Perfect Bee Cake (with Apricots, Sponge Cake, Jello, and Cream)

This delicious Bee Cake is a beautiful and delicious spongy cake, layered with fluffy cream, and homemade soft apricot jello!

It features little bees made using apricots, with chocolate stripes, and sliced almonds for an almond topping to make the bees’ wings!

Don’t let this cake’s intricate design and beauty fool you into thinking it’s too difficult to make. It’s actually incredibly easy and I’ve laid down exactly how to make this cake recipe step by in my post!

It’s party-perfect, incredibly easy to make, a complete attention-grabber! The quick and last-minute, any occasion cake recipe will serve as a beautiful décor on the table as well!

This adorable beehive-themed cake a lot of flavors, and every bite just melts in your mouth! With a fresh flavor and incredible design, I’m sure you’re going to love it.

Want to learn how to make this delicious Bee Cake? Then keep on reading!

What is a Bee Cake?

This Bee Cake is a beautiful and delicious spongy cake, layered with fluffy cream, and homemade soft apricot jello!

It features little bees made using apricots, with chocolate stripes, and sliced almonds for an almond topping to make the bees’ wings!

This delicious cake is the perfect way to celebrate a beehive-themed party or to take for the kids. Not only does it look incredible on the table, but it tastes amazing too! 

You don’t need butter, marzipan, or even baking soda or powder to make this delicious Bee Cake. It has a beautiful cream filling that’s thick like custard but is creamy and tasty.

There are tons of delicious flavors in each bite and I’m sure you’re going to fall in love with this recipe!

What’s the Difference Between This Bee Cake and German Bee Sting Cake?

This Bee Cake is made to celebrate a beehive theme or to take a delicious but cute and adorable cake on the table that kids and adults will love alike!

German Bee Sting Cake, on the other hand, is a cake that originates from Germany. It’s also known as Bienenstich, which is the German word for ‘bee sting’.

It does not look like a bee and is in fact a German dessert that is made from a yeasted dough which is similar to a brioche and is made using instant yeast.

Legend has it that the reason why this cake is named so is that the German baker who invented it was stung by a bee which was attracted to the honey topping this cake is made with.

As you can see, both these cakes have little in common and if you’re looking for a delicious cake that looks like bees and tastes absolutely incredible, then you’re in the right place.

What You Need to Make Bee Cake

Making this delicious and stunning Bee Cake takes only the simplest ingredients ever. Here’s what you need to make it at home:

For Apricot Jello Puree

• Apricots: This is the star of this recipe as this delicious cake is flavored using apricots. I’ve used organic ones for this recipe, but you can use whichever ones you find, but just make sure they’re fresh and taste great.
• Sugar: We’ll be using some sugar to sweeten the apricot jello to the right level.
• Water: You’ll need some water to get the right consistency in the jello and to get the perfect texture.
• Agar-Agar or Gelatine: We’ll be using either agar-agar or some gelatine to thicken up the jello and as a gelling agent to make the jello.

For Sponge Cake

• Eggs: We’ll use eggs at room temperature to make the sponge cake. Eggs add structure to the sponge cake as well as flavor. In fact, eggs alone will give this sponge cake a great flavor without the need for a teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Sugar: This is to sweeten the sponge cake. Sugar is also added to sponge cake to make it soft and moist since sugar and water lock in moisture when they bond together.
• All-purpose flour: We’ll use regular all-purpose flour to give structure to this cake. No need for any cake flour, this sponge cake is the perfect base and it only needs some regular flour!

For Cream Filling

• Cream cheese: This makes up the base of the creaminess and flavor for the pastry cream filling we’ll be using as a layer in this Bee Cake. You’ll need softened cream cheese for the best texture so leave it out on the kitchen counter for a while or in a warm place for a bit.
• Sugar: We’ll be needing some granulated sugar to lightly sweeten the cream filling to perfection!
• Whipping cream: For the perfect consistency, we’ll be using some 40% heavy whipping cream for the filling. It helps to thicken the cream without the need for cornstarch or whole milk.

