Baby Chick Cakes
1 egg yolk
1 cup cake flour *
1/2 cup condensed milk
melted chocolate
filling (see below recipe)
food color (optional)
Preheat oven to 350F (170C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or other non-stick liner. Mix egg yolk with condensed milk. If using food coloring, mix 2-3 drops in now. Sift then stir in cake flour. Let sit in refrigerator about 30 minutes. Prepare the filling, shaping into balls. Using floured hands, roll the dough into a log on a floured surface and cut into 8 equal pieces. Roll each dough piece then flatten into a disc. Place a filling portion in the middle of the dough then wrap the dough around it and pinch to close. Re-roll into balls and put back in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes. Working with one or two at a time, gently model into chick shapes. Pinch small beak point last. If dough becomes too soft while working with it, put it back into the refrigerator to firm up. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Once cool, melt chocolate and use a toothpick or brush to paint on eyes and wing marks.
* I found the amount of cake flour to be too little. It yielded a too-soft, sticky dough that lost its shape quickly in the oven. I'd suggest starting with 1-1/4 cups then feel free to add in more until the dough is no longer sticky.
Filling for Baby Chick Cakes
almond paste, grated - about 1/4 of a 7-oz tube
dried, shredded coconut - roughly equal amount as the almond paste
cocoa powder
naga powder
cayenne powder
almond milk
Combine all ingredients except the almond milk, then add just enough almond milk to allow the mix to hold together when shaped into balls. Refrigerate to firm up.
A traditional Asian pastry filling is sweet red bean paste, which is made from Azuki beans. It may be used as-is or mixed with cocoa powder, hot pepper powder, or other mix of your choice. The bean paste for pastries is typically the "smooth" variety. It is somewhat dough-like in consistency, which allows for easy shaping. You can use alternate fillings, such as what I used, or even make another batch of dough and mix in cocoa powder or other flavoring of your choice.
Here's the filling: