Authentic Italian Spumoni Cake Recipes

VALERIE'S SPUMONI

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 9-by-5-inch aluminum loaf pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with plastic wrap on all sides, leaving a 2-inch overhang; the cooking spray will help the plastic stick directly to the sides of the pan.
• In a food processor, pulse the chocolate wafers until very fine, like sand. Add the chocolate sauce and pulse a few more times until the mixture comes together. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and firmly press into the bottom of the pan to create a crust. Freeze for 30 minutes to set.
• Meanwhile, remove the chocolate-chocolate chip gelato from the freezer to soften. After 30 minutes, remove the loaf pan from the freezer and spread the chocolate gelato over the crust; use a small offset or rubber spatula to spread the gelato into a flat, even layer. Return the loaf pan to the freezer for another 30 minutes. Meanwhile, let the vanilla bean gelato soften at room temperature.
• When the vanilla gelato has softened, transfer it to a bowl and stir in the sliced Amarena cherries, the Amarena syrup and the red food coloring if using. Mix until the cherries are evenly dispersed and the food coloring is completely incorporated. Remove the loaf pan from the freezer and evenly spread the cherry gelato over the chocolate gelato. Place back in the freezer for at least 1 hour more; it takes longer for the cherry layer to set.
• Thirty minutes before the cherry layer is set, remove the pistachio gelato from the freezer to soften. When softened, spread in an even layer over the cherry gelato; the pistachio layer should come up nearly to the top of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove the plastic wrap from the top of the pan and invert the spumoni onto a cutting board. Gently lift the loaf pan away and remove the remaining plastic wrap. Slice the spumoni into 3/4-inch slices, using a chef's knife dipped in warm water; dip the knife in the warm water between each slice. Serve immediately.

SPUMONI ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Remove the lid from the cherry ice cream and let sit at room temperature until the ice cream softens to the consistency of thick cake batter, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the lids from the pistachio and chocolate ice creams and let soften in the refrigerator until the ice creams are softened to the consistency of thick cake batter, 20 to 30 minutes.
• While the ice creams soften, cover the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with one layer of whole amaretti cookies, flat sides down. Put the remaining amaretti in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a heavy pan. Line another 9-inch round cake pan with plastic wrap, leaving a few inches of overhang. Add the crushed cookies and set aside until Step 4.
• On top of the whole cookies in the springform pan, spread the softened cherry ice cream in an even layer. Tap the pan gently on the counter to remove air pockets. Distribute the maraschino cherries over the cherry ice cream, saving a handful for the top of the cake. Spread the softened pistachio ice cream in an even layer on top of the cherries. Tap the pan gently on the counter to remove air pockets. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 2 hours or up to 1 week. (If at any point the ice cream is melting to liquid, pop the cake and ice creams in the freezer to firm to a spoonable consistency.)
• Immediately after placing the cherry and pistachio layers in the freezer, prepare the chocolate layer: Shake to distribute the cookie crumbs evenly in the cake pan. Spread the softened chocolate ice cream in an even layer over the cookies. Press down as you go to adhere the ice cream to the cookies, then tap the pan on the counter to remove air pockets. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 2 hours or up to 1 week.
• Run a knife around the cake in the springform pan, then unmold the springform and transfer the cake to a serving plate. Use the plastic wrap overhang to remove the chocolate ice cream out of the cake pan. Invert the layer onto the pistachio ice cream so the crushed cookies are on top (do not remove the plastic wrap). Freeze until set, about 4 hours or overnight.
• When you're ready to serve, whip the cream with the sugar and salt until stiff peaks form. Remove the cake from the freezer and remove the plastic wrap from the cake. Working quickly, with a spoon or offset spatula, frost the sides and top of the cake with the whipped cream, then decorate with sprinkles and the reserved maraschino cherries. Serve right away. (If you find the cake too solid to cut, run your knife under hot water before slicing and wipe it dry between cuts. Also remember that the first piece is always the trickiest to get out.)

