Archive | Cake RSS feed for this section

Chocolate Soufflé Cake

23 Aug

While I love summer’s bounty of stone fruits and berries, all of which make lovely pies and cobblers, I crave chocolate all year round. A reliable chocolate dessert is an item that should be on your repertoire no matter the season. Enter chocolate soufflé cake: a pillowy, simply chocolate delight that can be whipped up with just five ingredients. 

The texture of this dessert really sets it apart from the overly-dense and sticky flourless chocolate cakes I have tried. This one is soft and perfectly moist, the pieces crumbling as you remove a slice and almost melting on your tongue. The secret to this cake is in the technique: the whipped egg whites provide a beautiful lift and airiness. You know your egg whites are stiff when they hold their shape on the beater or they don’t fall when you invert the bowl. Do not fall victim to perfectionism when folding the batter together in the final step; work smoothly and efficiently just until the egg whites and chocolate are combined. Since there are so few components to this recipe, good-quality chocolate is essential. I recommend Scharffen Berger or Cordillera, both of which can be found at Whole Foods. 

Chocolate is a wonderful canvas for other flavors; you can dress this cake up according to your personal preferences. Serve it with a dollop of lightly whipped cream and fresh berries, a scoop of vanilla bean or coffee ice cream, or simply a tall glass of cold milk. 

Recipe courtesy of The Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories 

Ingredients 
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped 
1/4 cup water 
4 egg whites 
1/2 cup granulated sugar 
5 egg yolks 
1/4 tsp salt 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper and grease the sides with butter. 
2. Place the 1/4 cup water and chocolate in a medium bowl and melt the chocolate over a double boiler; set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until they reach the soft peak stage. Slowly stream in 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form; set aside. 
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg yolks, salt, and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar on high speed until the batter forms a ribbon (about 5 minutes). Add the melted chocolate to this yolk mixture and beat on medium speed for an additional minute just to incorporate the two. Fold the egg whites into this mixture in thirds, making sure not to overfold. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 25 minutes. The center of the cake should be moist but not raw. 

Ricotta Cheesecake with Homemade Graham Cracker Crust

27 Jul

Filling courtesy of Ready For Dessert by David Lebovitz, crust courtesy of Miette by Meg Ray


Ingredients 
For the graham cracker crust: 
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
1/3 cup whole wheat flour 
1/2 tsp kosher salt 
Heaping 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 
2 tblsp honey
1 tblsp melted butter 


For the ricotta filling:
1/2 cup golden raisins
3 tblsp Marsala wine or port 
2 lb good-quality ricotta cheese 
2/3 cup granulated sugar 
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 
5 large eggs, at room temperature 
3/4 tsp aniseed or fennel seed 
1 tblsp all-purpose flour 
1 tsp vanilla extract 
Grated zest of 1 orange 


1. To make the graham crackers: sift together both flours, salt, and cinnamon into a medium-sized bowl and set aside. 
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the 2/3 cup butter, brown sugar, and honey and beat until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three additions, beating until just combined after each addition. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling, or for up to two days. 
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Once the dough has cooled, roll it out to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured work surface. Cut out the graham crackers using a 3 1/4-inch round cookie cutter and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, placing each about 1/2 inch apart. Bake the cookies until they are golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. 
4. To make the crust, place 12 of the baked and cooled graham crackers in a food processor and pulse at 5-second intervals until fine crumbs form. Transfer the crumbs to a separate bowl and combine them with the melted butter. Press the crumbs into an even layer in the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake the crust until dark golden brown and firm, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the crust to cool completely. 
5. To make the filling: in a small saucepan, bring the raisins and Marsala or port to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and set aside for about one hour. In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, sugar, and cream until well combined. Stir in the eggs one at a time. 
6. Crush the aniseed or fennel seed in a mortar and pestle or seal them inside a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Add the crushed seeds to the ricotta mixture and stir to combine. Stir in the raisins and any unabsorbed liquid, along with the flour, vanilla, and orange zest. Scrape the mixture into the prepared springform pan and bake the cake until it feels barely firm and the top is golden brown, about one hour. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely. 
7. Run a knife around the sides of the cake to help loosen it from the pan and release the sides of the springform.


          As David Lebovitz describes it in his book, “American cheescake is to Italian cheesecake what slouching around the house in a sweatshirt and jeans is to stepping out on the town in a tailored Armani suit.” Unlike classic New York cheesecake, this Italian rendition uses airy ricotta versus dense cream cheese and sour cream. The filling contains notes of refined flavors such as orange zest, golden raisins, aniseed and a splash of vanilla extract that ties them all together. 
          When I first viewed the recipe, I loved the idea of a leaner, more sophisticated cheesecake but still wanted to maintain one aspect of the traditional American version we know and love: the graham cracker crust. With that in mind, I set off to make some spectacular homemade graham crackers to match the quality of the filling. You can skip this step and substitute store-bought cookies, but I highly encourage you to take the long route as the crust is really what elevates this cake to the next level. And on a related side note, the graham crackers are fabulous on their own: buttery, crisp, and sprinkled with cinnamon. 
          As expected, the final product was a hit with all of my dinner party guests. After a filling summer barbecue, everyone appreciated the lightness and subtle sweetness of the dessert. The only adaptation I might make next time around is to puree the golden raisins after they have been infused with the Marsala wine to achieve a smoother consistency.

