Mini Korean Lunchbox Cake Or Bento Cake Recipe – Don’t Miss!
Korean lunchbox cake or bento cake is an adorable little cake that has a separate fan base. ‘Bento’ is a Japanese word that means ‘convenience’. Generally speaking, Bento boxes are simply one-portion meals that can either be home-cooked or eaten on the go.
Lunchbox cake is a box full of happiness. As human beings, we want to find happiness in the small things, and those who are fond of sweets can find it in this sweet Korean treat. They are decorated with dreamy embellishments. It will beautify your day whether you’re enjoying a casual picnic or celebrating a special occasion.
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Do You Know Lunchbox Cakes Are?
Bento is a Korean dessert, packaged in takeout boxes, that is smaller than most Western desserts. The Korean coffee shops and bakeries were the first to bring it to the fore and popularize this dessert. Popular for its pretty delicacies and minimalist aesthetic, this dessert has also been popularized worldwide by K-pop stans, who use it to celebrate special events. Since then, it has become an essential item for many bakers during the pandemic and saved their livelihood.
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A Brief History & Origin Of Korean Lunchbox Cake
This beautiful and minimalist two-by-four-inch bento or Japanese lunchbox cake weighs about 300-360 grams. First appeared in Korea, these cakes have gained popularity across the world. Its origin can be traced back to the Kamakura period in 12th century Japan. During this time, cooked and dried rice was carried together to work. To serve the purpose, in the 16th Century, wooden, lacquered lunchboxes started to be made
Gradually, schoolchildren made use of them too, and in the early 20th century. Interesting fact- Soon, they began to be banned in schools, as it was considered a reflection of a student’s family wealth over other students. This practice halted when meals began to be served in schools.
Nevertheless, during the 1980s, they made a comeback in supermarkets. Home-packed bento lunchboxes began to be used in Japan. They are not only rich in nutrition but also aesthetics. Gradually, from Japan, the concept of lunch packing began spreading to neighboring countries like Taiwan, China, and South Korea. That is when Korean lunchbox cakes made their debut in South Korea, as ‘cake on the go’ or ‘no-share cake’, and instantly gained popularity.
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Size Of Korean Lunchbox Cakes
This one literally lives up to its name, it is bento-sized. The widely used Korean lunchbox cake size is 4 inches. It weighs about 350 grams.
But they are accessible in larger sizes, such as 6 inches and 8 inches too. The cake box adds charm to the overall appeal. Whether your sweet treat is classic circular-shaped or any other shape, it can easily fit in this box. The simplicity of the container gives it a minimalistic vibe that people love.
Nutrition Facts
1 servings per container
Serving Size355g
- Amount Per ServingCalories50
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
19g
30%
- Saturated Fat 7g 35%
- Trans Fat 1.9g
- Cholesterol 22mg 8%
- Sodium 20mg 1%
- Potassium 22mg 1%
- Total Carbohydrate
51g
17%
- Sugars 45g
- Protein 1.5g 3%
- Vitamin A 260%
- Calcium 18.5%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
How Does A Korean Lunchbox Cake Taste Like?
This Korean mini cake lunch box is a piece of edible art that is beautiful inside and out. You will enjoy not only the visual appeal but also the gustatory experience! In the midst of the extravagant decorations and frosting, you will find a moist cake filled with delicious cream.
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Flavor Options For This Japanese Lunchbox Cake
Typically, a Korean sweet treat often comes in either vanilla or chocolate flavors. However,
the bento box cake recipe comes in several flavors like lemon, biscoff, nutella, matcha, vanilla, and plain chocolate among many others that complement the taste of the frosting. You can even find some bakeries adding fillings like hazelnut or salted caramel. The icing can be whipped cream or buttercream. Most people go with buttercream icing because buttercream does not require to be refrigerated as much unlike whipped cream icing.
Since Korean lunchbox cake recipes can be customized, you can experiment and come up with any flavor for this scrumptious treat. The plethora of flavors indeed increases its demand. And I’m sharing with you a bento box cake recipe in this post so you can bake one on your own.
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Why You Should Not Wait to Try it at Home
1. Simple Arrangement:
The recipe is super easy to follow and the cake will be ready in no time. The cake is easy to assemble as well. The small box that it comes in and the minimalistic vibe it has is the show-stealer.
