Mountain Village Layered Red Velvet Tower, Traditional Cold Citrus & Mint Lemonade

This indulgent layered cake features vibrant red sponges paired with a rich cream frosting, creating a centerpiece that is as visually stunning as it is delicious.

Servings 12 persons Difficulty Medium budget_friendly calm_village_day mountain_village baking butter dairy desserts fruit herbs_greens oil_sunflower sweets sunny_summer_vibes 90 minutes

Products used in this recipe

Important Disclaimer: The original video shows large-scale traditional cooking without precise measurements. The quantities below are estimations adapted for a smaller, home-friendly batch and might need adjustment. They are inspired by the video but are not exact conversions. Feel free to adjust ingredients like sugar or ghee to your personal preference.

Ingredients

📌 Ingredients for Mountain Village Layered Red Velvet Tower You Can Make Yourself:

For the Red Velvet Layers:

🥚 8 large eggs
🍯 400 g granulated sugar
🥛 500 ml thick yogurt or kefir
🌻 200 ml sunflower oil
🍞 700 g all-purpose flour
🧂 15 g baking powder
🧂 5 g baking soda
💧 30 g red food coloring powder (or concentrated beet juice powder)
🥣 10 ml vanilla extract

For the Cream Frosting:

🥛 600 ml heavy whipping cream (chilled)
🥛 150 ml sweetened condensed milk
🍯 200 g powdered sugar
🥣 1 extra cake layer (for making red crumbs)

Instructions

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Mountain Village Layered Red Velvet Tower:

1. Prepare the Batter Base: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar together until the mixture is pale and doubled in volume.
2. Incorporate Liquids: Whisk in the thick yogurt (or kefir) and the sunflower oil until the mixture is smooth and well-emulsified.
3. Color and Lift: Sift in the red coloring powder, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk thoroughly until the batter achieves a uniform, deep red hue.
4. Add Flour: Gradually fold in the all-purpose flour in three stages. Mix gently with a whisk or spatula to ensure no lumps remain while keeping the batter aerated.
5. Bake the Layers: Grease several thin round cake pans. Pour a thin layer of batter into each (about 1.5 cm thick). Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 12–15 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Repeat until all batter is used.
6. Make the Frosting: In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Slowly pour in the condensed milk while continuing to whip until stiff peaks are achieved.
7. Assemble the Tower: Place the first cake layer on a serving base (or a vertical spit as shown in the tradition). Spread a generous layer of cream over the top. Repeat the process, stacking the layers until the tower is complete.
8. Final Decoration: Coat the entire exterior of the cake with a thin "crumb coat" of cream. Take one spare cake layer and crumble it into fine red dust. Press these red crumbs all over the sides and top of the cake until it is fully covered in a velvet texture.

Ingredients 2

📌 Ingredients for Traditional Cold Citrus & Mint Lemonade You Can Make Yourself:

🍊 4 large oranges
🍋 4 lemons
🌿 1 large bunch fresh mint
🍯 200 g granulated sugar
💧 2 L cold spring water or filtered water
🥣 Ice for serving

Instructions 2

👩🏻‍🍳 Preparation Steps for Traditional Cold Citrus & Mint Lemonade:

1. Extract the Zest: Thoroughly wash the citrus. Grate the zest of 2 oranges and 2 lemons into a small bowl. Rub the sugar into the zest with your fingers to release the essential oils.
2. Juice the Fruit: Squeeze the juice from all the oranges and lemons. Strain to remove seeds but keep some pulp if desired.
3. Muddle the Mint: Place the mint sprigs into a large glass jar. Pour the sugar-zest mixture over the mint and lightly muddle to bruise the leaves.
4. Infuse and Combine: Pour the fresh citrus juice into the jar. Add 2 liters of cold water and stir vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
5. Chill: Let the lemonade sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Strain the mixture into a clean pitcher or bottles and serve over ice.

Watch the recipe video