Category: Bakery

• 250 grams unsalted butter (softened)
• 250 grams marzipan (softened)
• 150 grams caster sugar
• ¼ teaspoon almond essence
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 large eggs
• 150 grams self-raising flour

METHOD

You will need a 25cm / 10 inch springform tube pan or patterned ring mould, buttered and floured.

1. Preheat oven to 170ºC/150ºC Fan/gas mark 3/325ºF. Chop the butter and marzipan to make them easier to break down, and put them in the bowl of the food processor, fitted with the doublebladed knife, with the sugar. Process until combined and pretty well smooth. Add almond essence and vanilla extract, process again, then break the eggs one at a time through the funnel, processing again each time. Tip the flour down the funnel, processing yet again, and then pour the mixture into the prepared tin, scraping the sides and bottom with a rubber spatula.
2. Bake for 50 minutes, but check from 40. Then, when the cake looks golden and cooked and a cake-tester or fine skewer (or a piece of spaghetti) comes out cleanish, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin before turning out. (This is when you will be feeling grateful if it’s the Springform you’re using.)
3. The fact that you could easily get 12 slices out of this is another reason why it comes in useful when you’ve got people coming for dinner. That it keeps for a good week is another point in its favour; you don’t have to be fiddling around with all the courses just before lift-off. And if you don’t want to eat raspberries with it, like the rosemary cake it’s very good with apples. With this cake, I make a glorious pink apple puree. Either go for apples stewed in blood-orange juice (wonderful around February when the tarocchi are in) which gives a tenderly coral tint, adding a cinnamon stick or 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, or use red-skinned eating apples and don’t peel them before cooking them. In fact, there’s no need to core them either, just chop the apples roughly and put them in a pan with some butter, lemon juice, cinnamon or cloves and, if there’s some around, a slug of Calvados. Sieve the apples when they’re cooked to an utterly yielding pulp, or push them through a food mill. If you want to smarten up the cake-plus-puree deal, then provide a bowl of creme fraiche (with or without Calvados and a little golden icing sugar stirred in) with some toasted flaked almonds on top.
4. I am not someone who enjoys peeling and depithing oranges at great length, but sliced tarocchi, or ordinary oranges, with a syrup made by reducing equal volumes of juice and sugar to an almost-caramel, would partner an orange-zested version of this almond ring (the zest in place of vanilla) exquisitely.

Ingredients

• 3 cups (360g) cake flour
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (240g) plain Greek yogurt, at room temperature*
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1/3 cup (80ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup (230g; 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 cups (325g) mixed berries, fresh or frozen (do not thaw)*

Lemon Glaze

• 1 cup (120g) confectioner’s sugar
• 3 Tablespoons (45ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Generously grease a 10-12 cup bundt pan with butter or nonstick spray.
2. Whisk the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. Whisk the yogurt, lemon zest, and lemon juice together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
4. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. On medium speed, beat in the vanilla extract. On low speed, beat the eggs in 1 at a time allowing each to fully mix in before adding the next. After the 3rd egg is added, be careful not to over-mix. Stop the mixer once all eggs are incorporated.
5. Pour the dry ingredients into the butter/eggs. Pour the yogurt mixture on top. Turn the mixer onto medium speed and beat everything together *just* until combined. Do not over-mix. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the berries. The batter will be a little thick and very creamy.
6. Pour/spoon batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 55-70 minutes. Loosely tent the baking cake with aluminum foil halfway through bake time to ensure the surface does not over-brown. Use a toothpick to test for doneness and begin checking at 55 minutes. Once the toothpick comes out completely clean, the cake is done. This is a large cake so don’t be alarmed if it takes longer in your oven.
7. Remove cake from the oven and allow to cool for 1 hour inside the pan. Then invert the slightly cooled cake onto a wire rack or serving dish. Allow to cool completely before glazing, slicing, and serving.
8. Make the glaze: Whisk the glaze ingredients together. If desired, add more confectioners’ sugar to thicken or more lemon juice to thin out. Drizzle on top of cooled cake. Icing will set after a few hours, making this cake convenient for storing and/or transporting.
9. Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

•  3 cups sliced rhubarb (1/2 inch pieces)
• 2 and 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten with 1 Tablespoon (15ml) milk
• optional: coarse sugar for garnish

1. Make the filling: Stir the rhubarb, strawberries, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, salt, orange juice, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl. Set filling aside as the oven preheats.
2. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
3. Roll out the chilled pie dough: On a floured work surface, roll out one of the discs of chilled dough (keep the other one in the refrigerator). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9×2 inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is smooth. Spoon the filling into the crust, leaving all of the excess liquid in the bowl (you don’t want that in the filling– discard it). Dot the pieces of butter on top of the filling.
4. Arrange the lattice: Remove the other disc of chilled pie dough from the refrigerator. Roll the dough into a circle that is 12 inches diameter. Using a pastry wheel, sharp knife, or pizza cutter, cut strips 1/2 – 1 inch wide. Carefully thread the strips over and under one another, pulling back strips as necessary to weave. Press the edges of the strips into the bottom pie crust edges to seal. Use a small knife to trim off excess dough. Crimp the edges with a fork, if desired. (Alternatively, you can simply cover the filling with the 12-inch pie dough circle. Cut slits in the top to form steam vents. Trim and crimp the edges. Crumble or streusel topping is also an option
5. Lightly brush the top of the pie crust with the egg/milk mixture. Sprinkle the top with a little coarse sugar, if desired.
6. Place the pie onto a large baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Keeping the pie in the oven, turn the temperature down to 350°F (177°C) and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes. After the first 20 minutes of bake time, I place a pie crust shield on top of the pie to prevent the edges from browning too quickly.
7. Allow the pie to cool for 3 full hours at room temperature before serving. This time allows the filling to thicken up. Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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Notes

1. Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: This a great pie to make 1 day in advance since it is so juicy – the filling will have time to set overnight. The pie crust dough can also be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Baked pie freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature before serving. Prepared filling can be frozen up to 3 months, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

• 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups (295 ml) canola or other vegetable oil
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (200 grams) lightly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups (300 grams) grated peeled carrots (5 to 6 medium carrots)
• 1 cup (100 grams) coarsely chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup (65 grams) raisins

Preheat oven 176c (350f) Grease and line 2 9-inch pans.

In a medium bowl whisk flour baking sodaand cinnamon until blended.

In separate bowl whick the oil sugars and vanilla. WHick in eggs one at a time.

Switch to a rubber spatula and stir in the dry ingredients, Stir in carrots, nuts and raisins.

Divide into the 2 pans and bake for 35-45 minutes.

• 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups (140 grams) powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) coarsely chopped pecans

Traditional Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large bowl, beat 16 ounces of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of softened butter together for a minute or two until smooth. Add 4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, 1 1/4 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes until extra creamy. If it is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of cream or milk.

How to Make Carrot Cake Cupcakes: For cupcakes, we’d recommend baking for 14 to 18 minutes (or until a tester inserted into the center of one comes out clean). Then let them cool for a few minutes in the cupcake pan before transferring them to a cooling rack. The recipe should make 22 to 24 cupcakes.