Mirror Glaze Cake Recipe
Mirror glaze or mirror glaze cakes, also known as ‘shiny cakes’, are the latest trends in the cake world. These pretty mirror cakes are so impressive and yet so easy to master. This simple and easy recipe with my tips and troubleshooting will show you how to make a mirror glaze perfectly every single time.
Have you seen these mirror glaze cakes recently? Wow! It’s got to be the latest craze in the cake world. Mirror Glaze, aka Shiny Cakes.
There is a Russian confectioner on Instagram that has these cakes, and they blow my mind every single time, especially those galaxy mirror glaze cakes. These have been on my wishlist for a while, and I wanted to make one and share the recipe with you.
What is a mirror glaze?
Mirror glaze is white chocolate and gelatin-based and is often used on entremets. This glaze, when poured over a cake, gives an ultra-shiny appearance like the surface of a mirror. Hence the name mirror glaze. And, although it consists of chocolate, very little of it sticks to the cake, so it does not affect the flavor of the cake much.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Gelatin – This is what helps the mirror glaze stick to the cake. So, yes, a critical element. Use good-quality non-flavored gelatin for the best results.
- Glucose – This helps prevent the mixture from crystallizing. If you can’t find glucose, you can use light corn syrup as well. But you do need one of these two.
- Sugar – Yes, I know condensed milk is sweet, and then again, we have sugar, but this recipe is not about the calories; it’s about achieving that mirror glaze effect.
- Condensed milk – The main ingredient in a mirror glaze is condensed milk, which, when combined with chocolate, water, and gelatin, gives it that reflective, mirror quality. And, because it uses gelatin, the result is a soft glaze, not hard like chocolate. You can use homemade condensed milk, too.
- White Chocolate – We use white so we can play with color and achieve all those different colors, but you can use dark chocolate too! Of course, once you add dark chocolate, there is only one color – brown – so you won’t be able to make the blue, reds, and all those fancy colors.
Mirror glaze cake
- Have all your ingredients ready, so you do not leave anything out.
- Add half the water in a small bowl with gelatin and let it soak for 3 to 5 mins to bloom.
Pro tip – It is important that the gelatin soaks well, or it can give you a very grainy glaze.
- In a heavy-based saucepan, add glucose, sugar, condensed milk, vanilla extract, and remaining water. Stir well and let it come to a boil over low to medium heat.
Pro tip – A heavy-bottomed pan will prevent the condensed milk from scorching at the bottom. If it does, do not scrape it, as it will ruin the taste and texture of the glaze.
- Once all the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a nice, slow boil, take it off the heat. Let it rest for a minute before you add the white chocolate.
Pro tip – The reason we let it cool for a minute is so that the white chocolate does not split as soon as we add it to the boiling mixture. - Next, add the soaked/bloomed gelatin. Let it melt.
Pro tip – The heat in the liquid mixture should be enough to melt the white chocolate and gelatin. If not, use an immersion blender for just a few seconds. - Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or mesh.
Pro tip – We strain to remove any undissolved gelatin or unmelted chocolate. - Color the glaze – Divide the glaze into the number of colors you need for your project. Color the glaze with food gel colors. Let it reach almost room temperature, between 90 and 95°F.
Pro tip – You don’t want the glaze too hot, as it can melt the dessert, but also, not too thick. It should be a pouring consistency. Otherwise, it will not flow down the dessert.
- Pouring the glaze – Place the frozen cake on a cooling rack (wire rack) over a large plate or baking sheet/tray so the excess glaze will drip down on the cake. Pour the glaze in a circular motion, starting with one or two colors based on the desired effect. Use an offset spatula to blend the colors.
Pro tip – If you have air bubbles in the mirror glaze, hold the glaze a bit higher so the bubbles disperse before the glaze drips down to the cake.
What cake is best to use for mirror glaze cakes?
Ideally, you want something that has a smooth finish. If you have a bumpy cake, the glaze will show those bumps and dips. So it’s good to have a smoothly frosted cake for the best results. Also, it’s best on frozen cakes because the gelatin sets as soon as it hits the chilled cake. You can also use mirror glaze on frosted cakes, and cheesecakes. It works best on entremet and cakes with mousse and Bavarian creams. And, yes, you can also use it on layer cakes as long as the outside is smooth. Today, I used a chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate torte insert. Here are a few of my mousse recipes that will work well for the mousse cake with mirror glaze.