For Apricot Bee

• Apricots: You’ll need some delicious apricots to make the body of the bee. We’ll slice them in half and have them placed skin side up on a baking sheet to decorate.
• Dark chocolate: To make the stripes on the bee, we’ll be using some dark chocolate that we’ll melt in a Ziploc bag in a cup of hot water or in a bowl in the microwave.
• Almond slivers: We’ll be using some sliced almonds to make the bees’ wings.

How to Make Bee Cake (Step-by-Step)

Making this delicious Bee Cake is easier than you think. Here’s how to make it from scratch step by step:

How to Make Sponge Cake

Start by preheating the oven to 350 F (180 C).

In a bowl, beat or whisk together eggs and sugar for 10 minutes on high or until the mixture is thick and fluffy.

Next sift in the flour, folding it gently from the bottom up just until combined with no dry flour remaining.

Now transfer and even out the batter into a greased baking sheet or rectangle cake pan lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 18 minutes at 350 F (180 C). Remove sponge cake from the oven when it's baked properly through and is light golden brown. Let it cool in the pan completely before adding the cream and jello puree.

How to Make Apricot Jello

Time to make the delicious apricot jello!

While cake sponge is cooling, rinse apricots then dry them with a paper towel.

Split them in half, remove the pits and peel off the skins.

Place apricots into a small saucepan. Add sugar and water.

Next, place it on a stove at medium heat stirring the apricot mixture constantly until sugar dissolves.

As soon as it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let it slowly simmer for 30 minutes stirring it from time to time. This prevents the apricots from settling to the bottom of the saucepan and burning.

Once done, remove from heat and let it cool.

Once it cooled to warm, transfer the apricot puree into the food processor and process it for a minute or until smooth in texture.

Next, combine ¼ cup sugar and 3 tsp. of agar-agar (or gelatine).

Then transfer the apricot puree back into the same saucepan. Stir in agar-agar (or gelatin) and bring it to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for a minute.

Remove from heat and let it cool to warm before pouring it onto the cake. Stir the jello apricot puree once in a while to prevent the outer layer from thickening.

Alternatively, you could place plastic wrap on it with the wrap directly touching the jello to prevent it from forming an outer layer.

How to Make Cream Filling

Let’s make our delicious pastry cream filling! Beat softened cream cheese and sugar together for a couple of minutes on high speed in a bowl.

Next, reduce to medium speed then and add cold heavy whipping cream.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula and then beat the cream on high for a couple more minutes or until thick. Set aside in the fridge till ready to use.

How to Make the Bees

Time to make our delicious and cute bees!

Start by placing the chocolate into a small Ziploc sandwich bag and then place it into a cup with hot water.

Rinse apricots and pat dry with a paper towel. Using a small thin knife cut each apricot in half. Remove pits. Place each apricot with skins up.

Make 2 cuts by inserting a small thin sharp knife into the apricot.

Next, drizzle chocolate over the apricot, and insert two almond slivers (that represent the bees’ wings). Refrigerate bees for 5 minutes for the chocolate to harden.

How to Assemble Bee Cake

Let’s put it all together for a delicious bee cake!

Start by placing cream onto the cooled sponge cake. But make sure to not take the sponge cake out of the baking pan. Spread the cream evenly onto the cake.

Next, pour cooled apricot jello puree on top of the cream and spread it out evenly.

Then cut off excess chocolate around each bee and place them all onto the cake. Refrigerate the cake for a couple of hours before serving.

Your delicious Bee Cake is ready to be served!

How to Store Bee Cake

This delicious Bee Cake is best served after a few hours of chilling in the fridge, but you can store it for up to two days.

The bees will start to get soggy as they’re made of fruit and that’s why it’s not recommended to store it for longer than that.

I also don’t recommend freezing it, though the sponge cake can be frozen on its own for up to 3 months.

Serve with a cup of tea or coffee!

More Summer Cake Recipes

• S’mores Tiramisu Cake Recipe
• Chocolate Meringue Cake Recipe (Piano Version)
• Drunken Cherry Cake Recipe
• Fruit Crepe Cake Recipe
• Healthier Homemade Carrot Cake
• Chocolate Cherry Cake
• Mint Chocolate Cake

Need more cake? Check out the DESSERT category.

