When I called these little gems “cakelets,” I thought I was making up the word. Not that I think I am clever, but I needed a new word for them. They aren’t muffins, and mini-cakes are smaller (to me)… I just didn’t have the right vocabulary for them. And I am tired of “individual” this and that, and “cupcakes” seemed too obvious. So I decided on “cakelets.” *
I created this recipe for a zoom dinner with Becky and David (Markipedia’s brother and sister-in-law). My goal was a dessert to serve four that we could make in our zoom gathering. It had to be quick and easy – something we could throw together while we sipped and chatted, baking away while the rest of dinner was prepared. I tested the cakelets on our friend Michael, and he gave me just the feedback I needed to make them perfect.
These cakelets take advantage of strawberries as they come into season, and the lemon zest is a nice compliment to the berries’ sweetness. I served them with a dollop of ice cream after our dinner, and the two leftovers were perfect for the next days’ “elevenses.”
* It turns out that the word cakelets does exist out there, used by purveyors of mini cake pans, but it has not yet found its way into dictionaries. (Note: my friend Melissa just informed me that cakelet has been in the OED since the mid-19th century. Talk about a failed Google search!)
Developed and maintained by Inspiratech LLC.
Design by Themeshift.
John / Kitchen Riffs
May 8, 2021 at 8:04 amCakelets is a good wodk! And who doesn’t want to eat an entire cake? 🙂 I love lemon, but don’t often pair it with strawberries — blueberries are the more frequent companion. But I do know they play together perfectly well — in fact whenever I serve whipped cream with strawberries, I often flavor that with lemon. Anyway, this is exactly the sort of dessert I like — thanks.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 11:23 amHmmm… I will have to try lemon in my whipped cream, John! Great idea!
Gerlinde
May 8, 2021 at 9:14 amYour cakelets look like the perfect treat for an afternoon tea. Thank you David for all the effort and work you put into your blog and recipes.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 11:24 amThanks, Gerlinde — such a kind comment! Glad you like the cakelets.
Lori
May 8, 2021 at 7:11 pmStrawberry Cakelets look lovely on the Strawberry Thief background!!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 11:25 amI love that people are recognizing the William Morris! It is almost obligatory for me to use this cloth when making strawberry desserts.
gloria Roa Baker
May 8, 2021 at 7:40 pmLove this, so delicious and I love strawberries!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 11:26 amThanks, Gloria – I think I love all berries, especially when they are in season!
Melissa
May 9, 2021 at 7:04 amThese look great. I’ll be they’d be nice with a dollop of lemon curd instead of (or in addition to) the ice cream.
I echo Lori’s comment about your Strawberry Thief tablecloth. William Morris rules!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 11:27 amI will try the lemon curd. I have some homemade in the fridge! And I’m so glad I found the Strawberry Thief fabric. Bought some at Liberty but it wasn’t quite right – neither color nor scale. This is perfect… from a quilting store in Missouri!
Melissa
May 9, 2021 at 3:17 pmAnd I just made some (lemon curd); I discovered a couple of Meyer lemons from a neighbor’s tree hanging out in my fridge and realized I needed to use them up. Now for the cakelets…!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 5:04 pmWhat else were you to do? It would be a crime to waste a Meyer lemon … or two.
Fran @ G'day Souffle'
May 9, 2021 at 7:54 amYour cakes look so nice and plump! I bet they taste good too. It’s great how Zoom has brought so many people together. The first time I heard of Zoom was 13 months ago, and now I use it all the time!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 11:28 amWhile I am tired of zooming for meetings, I do still enjoy them for social activities, especially for people far away.
Jeff the Chef
May 9, 2021 at 8:01 amWell, if you didn’t invent the work cakelet, you did invent this particular use of it. I’m glad you didn’t use “cakelette.” Cakelet is nicer. Cakelet would be that smart and witty girl with whom youd want to be best friends, while Cakelette would be too busy powdering her wig and taking selfies to be bothered with the likes of you. Although cakelette could be a smaller version of the cakelet, in which case asking someone if they would prefer cakelets, or cakelettes, would be so amusing.
