Cherry Marzipan Cake Recipes

CHERRY & MARZIPAN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 and butter and line a 20cm round, loose-bottomed deep cake tin. Beat the butter and sugar together with electric beaters or a tabletop mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 250g flour, baking powder, orange zest and juice and beat well till thick, creamy and evenly mixed.
• Toss cherries in the extra 2 tbsp flour and fold into the batter along with grated marzipan and almond essence (if using). Spoon into the prepared tin, level and bake for 1 hr 30 mins, or until well risen and golden. A skewer will come out clean when ready. Leave to cool in tin for 10 mins, then turn onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• Mix the icing sugar with just over 1 tbsp water to make a loose but not-too-runny icing. Scatter the almonds over the top of the cake and position the 12 glace cherries around the edge, using a dot of the icing to fix. Drizzle the icing over the cake and finish with a scattering of orange zest.

CHERRY (MARZIPAN) ALMOND STREUSEL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 inch springform.
• To make the streusel topping: Combine the flour and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the almond paste and butter and use your fingers to combine the mixture until it resembles sandy clumps. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together for several minutes until light and fluffy. Add the almond paste and vanilla extract and beat until combined. Add the egg and beat until combined.
• In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• Using a rubber spatula, stir in half of the buttermilk followed by half of the flour mixture. Fold in the remaining buttermilk followed by the rest of the flour mixture. Be careful not to over-stir.
• Spoon the mixture into the greased springform, smoothing the top. Place the cherries on the top, then sprinkle the streusel topping over it.
• Bake on the middle rack for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake sit in the springform for 10 minutes before removing, then allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, sift powdered sugar over the top. Serve plain, with whipped or ice cream.
• This cake tastes even better the next day.

MARZIPAN-IN-THE-MIDDLE BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Lightly and evenly grease a 25cm bundt tin with soft butter, making sure you get well into any flutes or ridges. Sift 1 tbsp flour over the tin, then tilt and turn the tin until the inside is completely covered with a very thin layer of flour. Tap to gather any excess at the bottom a few times as you go. Once the butter is coated, tap and tip out the excess flour. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• For the marzipan middle, dust the work surface with a little more flour, knead the marzipan briefly, then work in the cherries and orange zest. Roll into a sausage about 3cm thick, then press the ends together to make a ring.
• To make the cake, put the butter, flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, almonds, spices and 1/4 tsp salt in a large bowl. Use an electric whisk to mix until smooth, then fold in the squash, fruit and walnuts.
• Spoon half the batter into the prepared tin, then press the ring of marzipan on top. Cover with the rest of the batter and smooth the top. Bake for 30 mins then - without opening the oven - reduce to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and bake for another 30 mins. The cake will be risen, golden and shrunk away from the sides when it's ready. Cool in the tin for 15 mins, then give the tin a sharp tap on the bottom before turning the cake out onto a cooling rack.
• To make the frosting, beat together half the cream cheese with the icing sugar and butter until evenly blended. When smooth, beat in the remaining cream cheese along with the milk and vanilla to make a thick, but still flowing, frosting - it should have a consistency similar to semi-whipped cream.
• When the cake is cold, spoon over the frosting, letting it drip down the sides. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon, then chill for 10 mins to set the frosting a little. Decorate with whole cherries and walnuts. Keep in the fridge and eat within 5 days.