- Classic Mango Mouse – vegetarian mango mousse
- Vegan mango coconut cream mousse (vegan, vegetarian)
- Classic strawberry mousse
- Classic chocolate mousse, Eggless, or Vegan chocolate mousse
- Blackberry mousse (eggless)
- Chestnut mousse (eggless)
Frequently asked questions
Mirror glaze has chocolate in it, so ideally, it will set as soon as it hits the frozen cake. You want the glaze to drip completely; clean the edges on the bottom with a clean knife or spatula. Carefully transfer the cake to a cake board or a serving platter. Before the cake sets, it is essential that you do not touch the glaze.
If you use a cake with buttercream frosting, it does not have to be frozen, but it does need to be smooth. The glaze does not cover any blemishes, so any imperfections will show through. A mousse-based cake needs to be frozen before you glaze it. Mousse is usually set in a silicone mold and often has a smooth surface that works well with the glaze.
Glazes made with perishable ingredients like this one with condensed milk should always be refrigerated.
If the glaze is poured over a mousse-based cake, then the mousse is also made of perishable ingredients. Mousse, if left at room temperature, will start to soften. So, yes, it needs to be kept in the fridge and is usually served cold.
On the other hand, if you pour the glaze over a frosted buttercream cake, you can leave it out on the counter for a few hours, and it will be ok.
The only ingredient in the mirror glaze that’s not vegetarian is gelatin, which is usually animal or fish-based. If you substitute the gelatin for vegetarian gelatine or agar-agar, this can be a vegetarian glaze. You can find my recipe for vegetarian mirror glaze here.
Mirror Glaze Recipe
Mirror glaze or mirror glaze cakes, also known as 'shiny cakes,' are the latest trends in the cake world. These pretty mirror cakes are so impressive and yet so easy to master. This simple, easy, and effortless recipe, along with my tips and troubleshooting, will show you how to make mirror glaze perfectly every single time.
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tbsp (20 g) Gelatin
- ½ cup (120 ml) Water
- ¾ cup (180 ml) Glucose or Light Corn Syrup
- ¾ cup (150 g) Sugar
- 7 oz (200 g) Condensed Milk Sweetened
- 7 oz (200 g) White Chocolate
- 1 tsp clear vanilla (or other flavors)
Method
- Have all your ingredients ready so you do not leave out anything
- Add half the water in a small bowl with gelatin and let it soak for 3 to 5 mins to bloom.
- In a heavy-based saucepan, add glucose, sugar, condensed milk, vanilla extract, and remaining water. Let it come to a boil over low to medium heat.
- Once all the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a nice, slow boil, remove it from the heat and let it rest for a minute before you add the white chocolate.
- Next, add the soaked/bloomed gelatin. Let it melt.
- Strain the mixture through a sieve or mesh.
- Divide the glaze into the number of colors you need for your project. Color the glaze with food gel colors. Let it come to almost room temperature between 90 to 95 F.
- Pouring the glaze – Place the frozen cake on a cooling rack over a large plate or baking sheet so the excess will drip down on the cake. Pour the glaze in a circular motion, starting with one or two colors based on the desired effect. Use an offset spatula to blend the colors.
Notes
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- Plan this dessert in advance so you have enough time to do the necessary steps.
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- Make sure the cake is frozen for a few hours so the glaze solidifies as soon as it hits the cold cake.
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- The temperature of the glaze is important. You need the glaze to be a pouring consistency at a temperature between 90 to 95 F.
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- Glazes made with perishable ingredients like this one with condensed milk should always be refrigerated.
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- Plan the colors you are going to use in advance and take note that white chocolate, gelatine, and condensed milk are not white. So, you are starting off with an off-white base. Some colors don’t do well with this base. You may need more.
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- Mirror glaze is not white, so if you need white, you will need to use white gel food color, also called titanium oxide.
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- Once glazed, the cake must be left in the fridge to thaw so the moose is not too cold to cut.
Troubleshooting
- My glaze is too thick, so it won’t pour. You need the mirror glaze to have a pouring consistency at a temperature between 90 and 95 F. Before you attempt to pour, take a ladle and check the consistency. If it’s not pouring, then add a few tablespoons of water. Be careful when adding water, as you cannot make it thicker once you’ve diluted it.
- My glaze is too thin – If you have not boiled the mixture enough when preparing the mirror glaze, it will be too runny and will result in a very thin coverage. Also, if you have not waited long enough after making the glaze, the gelatin will not have gelled. I suggest placing the glaze for 3 to 5 minutes in the fridge or waiting a little longer at room temperature. This will help thicken it up a bit – then try again.
- The glaze does not stick to the cake – It just slips off. Condensation on the cake can cause the glaze to slide off the cake rather than stick to it. If the cake is frozen, wipe off any excess moisture from the cake and try it again. If you live in a place with high humidity, I highly recommend glazing immediately, as soon as the cake is out of the freezer, before it has had time to condense. Additionally, setting the air conditioner to high for those few minutes might also help.