SPUMONI CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°; grease three 8 inch layer pans.
• Mix together cake mix, eggs, water and oil; beat for 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly into 3 separate bowls.
• Mix ingredients for one of the layers into each bowl of batter; pour into prepared pans.
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until picks inserted in centers come out clean.
• Let cakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to rack and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, chill large bowl and beaters thoroughly.
• Combine cold whipping cream, sugar and rum extract in chilled bowl.
• Beat with electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form. To test, lift beaters from whipped cream - stiff peaks should remain on surface.
• Layer cake with chocolate on bottom, then pistaschio, then cherry, frosting with whipped cream between each layer then top and sides of cake. Sprinkle almonds on top.

SPUMONI CAKE - A TASE OF OLD ITALY!

Steps:

• Basic cake: Mix and bake in a 9" x 13" pan that has been buttered and flour coated. Bake at 325 F (actual or 350 F set) in a convection oven or 350 F in a conventional oven. Bake time approximately 35 - 40 minutes. (The usual check with a dry toothpick to come out clean) Let cool in pan, turn out on cooling racks. Cool for 2 -3 hours, at least. Cut the cake into 6 ½" x 9" halves, and again horizontally to make 4 layers. Icing: Chop the dried cherries into 1/8" or so bits, and microwave them briefly (30 seconds?) in the Cherry Kijafa (use a covered container, then chill in the 'fridge to room temp) - Just enough to get them to plump up a bit, but not lose the alcohol content of the liqueur. Mix all the ingredients. Beat for 2 minutes. Add a bit of red (and blue if it is too "Valentine pink") food coloring if desired. Adjust the consistency with more of milk if needed. (More Kijafa works, but the icing begins to curdle and separate) Ice the cake. Chill in the 'fridge for an hour or so. Note that there are other cherry liqueurs, but be sure to use a sweet one. For the teetotalers, Grenadine will work just fine. Also, some Spumoni uses Strawberry instead

SPUMONI TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of three greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper. Prepare cake mix batter according to package directions, adding almond extract before mixing batter. Transfer to prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool as package directs., In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Place 1-1/2 cups whipped cream in each of 3 bowls. In a another bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix 2 minutes. Let stand 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold pudding into 1 bowl of whipped cream. In second bowl of whipped cream, beat in 3 tablespoon cream cheese, cocoa and remaining confectioners' sugar until combined. In third bowl, beat in maraschino cherries, almond extract and remaining cream cheese., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with pistachio filling. Top with another cake layer; spread with maraschino filling. Top with remaining cake layer; spread with chocolate filling. Refrigerate until serving.

SPUMONI (ITALIAN ICE CREAM LIKE DESSERT)

Steps:

• Chill a 1 quart spumoni mold well.
• If you don't have a spumoni mold, a 1 quart gelatin mold will work very well.
• First Mixture: Combine milk, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla in a sauce pan.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickend (like a pudding).
• Cool mixture.
• Place cooled mixture in a freezer tray and freeze until medium hard (about 2 hours).
• It should be soft enough to spoon out easily, but hard enough to hold its shape.
• Second Mixture: In Bowl, beat heavy cream and sugar together until stiff.
• Gently mix in the cherries, orange peel and almonds.
• Chill the second mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator.
• Filling Mold: When first mixture is ready (semi-frozen), remove from freezer tray and line the inside of the chilled mold with it.
• With the back of a spoon, shape a hollow in the middle of the first mixture.
• Fill the hollow with the second mixture.
• Cover the top of the mold with plastic wrap or waxed paper, and freeze for about 2 hours (until very firm).
• To serve, dip mold briefly in warm water and unmold onto a serving plate.
• Cut spumoni into 6-8 portions.

ITALIAN SPUMONI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 18 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make cake mix as directed on box; divide batter evenly into 2 bowls. Add 3/4 box pudding mix to 1 of the bowls; mix well. To other bowl, add cherry juice; mix well.
• Divide pistachio batter evenly among muffins cups. Divide cherry batter evenly over pistachio batter in muffin cups.
• Bake cupcakes and cool completely as directed on box.
• Frost cupcakes with frosting. Top each with cherry.

