Santa Claus Dome Cakes Recipe

If you’re on the lookout for a festive dessert that’s as delightful to make as it is to eat, you’re going to adore this Santa Claus Dome Cakes Recipe. These charming little dome cakes are the perfect holiday treat – smooth vanilla mousse and juicy strawberries encased in a crunchy sable cookie base, topped with a shiny red mirror glaze that looks just like Santa’s hat! I absolutely love how this recipe blends texture and flavor, plus making them feels like creating tiny edible works of art.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients list for this Santa Claus Dome Cakes Recipe includes everything you need for a luscious vanilla mousse, a tender sable cookie base, and a dazzling red mirror glaze. You’ll want to pay attention to sourcing good quality vanilla and fresh strawberries, as they really bring the flavor up a notch.

• Heavy cream: Make sure it’s cold for the perfect whipped texture in your mousse.
• Whole milk: Warmed to infuse the vanilla flavors beautifully.
• Vanilla bean or pure vanilla extract: I love the depth of flavor fresh vanilla bean provides, but high-quality extract works great too.
• Egg yolks: These give richness and body to the mousse custard base.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens and balances the custard.
• Powdered gelatin: Essential for setting the mousse and the glaze perfectly.
• Fresh strawberries: Small, sweet berries work best placed inside the mousse for that juiciness surprise.
• Unsalted butter: Room temperature for easy creaming in the sable base.
• Powdered sugar: Provides that delicate sweetness in the cookie dough.
• Egg yolk (for cookie dough): Binds the sable dough beautifully.
• All-purpose flour: For the sable cookie’s tender crumb.
• Salt: A pinch to enhance all the flavors.
• Vanilla extract (for cookie dough): Adds a nice aromatic touch.
• Sugar, glucose syrup, and water: These combine into the perfect syrup base for the mirror glaze.
• Sweetened condensed milk: Gives the mirror glaze its luscious, silky texture.
• White chocolate: Finely chopped for melting into the glaze and reserved for decorations.
• Red gel food coloring: For that classic Santa red shine on the glaze.

Variations

One of the things I love about this Santa Claus Dome Cakes Recipe is how easy it is to make your own. Don’t hesitate to swap out flavors or decorations to better suit your taste – this dessert is a blank canvas for your creativity.

• Berry Swaps: I once tried swapping strawberries for raspberries in the center, and the slightly tart pop was delightful.
• Dairy-Free Version: Using coconut cream instead of heavy cream works well, just be sure to adjust whipping times.
• Chocolate Lovers’ Twist: Add a layer of dark chocolate ganache between the cookie base and the mousse for extra indulgence.
• Festive Decorations: Try a sprinkle of edible gold dust or use white chocolate to pipe snowflake designs on the domes.

How to Make Santa Claus Dome Cakes Recipe

Step 1: Bloom the Gelatin and Infuse Your Vanilla

Start by blooming your gelatin for the mousse in cold water—this step is crucial for that perfect set later on. While it’s blooming, gently heat your whole milk with the vanilla (bean or extract). Warm it just until it’s steaming but not boiling to coax out those fragrant vanilla notes.

Step 2: Whisk Egg Yolks and Cook the Custard Base

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until pale and slightly thickened – patience here really pays off. Then slowly add the warm milk to your egg mixture, whisking constantly to avoid scrambled eggs. Pour it back into the saucepan and cook over low heat; keep stirring gently until the mixture thickens slightly around 82°C (180°F). This step takes practice, but watching it thicken is incredibly satisfying.

Step 3: Add Gelatin and Prepare the Mousse

Remove the custard from heat and stir in your bloomed gelatin until fully dissolved—this ensures your mousse sets beautifully without any wobble issues. Let this cool to room temperature while you whip your chilled heavy cream to soft peaks. Then gently fold the cream into the custard base, taking your time for a smooth, airy mousse that holds up well.

Step 4: Assemble the Mousse Domes with Strawberries

Spoon a layer of mousse into your silicone dome molds, place a whole strawberry in the center, then cover with more mousse until filled. Smooth the tops for an even surface. Once done, pop the molds in the freezer overnight – this is key for an easy, clean unmolding later.

Step 5: Make the Sablé Cookie Bases

Cream together your room temperature butter and powdered sugar until fluffy, then mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Add the flour and salt, mixing just until a dough forms. Roll it between parchment sheets to about 4 mm thick, then chill for 30 minutes to make cutting easier.

Use a round cutter slightly larger than your dome molds to cut the cookie bases. Bake at 170°C (340°F) for 12–14 minutes until just golden—don’t overbake or they’ll lose that tender sable texture. Let them cool completely.

Step 6: Prepare the Red Mirror Glaze

Just like with the mousse, bloom your gelatin for the glaze in cold water. In a small saucepan, boil sugar, glucose syrup, and water until it reaches 103°C (217°F). Remove from heat immediately and stir in the sweetened condensed milk and gelatin until everything dissolves nicely.

Pour this hot mixture over chopped white chocolate and let sit for a minute to melt. Then blitz it smooth with an immersion blender and add red gel food coloring until you get that perfect, festive Santa hat red. Let cool to 32–35°C (90–95°F) before glazing the frozen mousse domes.

Step 7: Glaze Your Frozen Domes and Decorate

Remove the mousse domes from their molds and place them on a wire rack over a tray to catch excess glaze. Pour the cooled glaze over each dome, letting it drip down for a perfect glossy finish. Once glazed, transfer to your sable cookie bases and let everything set in the fridge.

For the finishing touch, I melt the remaining white chocolate and pipe tiny rings and little balls that resemble the fluffy trim and pom-pom on Santa’s hat. It’s a simple decoration but adds so much charm!

How to Serve Santa Claus Dome Cakes Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep the garnishes simple so the cake shines, but a light dusting of powdered sugar around the plate adds a snowy touch. Sometimes I add a small sprig of mint for color contrast or a few edible silver pearls to bring out the festive sparkle.

Side Dishes

Pair these dome cakes with a warm cup of spiced mulled wine or a rich hot chocolate to make dessert feel extra cozy and festive. A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side also complements the mousse’s vanilla notes beautifully.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I’ve served these domes atop mini gingerbread “snowy” plates or inside clear glass cloches with a dusting of edible glitter to resemble snow. It’s a simple touch but guests always love the whimsical presentation!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I find it best to keep any leftovers covered in the fridge on a flat tray or shallow box to preserve the glaze and mousse texture. They stay fresh for 2-3 days, although they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

Because the dome cakes are frozen initially, you can pop any extras back into the freezer wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container. They’ll keep well for up to 1 month, making this dessert great for holiday prepping ahead of time.

Reheating

When you’re ready to serve frozen dome cakes, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. Avoid room temperature thawing to keep the mousse smooth and prevent any glaze condensation. No reheating needed – they’re best enjoyed chilled and glossy!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Santa Claus Dome Cakes Recipe truly holds a special place in my heart as a festive showstopper that’s surprisingly approachable. From my first attempt — which was a little messy but totally worth it — to perfecting each step, it’s become my go-to when I want to impress without stress. I hope you’ll enjoy making and sharing these delicate, joyful cakes as much as I do. Give them a try this season and watch your guests’ faces light up with every glossy, strawberry-filled bite!

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