Chinese New Year Coconut & Pineapple Genoise

Chinese New Year food is rich in symbolism, with each dish chosen to represent prosperity, luck, longevity, and family unity.
Among the most essential dishes are:

• Dumplings — Their shape resembles ancient Chinese silver ingots, and eating them is believed to attract wealth.
• Spring Rolls — Golden, crispy, and shaped like gold bars, they symbolize prosperity.
• Whole Chicken — Represents family unity, togetherness, and abundance.
• Tangerines — Served as dessert, they bring good luck, fortune, and happiness.

To complete your celebration, here’s a light and festive Genoise Cake with Coconut–Pineapple Cream, a tropical dessert that adds a final “wow” to any banquet table.


Genoise Cake

Ingredients

• 4 eggs, at room temperature
• 125 g caster sugar
• 30 g melted butter
• 125 g all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (fan on).
2. Butter and flour an 8-inch (20 cm) cake pan.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave and set aside to cool.
4. In a stand mixer bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar on low speed, then increase to maximum for 10 minutes, until the mixture triples in volume.
5. Sift together the flour and baking powder over the egg mixture. Using a spatula, fold gently to combine without deflating the batter.
6. Fold in the melted butter until just incorporated.
7. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden and springy to the touch.
8. Unmold and cool completely before slicing in half horizontally.

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Coconut–Pineapple Cream

Ingredients

• 250 g crushed pineapple (with juice)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup shredded coconut

Preparation

1. In a small pan, combine pineapple, juice, lemon juice, and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
2. Add the cornstarch while stirring vigorously until the mixture thickens.
3. Remove from the heat, cool completely, then stir in the shredded coconut.

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Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 225 g full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 55 g butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups icing sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy.
2. Add the icing sugar, vanilla, and salt, then mix until creamy.

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Buttercream

Ingredients

• 225 g butter, at room temperature
• 420 g icing sugar
• 3 tablespoons light cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

1. In a stand mixer, beat the butter for about 5 minutes, until pale and airy.
2. Add half the icing sugar and mix until incorporated, then add the rest.
3. Add the vanilla and enough cream to reach your preferred consistency.
4. Optionally, tint with gel food coloring, adding a few drops at a time.

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Assembling the Cake

Decorate as desired using a piping bag — festive colors or gold accents work beautifully for Lunar New Year celebrations.

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting over the bottom half of the cooled cake.

Pipe a ring of frosting around the edge to create a “wall.”

Fill the center with the coconut–pineapple cream and spread evenly.

Place the top layer over the filling, then frost the entire cake with buttercream.