Hot Milk Cakes with Strawberries and Cream
Posted by Ari on March 12, 2009 in Desserts, Life, Quick & Easy | 81 Comments
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After battling the flu for the past two weeks I’m finally back in blogging form and boy does it feel good! You know you have a serious blogging habit when all you can think about amidst high fevers and chills is how much you NEED to post something – anything – right now because you’re falling behind your posting schedule. Alas, I wasn’t able to make it happen.
I discovered something about myself during my downtime: I’m a big baby when it comes to being truly, actually sick. I was longing for those childhood days when my mom would bring me cups of hot tea and pop a movie into the VCR, which we’d watch together on the couch while I snuggled under a blanket and fought my way to recovery. This time my husband took wonderful care of me, but it wasn’t the same and I was feeling mighty homesick on top of having the flu. I dealt with this by spending a fair amount of time (ok, hours) on YouTube searching for things like the opening for JEM, She-Ra, Inspector Gadget and my all-time-favorite The Last Unicorn. All my old stand-bys from the 80’s, now at my fingertips twenty years later. Does this clip bring back memories for anyone else? What shows and movies did you watch as a child?
Those were the days huh? And the irony is that our kids probably won’t appreciate their childhood any more than we did, no matter how much we tell them to soak it up and enjoy how good they have it! 
During my quest for bits of 80’s childhood I also found all of The Neverending Story online. I loved that movie. Still do.
To celebrate the return of my good health, this afternoon I decided to make hot milk cakes with strawberries and cream. This luscious dessert also has ties to my mom, who would buy shortcakes at the market, then cover them with mashed berries from her garden before topping each cake with a dollop of whipped cream. It was an absolute delight and when I think about how much pleasure these strawberry cakes brought us for so little effort on my mom’s part, I can understand why she loved making them.
The nutmeg-scented hot milk cakes featured here are my grown-up version of this childhood comfort food. They have a light, fluffy interior with a thin, sugary crust and are very easy to make. They get their name from the fact that milk and butter are brought to a gentle boil before being added to the eggs, sugar, vanilla and flour. You can make the strawberry filling and vanilla whipped cream while the cakes are cooling. Simply mix sliced strawberries with sugar and set the bowl aside so the fruit juices can gather (that’s it!). Then beat cold whipping cream with confectioners sugar and vanilla just before serving, which takes about 4 minutes. Assembly takes only a minute, but you’ll want to take your time eating this dessert, soaking up every bite in an effort to make the experience last longer.
Don’t forget about the monthly book giveaway! February’s winners have been posted on the giveaway page. March’s book giveaway includes one copy of Bernard Clayton’s New Complete Book of Breads, by Bernard Clayton.
Hot Milk Cakes with Strawberries and Cream
Slightly adapted from this Epicurious.com recipe
Ingredients: Makes 6 cakes
- Nonstick vegetable oil spray
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided use
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound large strawberries, hulled, thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1/2 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray six jumbo muffin molds or six 3/4-cup custard cups with nonstick spray.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium heat bring milk and butter just to boil in small saucepan, stirring until butter melts. If the mixture comes to a boil before you’re ready to add it to the batter reduce the heat to low and keep warm.
While the milk is heating, using an electric mixer, beat eggs in a medium bowl at high speed until thick, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in 2/3 cup sugar; beat until thick and pale yellow, about 1 minute longer. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and beat 30 seconds. Add hot milk mixture to batter; beat until blended and smooth, about 30 seconds. Divide batter among prepared cups. Place cups on rimmed baking sheet.
Bake cakes until tops rise (tall rounded peak will form in center of each), turn pale golden, and are firm to touch, about 16 minutes. Cool in cups at least 20 minutes.
Toss strawberries and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in medium bowl to coat; let stand 20 minutes for juices to form.
Using electric mixer, beat cream, powdered sugar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla in another medium bowl until peaks form.
