Pretty Fours – Simple Elegant Cakes

This little treat is a delicious little mouthful of almond flavor and elegance. Not to be confused with Petit Fours, these little cakes are called Pretty Fours. First presented by my sister, Pretty Fours are simple yet elegant cakes. This recipe can also serve as a basis for many variations depending on your imagination. These are a great option for Afternoon Tea – Desserts or for group functions. Here is how it comes together – its really just this easy! Here is Pretty Fours – Simple Elegant Cakes.

Ingredients

• Cake Flour
• Almond Paste (can or tube)
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Unsalted butter
• Buttercream Frosting
  • Butter
  • Vanilla
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Cream (or milk)

Putting the cake together

This is a very simple cake to put together. But an important step is to crumble up the almond paste by itself. This helps to facilitate the blending of the ingredients into a smooth batter.

Once the almond paste is crumbled, mix in the sugar and 2 of the eggs. Beat until smooth. Add your room temperature butter and then the remaining 4 eggs.

Grease and / or line your 15X10 jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Pour batter in pan and spread to even. Bake the cake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes until golden brown. Let the cake completely cool before cutting into shapes.

Prepare the toppings for your Pretty Fours

Here is where the fun of these little cakes begins. You can use several toppings just depending on your imagination and your menu. You can use the buttercream frosting recipe provided or use jams or curds. The options are endless and you just have to give them a try.

Putting the Pretty Fours cakes together

Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter, cut the cool cake into desired circles. This cake is a dense cake full of almond flavor. It holds the cut very well and allows you to frost as a single layer or as a double layer, with a filling. Though I have only used the circular cookie cutter, I think you could use any shape as long as the cake is level.

• 

• 

You can see both a single cake and a double cake. The double cake is filled with simple strawberry jam and then topped with a second layer of cake and buttercream frosting. For a recent afternoon tea, I served this cake as a Strawberry Jam Cake and had fresh strawberries on the side.

Serving your Pretty Fours

This cake freezes well, uncut or cut. And it also freezes well went it is prepared as a Pretty Four. You can always have some in your freezer for those impromptu afternoon tea times! Have fun and enjoy.

These little treats are special additions to your sweet recipe file…..Pretty Fours – simple elegant cakes

• 

•