My birthday is coming up later this week. I have what I would call a love hate relationship with birthdays, I hate getting older but looove getting presents. This year I’m feeling a little neutral about it though. I guess compared to the stress/panic excitement of 30, 31 is just no big deal. Besides, one of my coworkers told me I look 27 the other day and I’m choosing to believe her.
Despite my neutral feelings, I will never pass up an opportunity for a treat. I still have a ton of sweets left over from Christmas so I decided to follow Sarah of The House Wife Diary‘s lead and create something out of them.
For Christmas I made Anna Olson’s Marzipan Cake. This cake was incredible, it was moist and tender with a lovely almond flavour. I replaced the lemon zest with orange, which went very well with the almond. I decided to use the leftover cake to make myself a mini trifle. Then I started thinking about all the sugar I’ve been eating and thought maybe I should tone it down. Traditionally a trifle has layers of cake, fruit, custard, and cream. I replaced the custard and whipped cream with greek yogurt. I left the yogurt unsweetened as the cake and jam I used were both quite sweet. If that’s too tangy for you, try sweetening it with a little honey.
Marzipan Cake
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup marzipan
- 6 eggs
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons icing sugar, sifted, for dusting
- Preheat the oven to 350. Grease an 8 inch round pan and line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Cut the marzipan into chunks and beat into the butter mixture one piece at a time until its completely incorporated.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the zest and extracts.
- In separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the marzipan mixture, beating until well incorporated.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
Greek Yogurt Trifle
- Leftover marzipan cake
- Greek yogurt
- Raspberry jam
- Layer the cake, jam and yogurt into a tall glass or bowl. Let chill until ready to serve.
Enjoy!
What She's Having 
Lynn, your cake looks delicious…and the trifle even more delicious! YUM to both~
Love the “leftover” treat! Happy early birthday! 31 is just another 30. For reals.
I just made small trifles too although they do not look as stunning as this one! But they are great ways to use leftovers in a very chic way! Happy birthday and enjoy your treat!
First of all, happy early birthday :) great excuse to eat cake if anything! And this cake? it looks delicious! I love almond.. your trifle sounds delicious too.. trifles always remind me of “Friends” when Rachel mistakenly makes one with meat in it because the pages of her books are stuck together ha Happy New Yeas too!
Happy Birthday Soon! Trifles are amazing, love love love great uses for leftover cake!
Hey, that’s a clever way of thinking about it.
That is one stylish trifle! I love the idea of using yoghurt to calm down the sweetness.
Happy birthday!
Your trifle looks delicious and happy birthday in advance.
Oh how I love a trifle. We had one similar to this as dessert at Christmas. So good. Happy birthday!
First I want to wish you the best, stress free Birthday!:))) and second..photos are incredible! I opened up my eyes on the first one..it looks amazing!!!
A very elegant looking dessert for an elegant birthday!
What a great idea with the Greek yogurt and the jam :-) Happy early birthday, my dear! Enjoy celebrating it!
I hope you have a lovely birthday. ;) The trifle looks wonderful…they always make such a pretty treat.
Trifles are so yum. I feel like a dainty princess whenever I eat one. Maybe we should rethink the whole trifle thing, tho. Punk it up a bit…give it some rough edges, stilettos, and pirates booty. :p
P.S. I don’t know what the last one means. It made sense at the time.
P.S.S. Happy Birthday! Thirty-something isn’t so bad. I’m 31 and I still feel like I’m a steady 26. :p
Happy Birthday !!!
recently I discovered Anna Oslon and enjoyed some of her recipe. The marzipan cake sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.
New Year begins, let us pray,
that it will be a year with new Peace,
New Happiness, and abundance of new friends,
God bless you through out the new Year.