2. Gifting:
This Korean lunchbox cake is not only perfect for snacks or desserts but also a perfect selection as a gift. You don’t have to follow the conventional style of gifting anymore. It is a superb gift for any and all occasions.
3. Perfect For Kids:
Against the regular style cake, the Korean lunchbox cake size is perfect for kids given its size. Neither too big to have leftovers nor too small to satisfy the hunger. Its size and presentation appeal to the kids.
4. Party Or Get-Together:
They are not only fit as presents but also perfect for a party or get-together menu. It is liked by people of all ages. It can be a nice lunch box birthday cake. No more cutting up conventional cakes into several slices, one bento cake for each.
5. Small Gathering Of Ingredients:
All ingredients are easily available in the pantry.
6. Practice For New Bakers:
People who have just entered the world of cooking may practice baking these instead of huge-sized cakes. This will help them gain confidence. They can bake bento cakes and experiment with flavors and designs.
7. Easy to handle and prepare:
Unlike regular cakes, bento cakes are easy to carry and move around or transport. They do not require a massive setup space for assembling. They are easy to store as well.
8. Quick to ready:
The best part of this recipe is that your cravings will be satisfied within no time. Craving something sweet? Bento cakes at your service!
9. No extra effort is needed for icing:
The icing process is so simple, that even a kid can easily follow it. No more dodging cake recipes due to the chaotic icing process. This cake solves all problems
10. Innovative Idea:
Bento cakes allow you to explore, experiment, and come up with new flavors and ideas. You can pour out your love in the form of bento cakes. Just bake and experiment for your friends and family.
11. Small Happiness:
If happiness comes in boxes, it would definitely be this Korean lunchbox cake. From grown-ups to kids, it is a favorite. Bake it for friends, family, and literally anyone. Spread happiness!
The secret to Making a Perfect Korean LunchBox Cake
- Korean lunchbox cakes will need a different baking time depending on the baking dish they are baked in. When your pastry has been baking for 15 minutes, make sure to check it to make sure it isn’t overcooked.
- If you want to achieve bright-colored frostings, use gel food coloring.
- Use a hand mixer for better results.
- Measurement of ingredients is important. It is imperative to follow the recipe and proportion of ingredients as mentioned.
- The Korean lunchbox cake pan should be 6×2. This size of the baking pan will help you achieve the standard size.
- Grease or spray the oil properly to avoid it from sticking on the surface.
- If you need to prepare the buttercream frosting in a hurry, you can prepare it a week in advance, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it later on. When you want to use it, bring it to room temperature and whip it again.
Some Interesting Options For Filling And Frosting The Korean Lunchbox Cake
1. For The Filling-
You can try out Creamcheese, jam or jelly, chocolate, and white chocolate.
2. For The Frosting-
You can try out the whipped cream, buttercream, and cheese cream.
Recommended Tools Used In This Cake
- Round Cake Pan, 6 x 2 Inch
- Electric Hand Mixer Or Stand Mixer
- Cake Making Stand
- Whisk
- Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
- Sieve
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Butter Paper
- Palette Knife
Why My Lunchbox Cake Cracked?
- Firstly, you might have overbaked the cake. To achieve a perfect cake, it must neither be underbaked nor overbaked.
- Secondly, refrain from overmixing or undermixing the batter. Not achieving the right balance during mixing the batter could be another reason.
- Thirdly, let it cool properly before cutting the layers. Cutting the sponge into layers while it is hot can develop cracks. Wait till it cools.
- Fourthly, be mindful of the number of ingredients used. If the ingredients are not used in proportion, the cake can turn out a total disaster.
Common Questions
1. How to store a lunchbox cake box?
You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can keep it for 1-2 days outside the fridge.
2. How many days can I store it in the fridge?
If the bento cake does not have any fruit, you can store it for up to 3-4 days.
3. Can I experiment with 2 flavors in one lunch box cake recipe?
Yes, you can. For example, you can try out a vanilla lunch box cake recipe with a mix of caramel flavors.
4. Is it a vegan lunchbox cake?
No, this is not an eggless lunch box cake recipe, other dairy products have been used too. But you can switch them with vegan ones. However, the taste might differ.
5. How many people can share a lunchbox cake?
In Korea or Japan, it is said that a lunchbox cake is perfect for only one person. But, 2-4 people can share a bento cake depending on the eating capacity.