One of the Best Cakeries In LA: Sweet Lady Jane

2 Feb
A slice of Sweet Lady Jane’s signature triple berry shortcake. Three layers of airy, moist yellow butter cake separated by fluffy whipped cream and fresh berries.
          If you have not visited Los Angeles’s acclaimed Sweet Lady Jane, you are missing out on an incredible experience. This sunny city hosts a number of wonderful dessert shops, all so different and delicious in their own way that I cannot select one as my absolute favorite. What I can conclude, though, is that Sweet Lady Jane ranks in the top three on my list of best patisseries. 
          This cozy bakery offers a wide array of items from hearty loaves of homemade bread to rustic seasonal fruit pies, but its specialty is by far the cakes. With a variety of decadent flavors such as four-layer German chocolate, coconut with vanilla buttercream, and buttermilk red velvet with cream cheese frosting, choosing which cake to sample presents a considerable feat. It is virtually impossible to go wrong with any option however, as each recipe has been perfected over the 24 year period the bakery has been open. 
          Over the years, as new businesses moved in and out of the desirable retail spaces on Melrose Avenue, Sweet Lady Jane stood its ground. This homey, English cottage-style shop has become an LA staple, a go-to destination both for its magnificent baked goods and its irresistible charm.

Harvest Apple Crumb Cake

30 Nov
Since I began blogging a little over a year ago, I have grown passionate about homemade, delicious food and baked goods made from scratch with fresh, high quality ingredients. Now, I carefully assess everything I eat, paying attention to even the most minute details. Having visited several outstanding restaurants and bakeries throughout my travels, I sometimes find it difficult to compare my at-home creations to those made by experienced professionals. Doing so is especially challenging when my recipes do not turn out as well as expected. But, recognizing one’s failures is equally important as recognizing the successes, especially when it comes to food. With that in mind, I have recently embarked upon replicating some of my favorite items from outside in my own kitchen. Which leads me to this cake.
Moist, flavorful, speckled with soft diced apples, and topped with crunchy pecan crumb topping, this homemade harvest apple coffee cake blows any store-bought version out of the water. On a brisk autumn afternoon, the cake can be optimally enjoyed with a mug of pungent, hot coffee in front of the fireplace. I can identify no better way to celebrate fall’s delicious apples and its mild weather than with this quintessential item. So, for those of you who have been demoralized by recent failed baking ventures, this recipe is for you. Stop what you are doing, take out the measuring cups, get to work, and you will realize that sometimes the best baked goods can come from one’s own kitchen.

Recipe slightly adapted from A Sweet Spoonful

For the cake:

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup regular or low-fat buttermilk
  • 2 cups diced, peeled yellow apple, such as Honeycrisp (about 2-3 large apples)
  • Butter for greasing

For the crumb topping:

  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup pecan pieces

Serves 12-16 slices.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13″ pan with butter. In the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. Add the eggs to the creamed butter one at a time, beating after each addition to incorporate. Add the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour. Fold the apples into the batter, ensuring that they are distributed evenly throughout. Do not overmix. Spread the batter evenly onto the prepared pan.
3. For the crumb topping: In a small bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together with a fork. Pour in the butter and work it in with your hands to form pebbles. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the cake. Bake for 50 minutes. Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature before serving.

Framboise Cake Courtesy of my Garden

23 Oct

Recipe slightly adapted from Smitten Kitchen


Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup framboise
Non-stick baking spray 
Confectioner’s sugar for dusting


Serves 8-10 slices. 


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 10″ pie pan with baking spray. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the egg, milk, and vanilla until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula when necessary. Add the dry mixture gradually, mixing until smooth.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pie plate. Place the framboise on top of the batter and sprinkle them with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake the cake for 10 minutes then reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees and bake for an additional 50 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan. Lightly sprinkle the top of the cake with confectioner’s sugar.


          Since my family and I planted our garden in early May, humble plants have grown into sprawling bushels of fragrant herbs, rows of crisp, vibrant vegetables, and countless colorful flowers. Fresh herbs have become a staple of my mother’s cooking as she completes every dish with a generous herb garnish snipped directly from the garden. We scour magazines and the internet in search of recipes that incorporate our plentiful supply. Stacks of dried herbs fill the pantry, conserved for the imminent winter months when they will no longer be available fresh. 
          One day, while collecting an handful of ingredients for a meal, I could not help but notice a growing green bush dotted with red. The framboise, a dainty red berry tangier in flavor than a strawberry, had been ignored for several months despite my mother’s and my effort to use up everything the garden had to offer. This simple, charming cake ended the framboise long period of neglect. Moist and barely sweet, the cake pairs perfectly with a cup of afternoon tea or coffee. Serve each slice with a dollop of lightly whipped cream and it transforms into an effortless dinner party dessert. The recipe will work beautifully with blueberries, strawberries, or many other seasonal fruits as well. Though the framboise may have been overshadowed by its attention-seeking neighbors, basil and parsley, the delicate berry has made its mark and is here to stay. 

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started