Cake

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Plum Cake

This is a perfect fall dessert. It was wonderful warm and the next day was even better. Adapted from a Smitten Kitchen recipe.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder ()
Large pinch of salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar plus 1 to 2 tablespoon (depending on sweetness of plums)
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
4-5 purple plums – depending on size, halved and pitted
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon or tablespoon ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 350°F. Sift or whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In a larger bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy and light in color. Add the eggs, one at a time and scraping down the bowl, then the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. 

Spoon batter into an ungreased 9-inch springform pan (but if you’re worried, you can always lightly coat it first with butter or a nonstick spray) and smooth the top. Arrange the plums, skin side up, all over the batter, covering it. Sprinkle the top with lemon juice, then cinnamon, then remaining sugar. 

Bake until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into a center part of the cake comes out free of batter (but of course not plum juice), about 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on rack. 

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Blueberry Crumb Cake
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Blueberry Crumb Cake

This was a perfect dessert to a girls night at my house. SO GOOD. My husband had 2 pieces…
From one of my favorite sites Smitten Kitchen.

Topping:
5 tablespoons (40 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup, 2 ounces or 55 grams) unsalted butter, cold is fine
Pinch of salt

Cake:
2 cups minus 1 tablespoon (i.e. 1 3/4 cups + 3 tablespoons or 240 grams) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
4 tablespoons (1/4 cup, 2 ounces or 55 grams) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pint (2 to 2 2/3 cups, 12 to 16 ounces fresh blueberries, clean and dry
1/2 cup milk, whole is ideal, any kind should work
1/2 cup (55 grams) walnuts, chopped medium fine (optional)

Heat oven to 375°F. Butter a 9-inch round baking pan (with at least 2″ sides) and dust it lightly with flour. 

Prepare the topping by mixing the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt, then cutting the butter in with a pastry blender, fork or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt until combined. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar and zest together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Beat in 1/3 of the dry ingredient mixture until just combined, followed by 1/2 the milk; repeat with remaining dry ingredients and milk, finishing with the dry mixture. The batter will be very stiff, but don’t fret. Fold blueberries into cake batter until evenly distributed.

Scoop cake batter into prepared pan and smooth so that it is flat. If using walnuts, scatter them on top. Sprinkle with prepared streusel. Bake in heated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out batter-free. You can let the cake cool complete in the pan on a rack.

Do ahead: Cake keeps covered with plastic or foil at room temperature for three days. If longer, it might be best to keep it in the fridge. It gets more moist each day.

Strawberry Buttermilk Cake
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Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

This cake is moist and lovely for dessert, brunch or tea time, Would be good with blueberries or raspberries. We could not wait for it to cool so ate it warm and it was just addictive. Adapted from theviewfromgreatisland.com

Ingredients

  • 1 and 1/2 cups or 210 grams all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick or 113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup or 225 grams granulated sugar plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs or 2 jumbo eggs
  • 1/4 cup or 60 grams sour cream
  • 1/4 cup or 60 grams buttermilk
  • 14 ounces or 398 grams fresh strawberries hulled and sliced

Instructions

  • Set oven to 350F
  • Lightly spray a 9 or 10 inch spring form pan.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.
  • Cream the soft butter and sugar together in a stand mixer for 3-4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the side of the bowl a couple of times.
  • Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then beat in the vanilla.
  • Stir the sour cream and buttermilk together to blend, and then add the flour to the mixing bowl alternately with the sourcream/milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until combined, but don’t over mix.
  • Fold in the berries and turn into the prepared pan. Smooth out the top. Sprinkle the surface of the cake liberally with granulated sugar.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the cake no longer jiggles in the center and the top is golden and slightly crackled. The exact cooking time will depend on the pan size you use. You can insert a toothpick in the center to test.
  • Let cool briefly, and then unlatch the spring and remove the outer ring. I like to run a spreading knife along the edge first to loosen any parts of the cake that are sticking to the pan. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting

I made this as a frosting on a devils food cake but this would be wonderful on cupcakes. Those kind of cupcakes that are the size of your head and with a huge swirl of frosting. I have never been a huge cake fan and even less of frosting. But, full disclosure, I wanted to sit down with a spoon and eat this right out of the bowl. I had to throw out the left overs so I would not be tempted. My husband ate 2 pieces of this cake and I am convinced it was because of the frosting. From Sallysbakingaddiction.com

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (130g) creamy peanut butter*
  • 3 and 1/2 cups (420g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 cup (45g) unsweetened natural or dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1–2 Tablespoons milk
  • salt, to taste

Directions

With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and peanut butter together on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and 1 Tablespoon milk. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add another Tablespoon or 2 of milk if frosting is too thick. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed. (I always add a pinch!)

Greek Honey Cake
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Greek Honey Cake

I adjusted this recipe for a little less sweetness. It was actually good even without the syrup. It is a bit like baklava without all the fuss. I brought this as a dessert to a greek themed dinner with good friends. Original recipe by CaliforniaJan.

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IMG_3072.jpgINGREDIENTS

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon orange zest
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 cup chopped walnuts

SYRUP

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and orange rind. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the walnuts.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut into diamond shapes. Pour honey syrup over the cake.

For the Honey Syrup: In a saucepan, combine the honey, sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.

Flourless Chocolate Cake
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Flourless Chocolate Cake

This is not just a chocolate cake, it is a CHOCOLATE cake. Deeply, densely and INTENSELY chocolate. I was in a hurry to make this for a party so the photos are not great but I had to share. From Bon Apetit 2006. This is gluten free.  

 

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IMG_2605.jpgINGREDIENTS

Cake
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
9 tablespoons (1 stick plus 1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, diced
18 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 large eggs

 

Ganache
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (optional)

Additions
2 tablespoons Chambord Liquor (optional)
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

PREPARATION

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment round; butter parchment. Wrap 2 layers of heavy-duty foil around outside of pan, bringing foil to top of rim. Combine 1 cup water and sugar in small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Whisk sugar syrup into chocolate; cool slightly. Add eggs to chocolate mixture and whisk until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Place cake pan in large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come halfway up sides of cake pan.

Bake cake until center no longer moves when pan is gently shaken, about 50 minutes. Remove from water bath; transfer to rack. Cool completely in pan.

For ganache:
Bring whipping cream to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Add the peanut butter or liquor if you desire. Pour over top of cake still in pan. Gently shake pan to distribute ganache evenly over top of cake. Refrigerate cake in pan until ganache is set, about 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.

Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake; release sides. Cut cake into wedges.

Lemon Glazed Yogurt Cake
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Lemon Glazed Yogurt Cake

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Everyone has a go-to cake that they pull out for guests, baby showers, when you see that Meyer lemons are available… both of these occurred at the same time this week. I had 2 neighbors that I see when I am out walking and decided it was past time to have them to tea. We had tea at 5 but I am not a stickler for these sort of things. This is simple a wonderful cake. Moist and lemony. This is wonderful without Meyer lemons but if you get a chance try them. A cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange they are just wonderful. This was adapted from a recipe in the “New California Cook” which called for sour cream and lemon extract but I tweaked until I got it the way I wanted.

This can be made 3 days in advance and kept at room temperature, tightly covered. It also freezes well, tightly wrapped for up to 2 months.

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Cake
1 3/4 all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon of lemon zest (I used the zest of 2 lemons)
2 tsps of fresh lemon juice
1 cup plain greek yogurt

Glaze
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp lemon zest

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  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan.
  2. Sift flour, baking soda and baking powder together in a bowl and set aside.
  3. In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs, lemon zest and juice and mix for about 2 more minutes.
  4. Reduce the speed to low and add half the flour mixture and mix until well combined. Add half the yogurt, and then the rest of the flour and then ending with the yogurt.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a plate. Make the glaze while the cake is still warm.
  6. To make the glaze sift the powdered sugar into a bowl. Add the lemon juice and zest, whisking to break up any lumps.
  7. Using a long skewer poke holes in the cake, almost going through the bottom. Brush on the glaze with a brush giving it time to absorb.