- My cake started to melt as soon as I started to glaze it – The glaze needs to be at room temperature. If you use a hot or warm glaze, it will melt the frozen cake, causing the cake to have a melting effect.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
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Hi,
I was wondering if it was at all possible to reglaze a mirror glaze cake (i.e. pour a second layer of glaze after the original layer has been chilled and set in the refrigerator)?
Thanks – Viv
I’m not sure Viv, I have never tried it. But I don’t see why not. Watch for any condensation from the first one though. IF you have condensation then the second may not skin on. Feel free to ask any more questions if you have. Thanks
After baking my cake, do I jst prepare d glaze and pour it over d cake or do I av 2 buttercream d cake, then pour d glaze over d cake? Thanks
Esther you have to cool your baked cake completely. Cover it with buttercream – nice and smooth. Then chill it for a few hours so it’s really really cold. Then pour your glaze over it. The glaze must be almost room temperature – or it will melt the buttercream.
Hi
Good day… Pls is it after baking ur cake, den pour glaze on it? Or do I need 2 coat it first with buttercream, before pouring d glaze on it?
Esther you have to cool your baked cake completely. Cover it with buttercream – nice and smooth. Then chill it for a few hours so it’s really really cold. Then pour your glaze over it. The glaze must be almost room temperature – or it will melt the buttercream.
Hi, can you use the mIrror glaze on a “baked” cheesecake?
Or is it better to always have a no bake cheesecake for the mirror glaze?
What you need a smooth surface.. because the glaze does not make it smooth.
I made it for my husband’s birthday yayyy. It looks great
Great and accurate recipe. Thanks
Awesome.. ! Happy Birthday to you hubby. Happy you hear it worked well. Thanks for the feedback.
Can I use corn syrup instead of glucose?
Yes you can – same amount
HOLA VEENA!!!! COMO PUEDO REEMPLAZAR LA LECHE CONDENSADA PARA QUE SEA PARVE. .MUCHAS GRACIAS
ESTHER
Hi Ester – Sorry the condensed milk is a main ingredient so I do not think you will have the same effect. You can try making a clear mirror glaze but that would be a different recipe all together Thanks
Hi Veena,
I am looking at different ideas for my daughter’s 8th birthday cake. She wants it to be a pool and I thought the mirror glaze would be a nice effect. Can this glaze be used on a regular shapes cake ( ie not round or square) and frosted with buttercream?
Thank you
Not sure what you mean by regular shaped cake Ashley. This is a glaze and it will cover anything you pour it over. As long as you make sure it’s a smooth surface. It will not smooth things out for you so your cake has ridges and crack.. it will soak in.
Hello: I found your site while researching Mirror Glaze Cakes. Your cakes are just beautiful. On top of that, you are kind enough to provide us all with easy, clearly explained videos and recipes. Thank you!
I have looked online at many recipes for the glaze – and have a question. Here we can purchase both Condensed Milk OR Sweetened Condensed Milk. Some recipes call for Sweetened Condensed, others just say Condensed. Could you please clarify which you use in your recipe?
Thank you again.
HI Pat, Welcome to my blog and thank you for your kind words – I so appreciate it.
I have seen most condensed milk to be sweetened but I do know some people say they find regular condensed milk. That is why it is important to mention or the sweetness can variate with this ingredient. The best way to know is to look at the label. If it has sugar added or the percentage of sugar is high – means it’s sweetened condensed milk. Hope this helps.
Thank you Veena! I appreciate you replying so quickly.
I was talking with my brother some more. He’s working on a mirror cake – and I think our confusion is that when we grew up, our parents had canned EVAPORATED milk in the house. It has no sugar, and is often used in coffee or for cooking. We were mixing up evaporated milk with the condensed milk.
Thank you again for helping us clear it up.
You are welcome Pat. Yes, evaporated milk is different and it’s not as thick as condensed milk so does not work as a substitute. Glad I could help
Hi – I can’t wait to try this for my daughter’s 14th birthday. I am doing mini tiered cakes with fun decorations (regal purple and white). Would you clarify – does this recipe call for just condensed milk (not sweetened) or sweetened condensed milk.
Condensed milk is sweetened condensed milk. The non-sweetened is evaporated milk.
Can a mirror glaze be used on an unfrosted crumb cake successfully? (i.e. no mouse or buttercream layer)
Technically it can be used on any cake but you won’t get that smooth finish you get like other mirror glaze – it will take the texture of what you pour it over. It’s a glaze so it will not be smooth on it’s own. The smooth finish comes from the what’s under – mouse or frosting.