Il Cucinologo
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Torta Tsunami

17/11/2023

The Torta Tsunami, also known as Liquid Tiramisu Cake or Dripping Tiramisu, has become famous on social media for its surprising visual effect, where the cream seems to “flood” the cake when it is cut. Traditional preparation may vary, but I will bring it onto Italian ground with a touch that evokes the classic Tiramisu.

Ingredients

For the Sponge Cake:

  • 4 eggs (medium)
  • 120 g sugar
  • 120 g 00 flour
  • A pinch of salt
  • ½ sachet of baking powder

For the mascarpone cream:

  • 500 g mascarpone
  • 100 g powdered sugar
  • 3 eggs (with yolks and whites separated)
  • A pinch of salt
  • Cold espresso coffee (as needed to soak the sponge cake)
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder (for dusting)

For the fluid topping:

  • 200 g fresh liquid cream
  • 100 g dark chocolate

Preparation

Sponge Cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Beat the eggs with the sugar until you obtain a light and frothy mixture.
  3. Add the sifted flour, salt and baking powder, mixing gently from the bottom up so as not to deflate the mixture.
  4. Pour the batter into a buttered and floured cake pan and bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool.

Mascarpone cream:

  1. Work the egg yolks with the powdered sugar.
  2. Add the mascarpone to the yolk and sugar mixture and stir until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous cream.
  3. Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks with a pinch of salt, then gently fold them into the mascarpone cream.

Assembly:

  1. Cut the sponge cake in half horizontally.
  2. Soak the base with cold espresso coffee.
  3. Spread a portion of the mascarpone cream evenly.
  4. Place the other half of the sponge cake on top and soak it with coffee as well.
  5. Spread the remaining mascarpone cream over the surface.

Fluid topping:

  1. Heat the cream without bringing it to a boil.
  2. Add the chopped dark chocolate and stir until it melts completely, creating a ganache.
  3. Pour the still fluid ganache over the cake just before serving, creating the tsunami effect.

Dust the Torta Tsunami with unsweetened cocoa powder to complete the homage to Tiramisu. Remember to serve the cake immediately after pouring the ganache to fully enjoy the dripping effect.

Trivia

The Torta Tsunami is also known as a “Pull Me Up” cake. The tsunami effect is traditionally achieved by using a clear acetate ring around the cake, which is then pulled up to create the ganache waterfall. In our case we have simplified the process, focusing on the mascarpone cream that recalls Tiramisu.