Yogurt Sponge Cake With Fall Berry Compote Recipes

LEMON CAKE WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the lemon cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the lemon zest and vanilla.
• Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with two additions of milk and lemon juice and beating until just combined after each. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans on a rack for 5 to 10 minutes, then remove the cake layers from the pans and wrap in plastic wrap to cool completely.
• For the blueberry compote: Meanwhile, bring 1 cup of the blueberries and the sugar, lemon juice and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the berries burst and the liquid thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup blueberries and let cool.
• For the buttercream: Wipe the bowl of a stand mixer with a paper towel dampened with lemon juice, to remove any trace of grease.
• Add the egg whites and sugar to the bowl, and cook over a pot of simmering water, whisking constantly but gently, until hot and the sugar has dissolved. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and begin to whip until the meringue is thick and glossy, and the bottom of the bowl feels room-temperature to the touch, about 10 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment and, with the mixer on low speed, add the butter cubes 1 at a time until incorporated; then mix until silky smooth. Add the vanilla and salt, continuing to beat on low speed until well combined. Slowly add up to 1/2 cup blueberry compote, mixing until the desired texture is reached.
• To assemble: Top a cake layer with blueberry compote, then top with the remaining cake layer. Frost all over with the buttercream. Serve immediately, or refrigerate and bring the cake back to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

FALL BERRY CONSERVE

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, sugar, and port in a large heavy saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium low; add chopped orange and chopped ginger and simmer until cranberries burst and mixture thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Mix in dried cherries and blueberries. Cool fall berry conserve completely. Stir in pecans and candied ginger. Can be prepared 3 to 5 days in advance and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator.

VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and cream well. Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt and continue to mix well, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula occasionally. Fold in the sifted flour and pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch in the center, about 25 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack. Unmold and, using a serrated knife, slice the cake in half horizontally into 2 layers.
• To make Victoria Sponge Sandwiches: Dust your rolling pin and work surface with confectioners' sugar, and roll the marzipan into a disk the size of the cake. Using a knife, trim the marzipan to fit the circumference of the cake exactly. Spread the cut-sides of the cake layers with raspberry jam and sandwich the marzipan layer in between the jam-dressed cake layers. Press all the layers together; then cut into wedges, to serve. Dust the wedges liberally with confectioners' sugar.

SPONGE CAKE (PAN DI SPAGNA)

Steps:

• Butter and line with parchment paper a 9-or 10-inch round cake pan that is 2 inches deep.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the yolks with the vanilla. Whisk in half the sugar and continue to beat until very light and frothy, about 5 minutes, either by hand, with a hand mixer set at medium speed, or in a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the whip.
• Combine the flour and cornstarch and sift once to aerate.
• In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until they hold a very soft peak, either by hand, with a hand mixer set at medium speed, or in a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the whip. Beating faster, add the remaining sugar in a very slow stream, beating until the egg whites hold a firm peak.
• Fold the yolk mixture into the whites with a rubber spatula. Sift the flour and cornstarch over the eggs in 3 additions, folding them in gradually. Do not overmix the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, until it is well risen and feels firm when pressed gently with the palm of your hand.
• Immediately loosen the layer from the side of the pan with a small knife or spatula. Invert the layer onto a rack and leave the paper stuck to it. Turn the layer right side up and cool it on a rack.
• Unless you are going to use the layer within a few hours, double-wrap tightly in plastic and keep in the refrigerator up to 5 days, or freeze.