Recipe Card

Perfect Bee Cake (with Apricots, Sponge Cake, Jello and Cream)

This Bee Cake is a beautiful and delicious spongy cake, layered with fluffy cream, and homemade soft apricot jello and bees made using fresh apricots.

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Cake

Cuisine: American

Keyword: aprcot bee cake, Bee Cake, fresh apricot cake, super easy cake recipe

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 48 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 33 minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Valya's Taste of Home

Ingredients

Apricot Jello Puree Ingredients

• 2 lbs. – apricots
• ½ cup – organic sugar + ¼ cup
• 2 cups – water
• 3 tsp. - Agar-Agar (or 2 packets of Gelatine)

Sponge Cake Ingredients

• 3 large – eggs
• ½ cup – organic sugar
• ¾ cup – organic flour

Cream Ingredients

• 8 oz. – softened cream cheese
• ½ cup – organic sugar
• 2 cups – 40% Heavy Whipping Cream

Apricot Bee's Ingredients

• 6 – apricots
• 1 oz. – chocolate
• 24 – almond slivers

Instructions

How to Make Sponge Cake

• Start by preheating the oven to 350 F (180 C).
• In a bowl, beat or whisk together eggs and sugar for 10 minutes on high or until the mixture is thick and fluffy.
• Next sift in the flour, folding it gently from the bottom up just until combined with no dry flour remaining.
• Now transfer and even out the batter into a greased baking sheet or rectangle cake pan lined with parchment paper.
• Bake for 18 minutes at 350 F (180 C). Remove sponge cake from the oven when it's baked properly through and is light golden brown. Let it cool in the pan completely before adding the cream and jello puree.

How to Make Apricot Jello

• Time to make the delicious apricot jello!
• While cake sponge is cooling, rinse apricots then dry them with a paper towel.
• Split them in half, remove the pits and peel off the skins.
• Place apricots into a small saucepan. Add sugar and water.
• Next, place it on a stove at medium heat stirring the apricot mixture constantly until sugar dissolves.
• As soon as it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let it slowly simmer for 30 minutes stirring it from time to time. This prevents the apricots from settling to the bottom of the saucepan and burning.
• Once done, remove from heat and let it cool.
• Once it cooled to warm, transfer the apricot puree into the food processor and process it for a minute or until smooth in texture.
• Next, combine ¼ cup sugar and 3 tsp. of agar-agar (or gelatine).
• Then transfer the apricot puree back into the same saucepan. Stir in agar-agar (or gelatin) and bring it to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for a minute.
• Remove from heat and let it cool to warm before pouring it onto the cake. Stir the jello apricot puree once in a while to prevent the outer layer from thickening.
• Alternatively, you could place plastic wrap on it with the wrap directly touching the jello to prevent it from forming an outer layer.

How to Make Cream Filling

• Let’s make our delicious pastry cream filling! Beat softened cream cheese and sugar together for a couple of minutes on high speed in a bowl.
• Next, reduce to medium speed then and add cold heavy whipping cream.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula and then beat the cream on high for a couple more minutes or until thick. Set aside in the fridge till ready to use.

How to Make the Bees

• Time to make our delicious and cute bees!
• Start by placing the chocolate into a small Ziploc sandwich bag and then place it into a cup with hot water.
• Rinse apricots and pat dry with a paper towel. Using a small thin knife cut each apricot in half. Remove pits. Place each apricot with skins up.
• Make 2 cuts by inserting a small thin sharp knife into the apricot.
• Next, drizzle chocolate over the apricot, and insert two almond slivers (that represent the bees’ wings). Refrigerate bees for 5 minutes for the chocolate to harden.

How to Assemble Bee Cake

• Let’s put it all together for a delicious bee cake!
• Start by placing cream onto the cooled sponge cake. But make sure to not take the sponge cake out of the baking pan. Spread the cream evenly onto the cake.
• Next, pour cooled apricot jello puree on top of the cream and spread it out evenly.
• Then cut off excess chocolate around each bee and place them all onto the cake. Refrigerate the cake for a couple of hours before serving.
• Your delicious Bee Cake is ready to be served!

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