The Penguin Biosphere Cake Recipe! Week 2 Update Logs

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This week, I focused on developing and figuring out the cake recipe. Taking into account the type of environment I need to mimic in look and the types of cakes I enjoy, I've narrowed down to a Vanilla Genoise Cake with a slightly modified whipped cream icing. 


Since I'm no experienced baker, I cross referenced recipes found online and lightly researched what goes into making this type of cake. 

Here's what I came up with. 

Vanilla Genoise Ingredients

  • 4 eggs

  • 125g (1 cup) Cake Flour

  • 120g ½ cup sugar

  • Pinch of salt

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

  • 40g / ⅔ cups unsalted melted butter

  • 40g / ⅔ cups milk 


Icing Ingredients

  • 20g condensed milk

  • 3 tablespoons sugar

  • 500 ml double cream/heavy whipping cream

Miscellaneous

  • Blue food coloring (For the water look)

  • Sprinkles (to add that snowy sheen possibly)


Alongside the cake recipe brainstorming, I researched a bit on the environment that they live in, finding commonalities and information that can be used to shape the overall design and look of the cake.

  • Their circumpolar distribution exclusive between 66 degree and 77 degree south latitudes of Antarctica

  • Breeds on stable pack ice near the coast (11 mi) offshore

  • Breeding colonies dwell in areas where ice cliffs and icebergs provide protection from the wind

  • Emperor Penguins hunt in the open waters of the Southern ocean (ice free areas or tidal cracks in pack ice)

    • Antarctic silverfish, glacial squid, Antarctic krill are known to be apart of the diet

  • Colonies found by shelf ice and sea ice


From this, I know that I want ice shelves and cliffs sculpted on the cake and a portion of it with blue colored icing a bit on the top and all around the sides to represent the southern ocean they frequent in, perhaps decorating it with some of the animals a part of the penguin's diet.

That's all for this week! Here's a hand puppet that I'll be using!