texture and melt frosting decor.
FAQs
Can I use fresh cherries instead of cherry jam?
Yes, you can create a fresh cherry filling by cooking fresh cherries with sugar and a plant-based thickener until it reaches a jam-like consistency, which works beautifully in this recipe.
Is this recipe suitable for vegans?
The base recipe uses eggs and dairy frosting, but you can easily replace them with vegan alternatives such as flax eggs and plant-based frosting to make a vegan-friendly Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling.
How long does the cake last once assembled?
When refrigerated properly, the cake stays fresh for about 3 to 4 days. For best taste and texture, enjoy it within this timeframe.
Can I make the mummy decoration ahead of time?
Yes, you can pipe the frosting bandages a few hours ahead and keep the cake refrigerated until serving. Just add the eyes right before serving to maintain their shine.
What if I don’t have a piping bag for decoration?
You can use a resealable plastic bag with a small corner snipped off as a DIY piping bag for the frosting bandages, providing good control for this simple decoration technique.
Final Thoughts
Creating a Mummy Cake With Cherry Jam Filling is not only a delightful baking adventure but also a fantastic way to bring a bit of fun and creativity to your table. Whether you’re celebrating a spooky occasion or just craving a memorable dessert, this recipe offers both charm and flavor that never disappoint. So grab your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and whip up a cake that’s guaranteed to be the star of any gathering!
