Tuscan Cake With Citrus Compote Recipes

ALMOND CITRUS OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil an 8-inch-diameter cake pan. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, eggs, and zests in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the milk. Gradually beat in the oil. Add the flour mixture and stir just until blended. Stir in the almonds. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Place cake pan on baking pan to collect any possible spills. Bake until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool for 15 minutes. Remove cake and place on serving platter, top side up. Sift powdered sugar over the cake.
• To make the citrus compote: Stir the orange peel, blossom water, and 2 tablespoons of accumulated juices from the segmented fruit in a small bowl to blend. Arrange the orange and grapefruit segments decoratively in a wide shallow bowl. Pour the blossom water mixture over. Cover and let stand 15 minutes for the flavors to blend.
• Cut the cake into wedges and spoon the citrus compote alongside.

GRILLED ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the Citrus Compote: Zest 1 grapefruit and set aside for the Grapefruit Whipped Cream. Cut off the top and bottom of an orange and place it on the counter flat side down. Cut the outer peel and pith off. Cut into chunks, removing as much pith as possible. Repeat with the remaining citrus fruits (including the zested grapefruit). Add the citrus chunks to a medium saucepot with 1/2 cup of water, the sugar and a handful of mint. Bring to low boil over medium heat and cook, occasionally stir gently making sure not to break up the fruit too much, until slightly syrupy and the sugar is dissolved, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, discard the mint and reserve, it will thicken slightly as it cools.
• For the Grapefruit Whipped Cream: Add the cream and zest to a stand mixer with a whisk attachment or a bowl with a hand mixer and whip on medium-high speed until peaks are medium-stiff. Refrigerate.
• For the Angel Food Cake: Preheat your outdoor grill to medium heat. Slice the angel food cake in half along the equator. Place each half on the grill and toast on both sides until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side.
• Place the bottom of the grilled angel food cake on a platter and spoon about half of the whipped cream over top. Use a slotted spoon to spoon some of the citrus compote over the whipped cream (don't use too much syrup or the whipped cream will be too runny). Place the top half of the cake on top (like a whipped cream sandwich). Spoon the other half of the whipped cream over top and spoon more of the citrus compote on. Garnish with mint leaves. Slice and serve like a layer cake.

CITRUS-RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Stir together cookie crumbs, melted butter, and 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and up 1 inch on sides of an 8-inch square or 9-inch round springform pan; set aside.
• Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl. Let stand 7 minutes to soften. Stir until gelatin is dissolved; set aside. Beat cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form; set aside.
• Put egg yolks and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl. Scrape in vanilla seeds; whisk until mixture is pale and thick, about 2 minutes. Add ricotta, zests, lemon juice, salt, and gelatin mixture; gently stir until smooth. Set aside.
• Beat egg whites in a clean mixing bowl until they hold stiff peaks. Gently fold whipped cream and then whites with a rubber spatula into ricotta mixture.
• Pour filling over crust. Refrigerate, uncovered, 3 hours or overnight. Before unmolding, run a knife around edge of cake. Serve with citrus-vanilla compote.

FRESH CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• For Syrup:
• Bring all ingredients to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Boil until liquid is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 25 minutes. Using small sharp knife, scrape vanilla seeds into syrup; return bean to syrup. Cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)
• For Fruit:
• Cut peel and white pith off oranges and grapefruit. Using small sharp knife, cut between membranes of oranges and grapefruit to release segments. Cut each kiwi into 8 wedges. Cut pineapple into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Drain fruit. Place in bowl. Discard vanilla bean and star anise from syrup. Pour syrup over fruit and stir to combine. Serve over frozen vanilla yogurt or ice cream.