Eggless Confetti Bento Cake Recipe

As bakers we all know how fast and evolving this baking world is. Everyday you will find new trends and techniques paving their way into our lives.One such example of new and latest trend is that of Bento Cakes.

But what is a Bento Cake? Is it some new flavor or new method to make a cake? No, none of these dear readers. It’s simply a mini version of any celebration cake that fits in a bento box!

Bento boxes are famous in Japan where basically lunches are packed on the go or for parcel! The idea of having a bento cake came into existence with lockdown period during Pandemic. People all over the world were obligated to stay at home. We were not able to celebrate any occasion with friends and family outside our home. Hence the idea of making mini cakes was developed so that one can enjoy cake cutting ceremony at home and no wastage would be there from big cakes too!

This idea also gave boost to home bakers as all market bakeries were shut and home bakers got a chance to spread some happiness during this period. 

Eggless Confetti Bento Cake Recipe Video Tutorial

Taste and texture of the cake

Today, I have a very quick and simple bento cake recipe for you which has soft vanilla sponge and a smooth buttercream icing decorated with confetti sprinkles!

Let’s first check out what important ingredients you need for the recipe

Key ingredients used for the recipe and their relevance

Certain ingredients play a unique and major role in making the product what it is. Let’s briefly talk about those important ingredients used in this recipe.

Curd– since curd is acidic, it reacts with leavening agent like baking soda in the cake batter. This helps to incorporate air into the cake batter which will make the cake soft and fluffy.

Milk– Milk adds moisture to the cake. It also helps in adding flavor and some color to the baked cake. whenever possible use full cream milk to get maximum richness.

Apple cider vinegar – when using vinegar for any baking recipe, apple cider vinegar is recommended as it’s natural and less pungent than the white vinegar. When its added to milk, it makes for an instant buttermilk.

Below you will find the list of ingredients required for this recipe followed by equipment you will need and the detailed explanation of the method

All Ingredient List for Making Confetti Bento Cake

Ingredients for cake sponge

Ingredients for Sponge Quantity
All-purpose flour
137 g
Castor sugar
100 g
Baking Soda
1 g
Baking Powder
4 g
Salt
A pinch
Unsalted Butter
57 g
Full cream milk
120 ml
Apple cider vinegar
6 ml
Curd
15 g
Vanilla essence
3 ml
Sprinkles
35 g

Ingredients for Buttercream Icing

Ingredients for Buttercream Quantity
Unsalted butter
150 g
Icing sugar
40 g
Milk
30 ml

For Decoration:

Ingredients for Decoration Quantity
Sprinkles
As required

All equipment needed for the recipe

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Digital kitchen weighing scale
  • Bowls and spoons
  • Spatula
  • Sieve 
  • Hand beater
  • Baking tray
  • 3.5 inch round cutter
  • Butter paper
  • Oven/OTG
  • Microwave 
  • Piping bag
  • Open star nozzle

Let me take you through the process to make this cute and delicious bento cake.

Steps to prepare eggless confetti bento cake

For Sponge:

  1. Preheat the oven at 180˚C (OTG Mode: upper rod + lower rod + fan). Grease and Line a baking tray with butter paper and oil.
  2. In a bowl, mix, milk and apple cider vinegar. Stir and keep it aside.
  3. In a new bowl, cream butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Now add curd and vanilla essence. Mix this well.
  4. Sift all dry ingredients i.e. flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Give it a mix.
  5. Add dry ingredients and buttermilk alternatively into the creamed butter-sugar mixture. Starting and ending with dry ingredients batch, combine everything well making sure no lumps are there in the batter. Lastly add sprinkles and mix.
  6. Pour the batter into the lined tray and bake in preheated oven at 180˚C (OTG Mode: lower rod only) for 20 minutes minutes or until a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean.

Method for Buttercream:

  1. Take soft unsalted butter and start beating it until fluffy.
  2. Mix icing sugar and milk together. Make sure to dissolve the sugar properly.
  3. Now start adding milk-sugar mix I to the butter in batches. At first it may seem that the milk is not mixing, however continue beating for a few minutes and it will become a homogeneous mixture. 

ASSEMBLY

Assembling a cake needs good practice so that the cake ultimately looks tempting. check out the steps to assemble this cake. 

  1. Take a 3.5inch round cutter and cut the sponge using the cutter. Get three sponge layers from it.
  2. On a turntable, place small cake board and put some buttercream in the center.
  3. Now put the first layer of sponge and soak it with the soaking syrup.
  4. Spread buttercream and make an even layer.
  5. Place the second sponge layer and repeat the same procedure.
  6. Put the 3rd sponge layer and lightly soak it. Crumb coat it with buttercream and let it set in freezer for 10-15 minutes.
  7. Once the crumbs are set, give a final coating to the cake.
  8. Transfer the buttercream in a piping bag with open star nozzle. Make 8 blobs on top edges with equidistant gap.
  9. Now take your confetti sprinkles and place them on the bottom edge of the cake. Make a proper layer of the Sprinkles at the bottom.
  10. On the sides (middle to top) throw sprinkles randomly.
  11. Garnish the top with sprinkles as well. 

 

Chef's Tip And Key Points

  1. Since the cake board won’t fit in the bento box, you can transfer the cake onto a butter paper and then place it in the box.
  2. Cut clean discs of sponge using the cutter oy when sponge has cooled down completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sure you must be having certain doubts about bento cake. Let me post some answers to commonly asked questions.

Q1. Why is it called bento cake? 

Ans. Simply because it’s served in a bento box. Bento is a Japanese word and translates to ‘convenience’. It fits perfectly as it’s very convenient to carry small cake.

Q2. What is the size of bento cake? 

Ans. To fit the cake in a bento box, the cake has a specific dimension which is nearly about 2×4 inch in round shape. 

Q3. What is the weight of bento cake? 

Ans. A bento cake weighs around 300-350g only.

 

Q4. How many servings does the bento cake provide? 

Ans. It can serve for 2-4 people maximum.

 

Q5. Does bento have specific flavor? 

Ans. No, you can make any and as many flavors you like for a bento cake.

Q6. How long can a bento cake last? 

Ans. Similar to a regular cream cake, a bento cake can also last upto 3 days in refrigerator

Q7. How to pack a bento cake? 

Ans. All you need is a standard 6 inch square bento box for packing. Place the cake on a butter paper and then transfer it to the box.