Remove warm or room-temperature cakes from molds and transfer to bowls or plates. Cut off rounded top of each cake. Spoon some of berries and juices over. Spoon whipped cream on the berries, cover with tops of cakes, then garnish with remaining berries and juices. Dust with confectioners sugar, if desired. Serve immediately.
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These look absolutely delicious. I love the mix of cake, strawberries and cream. Yummy!
Yummy…my three favorite things, cake, strawberries and cream.
So glad that you’re feeling better!!
I watched alllll the Disney movies as a child, haha – classics!!
Lovely dessert!!
The nutmeg flavoring is interesting… This dessert looks incredibly tempting! Refreshing and delightful too!
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh I must try this one.
OMG The Last Unicorn was my most favorite movie when I was little! I cannot wait to watch this when I get home tonight!
Kim – Yay! Another Last Unicorn fan! That movie will always be #1 in my childhood movie memories.
Just saw that you posted on facebook – LOVE the photo, and LOVE The Never Ending story. Glad you are feeling better.
Linda – Thank you! It’s amazing how good it feels to be feeling normal, lol. How have you been?
I so identified with that! When i was sick last year, i really really really missed being taken care of, my boyfriend did try, but it wasn’t the same, i, too, missed watching television from my bed, sipping hot tea my mom made me and listening to the kitchen noises. Last unicorn didn’t make it to my country until i was almost too big to watch it, i’m more of a smurfs & supermouse kinda gal.
Thank you for remeniscing. 
Maja – I’m glad I’m not the only one who really misses mom and childhood when I’m sick.
I’m sorry you’ve been under the weather, but glad you’re now feeling better. This dish looks great; I can’t wait for fresh strawberries to try it!
This recipe looks delicious. I’m going to have to try it soon. Think it would work with smaller muffin pans and a shorter cooking time? I don’t have a jumbo size muffin pan, and I don’t have custard cups either…. Going to have to put those on my wishlist
Never Ending Story is one of my favorite movies. I know that I’ve seen the Last Unicorn, but it’s been so long I’m going to have to look it up and refresh my memory. I love all those 80s movies from my childhood.
Jennifer – Yes, I think that would definitely work. Start with a 12 minute cooking time, then keep on eye on them (through the oven window if possible) and bake them until they are golden brown and have puffed up in the middle.
This is sooo scrumptious! Ho l’acquolina in bocca…;)
Welcome back! I was just looking at my RSS feeds and wondering where you’ve been. The colds and flues going around right now seem to be lasting forever.
The hot milk cakes sound wonderful! I might have to search out some good strawberries and make them this weekend.
Apparently we liked all the same movies as children! The Last Unicorn was one of my favorites, but Neverending story was close behind (did you ever read the book? – it was wonderful). These look so delicious and seem like a nice alternative to shortcake.
Aw, the flu for 2 weeks must have been awful! I’m glad you’re better and here to make may life more full with that dessert. It looks fabulous! And I totally watched Inspector Gadget. It was my favorite.
Ashley – It was awful indeed. I was miserable! Really glad to be better though. I just have a bit of a cough now.
Hummmmmm, seems delicious! I do really love strawberries…
Sorry to hear you were under the weather Ari. Good to see you back, & in such a comforting way. These are pretty!!
Simply Delicious!
Beautiful photo and recipe! I could lick my screen! Glad you are feeling better lady.
So glad you’re back and feeling better
I’m also a child of the 80’s and I loved the Neverending Story! Just the other day I was YouTubing old Disney movies like “Beauty and the Beast”. What memories! Beautiful, elegant, easy dessert – thanks!!
This recipe has been on my “list” for quite a while – now that I see how wonderfully yours turned out, I’m really going to have to try it!
I am glad you are feeling better.
Those look so good and I’d definitely try to make them in the future— such a good idea to treat yourself—strawberries make me to think about the summer immediately…..
When I feel sick, I want to watch Little House on the Prarie, Laverne & Shirley, and Facts of Life. I use to watch Wizard of Oz over and over again when I was younger. It was to the point that I had the entire movie dialouge memorized. lol!
