Easter Recipe: Nid de Pâques (Nest cake)

Whether or not you celebrate Easter, take a look at this recipe! 

Ever noticed how Easter menus change depending on where you are?
In France, traditionally it’s all about l’agneau pascal: roasted spring lamb,  shared with family around a big table. Meanwhile, here in the U.S., Easter dinner usually offers a glazed ham. 

But there’s one thing for sure in both countries, it will come with a side of candies and chocolate.  

Nid de Pâques recipe

Whether you prefer a rich chocolate base, a light sponge, or a combination of both, the choice is yours. The frosting can be adapted too, from a creamy ganache to a lighter buttercream, and the decoration can be as simple or elaborate as you like, a fun and personalizable centerpiece for any Easter celebration. 

Cake option 

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  
• 4 large eggs
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  
• 2 tsp baking powder
  
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (optional, for chocolate version)
  

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
   
2. Grease the ring cake pan 
   
3. Whisk butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy 
   
4. Add eggs, one at a time, while beating well then stir in the vanilla extract
   
5. Add the flour, baking powder (and cocoa powder) and mix it together well, avoiding lumps 
   
6. Pour the batter in a greased ring cake pan and smooth the top with spatula
   
7. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
   
8. Let it cool before next steps 
   

Frosting option 

• About 9 oz chopped chocolate (dark or milk, based on preference) 
  
• ¾ cup heavy cream 
  
• ½ cup unsalted butter (~ 1 stick) 
  

1. Heat chocolate in a bain-marie (or microwave). Make it melt slowly without burning. Take off the heat. 
   
2. Add the heavy cream while stirring and blend well together 
   
3. Add butter by little pieces and stir until fully incorporated 
   
4. It should have a thick consistency allowing you to spread it on top of the cake 
   

Assembly 

You can either keep your cake as it is and decorate it on top by adding the frosting and the decorations;

or slice it in two and add frosting in the middle of the two halves, even add little surprises inside and decorate. As you wish! 

You can refrigerate the whole cake for a few minutes to help it set before cutting into it. 

Ideas for decoration: 

• Mini easter eggs
  
• Candies 
  
• Edible flowers
  
• Edible gold 
  
• Shredded Coconut  
  
• Flaked almonds 
  
• …