Cornmeal Cake With Black Cherry Compote Recipes

ALMOND CORNMEAL CAKE WITH PEACH AND BERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F and butter an 8 1/2- by 4 1/2- by 3-inch loaf pan. Put a 24- by 3 1/2-inch strip of wax paper lengthwise down center of pan (to facilitate unmolding), leaving an overhang on each end.
• Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Finely grind almonds with 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor and stir into cornmeal mixture.
• Beat butter and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until combined well. Beat in eggs 1 at a time until just blended, then beat in vanilla. (Mixture will look curdled.) Add cornmeal mixture and stir and fold until just combined.
• Transfer batter to loaf pan, smoothing top, and bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes. Loosen edges with a knife, then use strips to carefully lift cake from pan onto rack.

CORNMEAL CAKE WITH BLACK CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9 x 5x 2 1/2-inch metal loaf pan. Dust with cornmeal; tap out excess. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into heavy medium saucepan; add bean. Add milk, butter, lemon peel and salt. Bring to simmer, stirring until butter melts. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk in 1 cup cornmeal. Transfer to medium bowl. Mix in honey and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cool to just lukewarm, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Discard vanilla bean. Whisk in yolks.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until foamy. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over whites and beat until medium-soft peaks form. Gently fold whites into cornmeal mixture in 2 additions. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake cake until top cracks and tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack (cake will fall in center). Turn out onto plate. Using sharp serrated knife, cut cake into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Place 1 slice on each plate. Top with Black Cherry Compote.

CORNMEAL WAFFLES WITH APRICOT-CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Whisk together creme fraiche and confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use (up to overnight).
• Whisk together flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla in a small bowl. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir until combined. Add oil and butter; whisk until smooth.
• Heat a waffle iron (preferably Belgian-style). Ladle 1/2 cup batter into each mold. Cook according to manufacturer's instructions until golden brown. Place waffles in a 200-degree oven to keep warm while you make the rest. Serve topped with compote and sweetened creme fraiche.

BLACK CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups water and dried cherries in large saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until water is reduced to 1/4 cup, about 15 minutes. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Stir in dark cherries with juices and remaining ingredients. Simmer until cherries are tender and juices thicken, about 50 minutes. Cool. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Serve at room temperature.)

CORNMEAL CAKE WITH BUTTERMILK ICE CREAM AND RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 9-inch cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Dust pan with cornmeal, tapping out excess. Sift flour, ½ cup cornmeal, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Beat in orange peel. Gradually add 1 cup sugar and beat until light and fluffy, occasionally scraping sides of bowl. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in sour cream and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients in 3 additions until just incorporated. Transfer batter to pan; smooth top. Sprinkle with crushed sugar.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 10 minutes. Run knife around pan sides to loosen. Turn cake out onto plate, then invert, crushed sugar side up, onto rack. Cool completely. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Wrap in foil; let stand at room temperature.
• Cut cake into wedges. Serve with Buttermilk Ice Cream and Rhubarb Compote alongside.