Glad you’re feeling better. I’ve had some head/chest crud lately too.
Glad to see you back! Lovely dessert. The best ones are the ones associate with childhood memories.
These look delicious. I’m basically salivating.
This looks delicious-I love fresh strawberries.
I wish I could get my sponges to work. I don’t think I’ve ever sucessfully made a sponge cake before.. chiffon yes, sponge cake.. no. Your cakes look so delicious with the cream and strawberries!
These look fab–I think I’d like these even more than the traditional shortcakes. Must give them a go. And speaking of the 1980s: Strawberry Shortcake–absolutely adored her (and all her friends)! K x
So sorry to hear you were sick! The flu is awful.
This recipe is great – I am so looking forward to farmer’s market season and fresh strawberries.
Glad you’re back and with good health! I love love love strawberries and cream in any form and this just looks superb!! What a way to brighten up the recently cold weather, thanks
)
I LOVED “The Last Unicorn.” Oh your post brought back a lot of memories
And the cakes with strawberries looks very good!
Kaye
Glad you’re feeling better. No matter how old we get, nothing replaces the need for some “mommying”. The photo of this recipe is making my tummy growl. Looks so Yummy!
I had completely forgotten about most of those movies. Thanks for the nice flashback! My mom used to do the same thing, making little strawberry shortcakes using the store bought shortcakes, and we thought it was the best as well. What great memories!
These look heavenly. I can’t wait to try them. The remind me of something my daughter made during one of her cooking classes. I arrived to pick her up and was lucky enough to taste it.
This one does sound better with the additon of nutmeg.
These look SO yummy! And this book has been on my wish list
Lovely dessert. I love strawberries. I am glad they are finally coming in season!
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This looks fantastic. I could almost TASTE it! I’m printing the recipe and taking it with me to our mini family reunion next weekend. Thanks for the great idea and rhe recipe.
That looks delicious. I’ve been in strawberry mode too… was thinking of what to do the other day and decided upon a galette. Strawberries are delicious around here… locally grown.
aaaaaawwww, The Neverending Story! Not only was it a really really great movie–the pink dragon looks exactly like my childhood dog, Gretchen.
thanks for providing such a great trigger for a great memory!
YUM! These pictures are fantastic!
glad you are feeling better!! i dont think i’ve ever had such a thing as milk cakes, but they look and sound absolutely delicious
Hi Ariela,
So glad you are on the mend. What a great opportunity to relive a bit of “feeling sorry for mysewf when I’m sick” and watching childhood movies… thats part of the healing, isn’t it?
Your recipe looks DIVINE, I should have eaten breakfast BEFORE visiting. *wink*
May I ask what sort of camera you have? I really like how the color ‘pop’s in your photos – do you use actions and filters, or do you have a Nikon, I’ve noticed they produce such rich color.
Thanks for sharing.
Barb´s last blog post -> My Sister Inspires Me
Barb – I use a Nikon D70 for food photos, either with extension tubes and a manual lens (which creates a macro effect without the cost of a macro lens!) or with a AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm lens. When I’m out and about, I carry a Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital Elph. It’s pocket size and perfect for traveling, but I generally don’t use it for food photos.
These sound like a definite improvement on the Bisquik biscuits we got served with our strawberries!
And somehow I managed to miss the movie of The Last Unicorn. I’d read the book, but had no idea there was a movie.
Thank you for the beautiful picture this morning! It really cheered me up on a cold, wet day. I am so glad you are feeling better!
Lisa´s last blog post -> Is it really mid-March?
Those look gorgeous and not nearly as unhealthy as most of the desserts I make. I’ll have to try this once the strawberries at the market look a bit better!
this looks delicious- it practically screams spring (and health)! glad you’re on the mend. but next time, don’t watch too much of “the last unicorn”- that movie destroyed me when i was a kid, and i can’t even look at it now, so many years later. it’s just too sad!
Ana´s last blog post -> Loaf of Darkness
Ana – It is very sad at the end, but I still love it!