I’m envious that you’re finding yourself in strawberry season. That’s got to be a full month off for us northerners. Although I suppose I won’t be envious when in mid summer, a hot day is something we call the mid-80’s, and not 110.
Also, bravo to you for doing what you can to share meals with your friends and family during this past year! I hope that soon, we’ll be back to doing things like that in person!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 9, 2021 at 11:31 amI’m really enjoying getting back to normal a little bit here and there. Just a few in-person meals with vaccinated friends has been so fulfilling and refreshing. That said, it is nice we can still zoom with friends and family far away.
I never once thought about cakelets… but have to say it would make a great stripper or drag queen name.
Yes, when it turns 110°F here, I will be wish I were there with you.
sherry
May 9, 2021 at 11:15 pmoh yes i love that william morris cloth too! so lovely. and i love your cakelets. reminds me of pikelets – you know those small pancakes. the word i mean reminds me… strawberry and lemon – a great combo.
2pots2cook
May 10, 2021 at 12:56 amBe it cakelet or cakelette, powdered with icing sugar, with fresh strawberries and their irresistible flavours, both work great for two of us. Ice cream or curd aside ? Great too ! Thank you so much David and I wish you have a great week ! 🙂
Cathy
May 10, 2021 at 4:10 pmI adore these cakelets and even more, their perfect size and simplicity.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2021 at 2:11 pmThe size is a real bonus, Cathy!
Raymund
May 10, 2021 at 4:47 pmClever name! great recipe. I love small serves like this, which means you can easily make them in small batches and no need to worry to finish the whole thing otherwise it gets stale.
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2021 at 2:12 pmI agree, Raymund — I don’t need Désserts hanging around the house tempting me all the time!
sippitysup
May 10, 2021 at 5:26 pmI’d call this a simplete recipe! GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2021 at 2:12 pmI like that, Greg!
Eha
May 10, 2021 at 8:00 pmSneaking in at the end admiring the beautiful plating and the inspired wording . . . I may not eat but I do admire . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2021 at 2:13 pmAnd it is appreciated, Eha!
Valentina
May 10, 2021 at 9:04 pmCakelet is an excellent word and your use of it is perfect. I love individual-sized desserts. (Forgive the word individual!) I think dessert feels even more special this way. And yay for strawberry season! Everything about this makes me happy. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2021 at 2:14 pmIndividual is fine — really! I just wanted something spiffier for the title, Valentina!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
May 11, 2021 at 5:08 amGoogle is so lame sometimes! But your cakelets are lovely–and a perfect Mother’s Day feature!
Cocoa & Lavender
May 11, 2021 at 2:15 pmThanks, Inger! So often Google is right there with the perfect info… just not this time!
Aarthi
May 12, 2021 at 9:27 amPerfect serving size to me, and that cakelets name sounds cute. So fun to have a zoom dinner, never thought of one. I know its not the best thing, but really a great idea to enjoy your dinner in this situation. Between the flavors of strawberry, lemons and that powdered sugar looks scrumptious!
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2021 at 7:03 amZoom dinners are great – especially with family and friends far away – I recommend giving it a try< Aarthi!
Kelly | Foodtasia
May 13, 2021 at 11:58 amSuch lovely little cakelets and so elegant! Individual servings are so much fun!
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2021 at 7:03 amWe eat with our eyes first, right?
Karen (Back Road Journal)
May 23, 2021 at 1:17 pmYes to cakelets, especially strawberry and lemon ones.
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2021 at 7:03 amThanks, Karen! 🙂
Pauline
July 8, 2021 at 1:20 amStrawberry and lemon are a great combinations, and I love the word cakelet, very clever. It’s also interesting that cream has been used to make a form of buttermilk.I’m sure that could be done more often.
Cocoa & Lavender
July 10, 2021 at 10:11 amThanks, Pauline! My mother taught me that trick more than 40 years ago. If you don’t have buttermilk. Sour cream or light cream with lemon or vinegar. That tip has been a lifesaver!