Summing-Up
This Korean lunchbox cake opens up more possibilities. Instead of baking a conventional, single-flavor cake of half or 1 kilogram, these bento cakes give people the option of having two different kinds. The best part about these bento cakes is that you can bake them for any occasion.
There’ll be an absence of formality of a larger cake. Whether you wish to congratulate someone, congratulate someone for their job, marriage, or wish someone luck for their exams, these cakes are literally the right size. The recipe that I have shared is super simple. So on those days when you feel low or want to simply reward yourself, you can try out this vanilla Korean lunchbox cake recipe.
Super Easy Korean Lunchbox Cake Or Bento Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Round Cake Pan, 6 x 2 Inch
- 1 Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- 1 Cake Making Stand
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Sieve
- 1 Measuring Cups
- 1 Spoons
- 1 Butter Paper
- 1 Palette Knife
Ingredients
For Vanilla Sponge Or Cake:
- ⅓ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 3 Piece Egg
- 1 tsp Honey
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- ⅛ tsp Salt
- ⅔ Cup Cake Flour
- ⅓ Cup Butter
- ⅓ Cup Milk
For Cake Syrup:
- 1 Cup Water
- ½ Cup Sugar
For Filling:
- 1+2 Cup+Tbsp Whipping Cream
- ¼ Cup Icing Sugar
- 2 Drop Red Food Color
Instructions
Korean lunchbox Cake Or Bento Cake Recipe
For Vanilla Sponge:
- Take eggs in a bowl.
Note: Use roomtemperature eggs.
- Now, in the egg bowl, mix powdered sugar step by step in abatch and add salt to it. Continue beating with the help of an electric beater.Whisk until sugar dissolves well and a creamy texture is achieved.
Note: Mix sugargradually in parts. Do not add all at once.
- Next, melt the butter in the oven or in the microwave. Then addvanilla essence, milk, and melted butter to the bowl and mix well until acreamy texture is achieved. Mix it well with a hand blender.
- Next, add cake flour. Slowly fold and mix well with a spatula.
- Now, take a baking flat tray. Spray oil and place on parchmentpaper. Again spray oil and transfer the full batter to the tray.
- Alternatively, you can divide the entire batter into 4 parts and take a small 6×2 cake baking pan and transfer the batter and bake the cakebatter in 3 batches.
- Spread evenly with the help of a spatula and tap to remove thebubbles from the batter.
- Preheat the oven. Bake for 15 minutes at 180 degrees celsius.
Note: Don’t overbake, as the cake size and batter quantity aresmall, keep a closeeye after 10 minutes pass. If you see it is done after 10minutes, immediately remove the bowl from the oven.
- Let it cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the tray.
For Filling:
- Take whipping cream in a bowl. Beat it with an electric beater.
- When a creamy texture is achieved, add powdered sugar gradually. Then Beat well with an electric beater.
- Add vanilla essence and 1 drop of red color. Foldedgently with the help of a spatula.
Icing Process:
- For the icing necessary for your lunchbox cake, first, make the sugar syrup by boiling water and sugar.
- Ensure that the sponge and sugar syrup remains at room temperature for the icing process.
- Next, slice your sponge into 2 or 3 layers with the help of a bread knife and spray sugar syrup on it.
- Put red whipped cream on each layer with the help of a palette knife. Put the red whipped cream on the cake slices side edges.
- Now, plan it with the help of a palette knife and scraper by removing the extra amount of cream.
Note: Clean the palette knife every time you are removing andsmoothing thesurface for an even icing.
- Now decorate your lunchbox cake as per your choice with whipped cream by different nozzles and piping bags.
- Make some rosette designs with a flower nail lifter as per your choice.
NOTES
- Lunchbox cakes will need a different baking time depending on the baking dish they are baked in. When your pastry has been baking for 15 minutes, make sure to check it to make sure it isn’t overcooked.
- If you want to achieve bright-colored frostings, use gel food coloring.
- Use a hand mixer for better results.
- Measurement of ingredients is important. It is imperative to follow the recipe and proportion of ingredients as mentioned.
- The lunchbox cake pan should be 6×2. This size of the baking pan will help you achieve the standard size.
- Grease or spray the oil properly to avoid it from sticking on the surface.
- If you need to prepare the buttercream frosting in a hurry, you can prepare it a week in advance, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it later on. When you want to use it, bring it to room temperature and whip it again.
Easy to prepare. My family liked it.
谢谢你