Date Cake With Orange Blossom Syrup Martha Stewart Living Recipes

DATE CAKE WITH ORANGE-BLOSSOM SYRUP

Steps:

• Syrup: In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in orange-blossom water. Let cool.
• Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush bottom and sides of a standard 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with butter; coat with flour, tapping out excess.
• Whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla; beat until just combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk in 2 batches, beating until just combined. Fold in walnuts and dates.
• Transfer batter to pan. Bake until golden brown and a skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven; evenly pierce holes at 1-inch intervals in top of cake (all the way to bottom) with skewer, then pour syrup over cake. Let cool in pan.
• Serving: Serve slices of cake with whipped cream dusted with cinnamon, and orange segments.

EDWARD KOSTYRA'S BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Make the frosting: Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, bring cream to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Pour over chocolate and let sit, undisturbed, for 3 minutes. Gently whisk until combined and smooth. Whisk in the corn syrup.
• Let cool to room temperature, then transfer ganache to refrigerator and chill, stirring frequently and scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula, until slightly stiff and cool enough to spread, about 1 hour. If frosting becomes too firm, briefly place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until desired consistency is reached. Frosting should be smooth and spreadable, but not runny.
• Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans; line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment and dust with flour, tapping out excess; set aside. Into a medium bowl, sift together flours, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and then beat in vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined after each addition.
• Divide the batter between the prepared pans and smooth with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 20 minutes. Invert cakes onto the rack; peel off the parchment. Re-invert cakes and let them cool completely, top sides up.
• Make the orange curd: Combine yolks, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice, and sugar in a heavy-bottom saucepan; whisk to combine. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula (be sure to scrape the sides of the pan), until the mixture is thick, about 8 to 10 minutes. Let mixture come to a vigorous simmer and cook, continually scraping sides of pan, for 2 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Add salt and butter, one piece at a time, stirring until smooth. If desired, strain through a fine sieve into a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the curd to prevent a skin forming. Refrigerate until chilled and very firm, at least 2 hours or up to 1 1/2 weeks.
• Assemble cake: Using a serrated knife, trim the tops of the cakes to make level. Split each layer into two, for a total of four. Place bottom layer on a rotating cake stand and with an offset spatula, carefully top with 1/2 cup of orange curd, leaving a 1-inch border. Place the second cake layer on top, spread with another 3/4 cup of the orange curd. Repeat with the third layer; top with the final cake layer. Insert 3 wooden skewers into the top of the cake to secure.
• For the crumb coat, spread the entire cake with a thin coat of frosting using an offset spatula. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Spread the entire cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered with a cake dome. Let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

DATE CAKE WITH ORANGE-BLOSSOM SYRUP (MARTHA STEWART LIVING)

Steps:

• SYRUP In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stire in orange-blossom water, Let cool. CAKE 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Brush bottom and sides of a standard 9x5 loaf pan with butter; coat with flour, tapping out excess. 2. Whisk together flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 - 4 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla; beat until just combined. Reduce speed to low. add flour mixture in 3 batches., alternating with buttermilk in 2 batches, beating until just combined. Fold in walnuts and dates. 3. Transfer batter to pan. Bake until golden brown and a skewer inserted in center comes out clean (40 - 45 minutes). Remove from oven; evenly pierce holes at 1-inch intervals in top of cake (all the way to bottom) with skewer, then pour syrup over cake. Let cool in pan. 4. Serving: Serve slices of cake with whipped cream dusted with cinnamon and orange segments

ORANGE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch loaf pans. Line bottoms with parchment or waxed paper. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup orange juice, buttermilk, and vanilla; set aside.
• Cream butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed; add eggs, one at a time, combining well between each addition. Add orange zest; combine well. Add flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to batter, beginning and ending with flour. Divide batter evenly between pans, smooth tops, and bake until golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until sugar dissolves. Cool cakes 10 minutes; transfer to a cooling rack over a baking tray. Spoon glaze over cakes; cool completely.
• Whisk together confectioners sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons orange juice in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over the top of one cake, and serve. Wrap other cake in plastic, and store in the refrigerator until needed.

