Sandwiches are usually considered a convenient food to carry around and eat with one hand. But so-called cakewiches shatter such a concept, as this approach gives them decorations like cakes to make neatly adorned sandwiches that look elegant and artistic, but can also be rather filling.
Cakewiches were developed three years ago by the Japan Sandwich Association with the aim of promoting the various aspects of sandwiches.
"The sandwich cake known as smorgastarta is a Swedish festive food with seafood on square bread," said food stylist Memi Yuine, who also chairs the association that she established in 2015. "It's just like chirashi-zushi [vinegared rice topped or mixed with seafood and other ingredients] in Japan. We arranged those two traditional foods to come up with our own version."
One of the signature items is a ham and cheese cakewich, which looks just like a fancy cake. Pieces of raw ham are rolled to make rose-shaped decorations on the surface, with greenish baby leaves added to the top. Ham and cheese are sandwiched between the slices of bread, with the shape of a classic sandwich appearing when the cakewich is cut into slices.
"This one may be the most impressive of cakewiches, as it beats people's expectations for being a typical shortcake," said Yuine, who studied cooking and food styling in Britain. A recipe book by her association, which has been released by Parco Publishing, features about 40 cakewiches.
Despite how they look, the food is filling, and the savory cheese and ham pair well with beer or wine.
Making basic cakewiches
Yuine shared the basic steps to making a cakewich.
First, slices of bread can be cut into any shape desired. To make a round cake, for example, use a compass to draw a quarter of a circle on a piece of cooking paper and cut it out. Use this pattern to cut out slices of bread into quarters.
Let unsalted butter stand until it reaches room temperature before whipping to a creamy consistency. Spread this softened butter on the straight edge of each piece and stick them together to form a circle. Spread the butter on the surface, place fillings on top and add another slice of bread. Repeat this process several times to make layers.
To finish, mix cream cheese and milk together. Spread this mixture all over the bread and flatten the surface with a palette knife. Use a pastry bag to decorate the surface with the cream. This mixture can also be made of mashed potatoes or include soy milk so that you can reduce the calorie intake. You can also use sour cream or yogurt to get a different flavor or texture.
Cupcake-like cakewiches are relatively easy to make. Just place a slice of bread in a muffin mold and prepare colorful fillings for an unlimited number of variations. Fillings can be changed with the season.
Cakewiches are perfect sweets as well if you use fruits, jam, chocolate, cream or other such items.
"You don't need sponge cake bases, so it's easy to make," Yuine said.
Unlike Japan, where so-called fruit sandwiches are already popular, cakewiches of this kind can surprise people from Western countries, Yuine said.
"Cakewiches are good for parties. It's easier to make them compared to regular cakes, which use raw cream," she said. "So I recommend those who have never made sweets to try making cakewiches."
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