Olive Oil Cake With Roasted Grapes Chocolate Ganache Recipes

GRAPE OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat until shimmering. Carefully pour in 2 cups of the grapes, being mindful that the oil may pop or splash. Add the thyme. Sprinkle the grapes with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon fine salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the grapes soften and the sugar dissolves into a thin syrup, 6 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool the syrup in the skillet. Once cooled, remove and discard the thyme. The syrup will thicken as it cools.
• Meanwhile, make the cake batter. Combine the cake flour, baking powder and the remaining teaspoon fine salt in a medium bowl. Add the granulated sugar, eggs and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar into a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat the egg mixture on medium speed until thickened and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add the almond extract. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly pour in the remaining 3/4 cup olive oil. Continue mixing until the olive oil is emulsified into the batter. Turn off the mixer and add half of the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until the ingredients are incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed, then pour in the milk. Turn off the mixer and add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until the batter comes together, scraping down the bowl as needed.
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Stud the top of the cake with the remaining 1 cup grapes. Bake until the cake is golden brown and pulling away from the side of the pan, about 1 hour 40 minutes. The surface of the cake should look dry and slightly cracked.
• Allow the cake to cool completely before removing from the pan. When ready to serve, garnish each slice of cake generously with the grape syrup.

OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan. In a large bowl, beat eggs on high speed 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually beat in oil. Beat in ground almonds, milk, orange zest and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; fold into egg mixture. Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. For icing, in a small bowl, whisk confectioners' sugar and enough orange juice to reach a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cake. If desired, sprinkle with almonds.

OLIVE OIL CAKE WITH ROASTED GRAPES & CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Roast the grapes: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 325. Place grapes on baking sheet and toss with olive oil. Roast until soft and shriveled, about 1 hour. Let cool completely.
• Make the cake: Grease 9 inch springform cake pan with oil or butter. Increase oven temperature to 350. In a small bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until lightened in color, about 3 minutes. Whisk in orange zest, followed by olive oil and orange juice. Add dry ingredients to the bowl and whisk until no clumps are left. Stir in roasted grapes.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top, tapping pan to make sure grapes are evenly distributed. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. If top is starting to get too brown, cover with foil and continue baking.
• Let cake cool for 15 minutes then release from springform pan to continue to cool. Meanwhile, make the ganache.
• Make the ganache: Place cream, sugar, and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When cream comes to a boil, take off heat and add in chocolate, stirring until chocolate is completely dissolved and mixture is smooth.
• Place cooled cake on a cake rack set over a baking sheet or other large dish. Pour glaze over the cake (there will be overflow) and smooth over top and sides using an offset spatula. Transfer cake to refrigerator and chill until glaze is set, about 20 minutes. Keep cake in refrigerator, loosely covered with plastic wrap, if not eating right away.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE WITH SEA SALT, OLIVE OIL & TOASTS

Steps:

• Heat the cream in a heavy-bottomed pan until it is warm but not boiling (you don't want to overheat the chocolate, so be careful not to overdo it). Take the pan off the heat, then add the chocolate to the pan with the cream and leave to melt for a while, then beat with a wooden spoon. At first it looks like it won't go smooth, but it will. Leave to cool and set. You can also chill it, but take it out of the fridge before serving so that it isn't too firm or 'fridge cold'.
• Cut the bread into fine slices and toast on each side (the best way is under the grill, but watch it like a hawk). Serve the ganache in glasses in small scoops. Drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Brush the toast with more olive oil and serve with the ganache.

FLOURLESS OLIVE OIL CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Coat bottom of a 9-in. springform pan with cooking spray. Top with a sheet of parchment paper; secure springform ring on top and lock in place., In top of a double boiler or a metal bowl over simmering water, stir chocolate and oil until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and espresso powder. Set aside. , Beat eggs and 1/2 cup sugar on high speed until eggs are pale; set aside. Beat remaining 1/2 cup sugar into chocolate mixture. Add egg mixture and beat until combined (batter will be thick). Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until puffed and set, 25-30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar; serve with toppings as desired

CHOCOLATE OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch round pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring tea or other liquid to a simmer, then turn off heat. Whisk in cocoa, cinnamon and salt until smooth, then set aside to cool.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sugar, olive oil, eggs and vanilla. Beat for about 3 minutes. Reduce speed and pour in cocoa mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Gradually beat in flour and baking soda until just incorporated.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until the sides are set but it's still slightly damp in the center, 35 to 45 minutes. A cake tester should come up clean but with a few sticky chocolate crumbs clinging to it. Transfer cake pan to a wire rack and let cake cool completely in pan.