How to Make a Raindrop Cake Look Like a Work of Art

By now, you’ve probably seen the super-trendy raindrop cakes that are taking the dessert world by storm. If not, you’re in for a treat. The raindrop cake was unveiled at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn, NY just last month, and it has been confusing and tantalizing people ever since. The bizarre thing about the raindrop cake (besides the fact that it’s made to look like a beautifully glistening drop of water) is that it’s not what you would picture a regular cake to be made of at all. While most cakes are made of flour and sugar, the raindrop cake is made of a very special gelatin. Intrigued? Watch the video below to see the raindrop cake for yourself and even learn how to make yours look like a work of art.

What does the raindrop cake taste like? Well…nothing. This calorie-free cake has that jiggly jello texture we all know, but unless you add flavoring there is none.

So, to add a little flavor, the raindrop cake is traditionally served with roasted soybean flour (kinako) and a sugary syrup called kuromitsu.

Curious as to how the raindrop keeps its shape? The trick is in the gelatinous substance called agar, which is made from seaweed. The gelatin allows the refreshing “raindrop” to melt in your mouth, for a light, cooling affect. Matched with the nutty and sweet toppings, this cooling cake has an interesting combination of tastes and textures.

In the video from Cookies, Cupcakes, and Cardio, she shows us three different types of raindrop cakes – some with beautiful designs and fruit inside! We’re going to break down the basic raindrop cake for you below so you’ll have your platform to do whatever you like with your gelatin creation!

Are you adventurous enough to try the raindrop cake? What do you think of the cake of the hour? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

RAINDROP CAKE

INGREDIENTS
– 4 cups water
– 2 cups granulated sugar
– 1 tsp. citric acid
– 1 tsp. clear extract (any flavor)
– 30 g. unflavored gelatin (if you cannot find agar)
– Non-stick spray

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare your gelatin mixture in a separate bowl, stirring the gelatin mixture in with water and letting it sit.
2. While that sits, create your clear mixture on the stove. In a pot, heat up your water but do not let it get to a boil. Add your sugar and wait for all the sugar to dissolve before lowering the heat.
3. Add your gelatin mixture and your clear flavoring. Stir to combine until the gelatin completely melts. Wait for the gelatin to cool down once completely melted, do not work with it right out of the pot.
4. Once cooled, spray any raindrop-shaped bowl with non-stick spray. Pour in your gelatin and let it set to the shape of the bowl.
5. To ease the raindrop out, put the bowl in some water. Let that sit for a few seconds before easing the gelatin orb out of the bowl.
6. Serve with sugar syrup and roasted soybean flour.