SPUMONI

Steps:

• Prepare the vanilla and chocolate ice-cream bases: Whisk 2 cups milk, 3/4 cup sugar, and 5 egg yolks together in a heavy 2-quart saucepan until blended. Drop in the vanilla bean, and set the saucepan over very low heat. Switch to a wooden spoon and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. (If you have an instant-reading thermometer, check the temperature from time to time. The base will thicken shortly after the temperature reaches 180° F.) Strain the mixture into a small bowl, and cool to room temperature with a piece of plastic wrap pressed directly to the surface. Clean the saucepan. Whisk 2 cups milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 5 egg yolks, and the cocoa together in the saucepan until blended. Cook and stir as described above until thickened. Strain the chocolate mixture into a separate small bowl and cool as above. The bases can be refrigerated for up to 1 day before continuing.
• If you have an ice-cream maker, freeze the ice-cream bases separately, according to manufacturer's directions, and set the finished ice creams in the freezer as you finish. If you don't have an ice-cream maker, place the bowls of ice-cream base in the freezer and freeze, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is frozen but soft enough to be spooned out easily.
• Whip the cream and 1/4 cup sugar in a chilled bowl until it holds stiff peaks. Gently fold the cherries, nuts, and candied peel into the whipped cream. Refrigerate the whipped cream.
• Line up six 10-ounce paper soft-drink cups on your work surface. Remove the vanilla ice cream from the freezer. (If it has become too hard to scoop easily, let it stand at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes.) Working quickly, scoop one-sixth of the ice cream into one of the cups and spread it into an even layer that comes about 3 inches up the sides of the cup and is about 1/4 inch thick, leaving enough room in the center for a layer of chocolate ice cream and the whipped-cream filling. Place the cup in the freezer immediately and repeat with the remaining ice cream and cups. Freeze until the vanilla ice cream is solid, 15 to 30 minutes.
• Check the consistency of the chocolate ice cream. If it is too solid to spoon easily, let it stand at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes. Tear off six squares of plastic wrap or wax paper large enough to cover the tops of the ice-cream molds, and set them close by. Take the flavored whipped cream out of the refrigerator and have it close by. Take one of the cups out of the freezer and spoon a layer of the chocolate ice cream inside the vanilla ice cream, making that layer even with the top of the vanilla ice cream and leaving enough space in the center for the whipped-cream filling. (You may not need a full sixth of the chocolate ice cream to do this.) Drop a little of the whipped cream into the center of the mold and tap the surface of the cup to settle the whipped cream into the indentation. Add the whipped cream little by little, tapping the cup after each addition, until the whipped cream is even with the ice-cream layers. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper pressed directly to the surface, and return immediately to the freezer. Repeat with the remaining cups. Freeze for at least 2 hours or up to one day before serving.
• To serve, remove wax paper or plastic wrap. With a sharp, serrated knife, cut the cup in half lengthwise from the top, straight through the ice cream. Working carefully, peel the cup from the spumoni halves and serve on chilled plates.

SPUMONI CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Spray 3 (9-inch) round pans with cooking spray; cover bottoms of pans with parchment. Spray with additional cooking spray. Melt 3 oz. chocolate as directed on package. Meanwhile, shave remaining chocolate; reserve for garnish.
• Prepare cake batter as directed on package, using 3 egg whites. Divide batter evenly into 3 bowls. Stir 3 Tbsp. dry cherry gelatin mix and 1/4 cup cherries into batter in 1 bowl until blended; pour into 1 of the prepared cake pans. Stir 3 Tbsp. dry pistachio pudding mix into batter in second bowl; pour into second cake pan. Stir melted chocolate into remaining batter; pour into remaining cake pan.
• Bake 18 to 20 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; discard parchment. Cool cakes completely. Meanwhile, add boiling water to remaining gelatin mix in small bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Refrigerate until slightly thickened.
• Place cherry cake layer on plate; spread 1/2 cup COOL WHIP into 1/2-inch wide, 1/2-inch-high ring around top edge of cake. Spread thickened gelatin onto center of cherry cake layer up to COOL WHIP rim. Sprinkle remaining chopped cherries over gelatin. Cover with pistachio cake layer. Use 1/2 cup of the remaining COOL WHIP to make rim around pistachio cake layer.
• Beat remaining pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. Spread onto center of pistachio cake layer; top with chocolate cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining COOL WHIP. Garnish with shaved chocolate. Refrigerate 2 hours.