CHOCOLATE-DATE PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Make the chai ice cream, if desired: Combine milk, tea, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger in a medium saucepan. Split vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape seeds into the mixture using the back of a knife, then add pod to mixture and bring to a boil. Cover and let steep at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Prepare an ice bath. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy. While whisking, slowly add a little of the warm milk mixture into the yolk mixture to temper. Continue this process until all of the milk mixture has been added. Pour mixture back into pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. The custard should retain a line drawn across the back of the spoon with your finger. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl set in the ice bath; discard solids. Add cream and stir occasionally until cooled. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's instructions until set but not hard. Transfer soft ice cream to a container and freeze at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-cup Bundt pan and dust with cocoa powder and flour, tapping out excess. In a large glass measuring cup or medium bowl, combine dates, hot water, coffee, and cocoa and let stand 10 minutes. In another medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Using an immersion blender, puree the date mixture until smooth. Add baking soda and stir to combine.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and dark-brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat well to combine (batter will look curdled). Add the flour mixture in two additions, alternating with the date mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat in the chocolate.
• Transfer the batter to prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the glaze: Bring butter, dark-brown sugar, date syrup, salt, and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in cream. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth.
• Transfer cake pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto rack, and let cool 20 minutes (the cake should still be warm). Poke cake all over with a skewer or toothpick. Pour half of the glaze into the bottom of the pan and return cake to pan. Pour remaining glaze over top and allow to soak into cake, about 20 minutes. Invert cake onto plate or cake stand and serve warm or at room temperature with chai ice cream, if desired.

ORANGE-CARDAMOM BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• For the Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush a 10-to-15-cup Bundt pan with butter; dust with flour, tapping out excess. In a small bowl, stir together milk and orange juice. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom to thoroughly combine.
• Beat butter with sugar and orange zest on medium‐high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Reduce speed to medium‐low and beat in flour mixture, alternating with milk mixture, each in two additions. Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top with a spatula.
• Bake until cake is puffed slightly and a wooden skewer inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes (do not turn off oven).
• For the Glaze: Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, cook butter over medium‐high heat until boiling. Remove from heat; carefully add liqueur (mixture will bubble). When bubbles subside, stir in sugar. Return to medium‐low heat and cook, stirring, until sugar has dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Pierce holes in cake with skewer at 1‐inch intervals to bottom of pan. Brush half of glaze evenly over cake; let stand until fully absorbed, about 10 minutes. Invert cake onto a baking sheet. Brush remaining glaze evenly over top and sides.
• Return to oven and bake just until glaze is set and dry, about 5 minutes. Transfer to rack and let cool completely before slicing and serving. Glazed cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE-DATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE STICKY TOFFEE GLAZE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-3-inch round cake pan. Line with parchment, and butter parchment.
• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Meanwhile, combine dates, brandy, coffee, and 2 tablespoons cocoa in a heatproof bowl. Stir in boiling water. Let cool, stirring occasionally. Puree cooled date mixture in a food processor (you should have about 2 1/2 cups). Place 3/4 cup puree in a small bowl, and press plastic wrap directly on surface; reserve. Place remaining puree in a large bowl.
• Whisk flour, salt, cinnamon, and remaining 2 tablespoons cocoa in a bowl.
• Beat butter and dark-brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition (batter will look curdled).
• Stir baking soda into reserved uncovered date puree. On low speed, beat flour mixture into egg mixture in 2 additions, alternating with the date mixture. Beat in chocolate. Transfer batter to prepared pan, and smooth top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen, and invert cake onto rack. Remove parchment, turn cake right side up, and let cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Bring butter, light-brown sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in cream. Add chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in brandy. Let cool until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Assemble the cake: Using a serrated knife, trim rounded top of cake so it is flat. Place cake on stand. Spread remaining 3/4 cup date puree over top of cake. Pour glaze over top, letting some drip down sides. Garnish with halved dates.