The dessert looks wonderful! Thank you for sharing. ;o}
I’m a bit sick too, and feel more like mashed potatoes than strawberries and cream… Maybe when spring will be more evident here.
Noa – Feel better! Mashed potatoes are one of the foods I like to eat when I’m sick too.
I love the Last Unicorn. I used to watch it everyday when I was little.
The strawberries look great. I think I might make this this weekend. Thanks for the recipe!
Glad you’re feeling better. I love the Neverending Story too, so thanks for the link. These milk cakes with strawberries and cream sound very comforting!
Glad that you are feeling better–I’ve never heard of milk cakes before–but they sound mighty delicious! I might have to try them. I collected unicorns when I was a kid–I loved them–so my mom bought me “The Last Unicorn”, which I loved, mostly, but I remember being scared to death by The Red Bull. It was so terrorizing that I almost couldn’t watch it. I want to get a copy of it for myself now though–watching stuff like that does bring back memories!!
Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have frozen strawberries from our garden — this is on the menu for tonight!
You had me at hot-milk cakes. Sounds like something a grandmother would bake!
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glad you’re feeling better, ari!
strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts, and i like this version. you’re back with a bang!
These look so good I had to make them immediately – they are in the oven now. I notice the ingredients call for baking powder, but the directions say baking soda. I assumed it was baking powder, but you might want to correct so there is no confusion.
Betsy – Thank you for catching that! It was baking powder. I corrected it in the instructions.
hummmm!!!! delicious!!!
a great website, I have added you to the blogroll of my blog
aprendizdepanadera.blogspot.com
regards from spain!
marga – aprendizdepanadera
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I’m glad you’re feeling better. There have been some horrible flu strains going around this year (at least here in Canada where I am). This recipe looks so yummy and makes me long for the late spring and summer when I have access to an abundance of fresh berries.
Glad you’re better! I love strawberry shortcakes AND Neverending Story!
Claire´s last blog post -> Chocolate on Call
Yum, those hot cakes look so good with the strawberry and cream oozing out of them.
looks amazing!
WOW!!! this looks absolutely fantastic!! *drools*
I made strawberry short cakes just a few weekends ago. I think maybe I’ll try this recipe this weekend.
Thanks, Ari!
I’m glad you are feeling better – I’m the same as you when I am sick, a big baby! And I LOVED the Neverending Story!! These cakes look great!
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This looks perfect for using up some of my frozen strawberries! I usually make fresh strawberry shortcake with more of a biscuit-type shortcake, but these will soak up the extra juice from the frozen berries very nicely. Thanks!
Oh yum, these sound amazing!
Fuji Mama´s last blog post -> Celebrating with Dark Chocolate Ganache Filled Macarons
strawberry shortcake is the first dessert I had when I first traveled to the states …; a looooooooooooong time ago
really like this version
la marquise des anges´s last blog post -> { vive le printemps }
Such a lovely recipe! Usually I have to decrease the sugar, but these were perfect as is. I made mine in shaped baking trays for a little extra fun
There are so many shows I loved from the Eighties. The Neverending Story is definitely up there, including other gems like The Goonies and Dark Crystal. I’ve never had hot milk cakes before, but I love the sound of them, and they look really tasty!
Y´s last blog post -> Daring Bakers Challenge : Lasagne
Gorgeous! I cannot remember any time where I’ve actually had a true interest in traditional strawberry shortcakes. I’ve always gravitated to the angel-food rather than the shortcakes.
This, however, looks wonderful. A definite try!
Grace and Peace,
`tim
Tim´s last blog post -> 3 Pillars Handout
Good to know you are feeling better Ari. Love the new blog lay-out.Feel like a child exploring every nook & corner. Love these little cakes too…yummy!
deeba´s last blog post -> GETTING CREATIVE WITH DARING BAKERS-MULBERRY CHEESECAKE!
that looks divine!
Absolutely yummy, that pic is making me very hungry I can just about taste and smell it. Yummo.