French Style Apple Rhubarb Cake Recipes

FRENCH RHUBARB TART

Steps:

• Cut the rhubarb into 10.5cm batons, using pieces that are roughly the same width. Put the vanilla pod, sugar, lemon juice and 300ml water (or enough to just cover the rhubarb) in a wide frying pan or shallow casserole set over a low heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the rhubarb and simmer for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to cool in the syrup, preferably overnight, or for at least 1 hr. This way your rhubarb should be perfectly cooked, but still hold its shape.
• To make the pastry, put the flour, almonds, sugar and butter in a food processor. Blitz until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. While the motor is running, add the egg yolk and dribble in 1-2 tbsp cold water. Tip onto a work surface and knead briefly to bring the mixture together to form a dough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins.
• While your pastry chills, make the crème patisserie. Heat the milk and reserved vanilla seeds in a pan set over a medium heat until nearly boiling. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and flours together in a large bowl until pale. Continue whisking while you pour the hot milk over the egg mixture. Wipe out the saucepan and strain the liquid back into the pan through a sieve. Set over a medium-low heat and stir continuously until the mixture has a thick custard consistency. Scrape into a clean bowl, cover the surface with cling film to prevent a skin from forming and chill for at least 1 hr or up to 2 days.
• Remove the pastry from the fridge. If it is a little hard, leave it at room temperature to soften for 10 mins or so. Roll out to 1mm thick on a lightly floured surface. Use the pastry to line a 12 x 35cm fluted rectangular tart tin, making sure you press the pastry into the fluted edges (you can use the blunt end of a knife to help you do this). Leave any excess pastry overhanging. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the pastry case from the fridge, line with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Blind-bake for 20 mins, then remove the parchment and beans, and continue baking for 8 mins more until pale golden and biscuity. Use a sharp serrated knife to trim off the overhanging pastry to give you a clean edge. Cool in the tin.
• Remove the rhubarb pieces from their syrup and set aside. Return the syrup to the hob and boil until thick and sticky. Leave to cool slightly. To finish the crème patisserie, whisk the cream until it holds soft peaks and fold this into the chilled mixture. This is easier if you start by beating in a little cream and then folding in the remaining.
• Remove the pastry case from the tin and put on a plate. Fill with the crème patisserie and smooth over the surface. Carefully line up the rhubarb down the length of the tart case, trying to fit them in quite snugly. Use a pastry brush to glaze the tart with the rhubarb syrup. Chill for 30 mins before serving. This tart will keep for 3 days in the fridge, however it is best eaten on the day it is made.

APPLE-RHUBARB BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla until blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add to egg mixture; stir just until moistened. Fold in apples, rhubarb and walnuts., Transfer to two greased 8x4-in. loaf pans. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Freeze option: Securely wrap and freeze cooled loaves in plastic wrap and foil. To use, thaw at room temperature.

COUNTRY RHUBARB CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Butter a 10-inch glass or ceramic pie plate or a 2 1/2-quart oval gratin dish and chill.
• Toss rhubarb with brown sugar in a bowl until coated.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl until combined well. Blend in butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk together milk, whole egg, and yolk. Make a well in center of flour mixture and add milk mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon to gradually incorporate flour and form a soft, sticky dough.
• Transfer half of dough to chilled pie plate and pat out over bottom and halfway up side with well-floured hands, then spoon rhubarb and any juices onto dough. Using a tablespoon, spoon remaining dough in small mounds evenly over top. Lightly beat egg white with a few drops of water, then lightly brush cake with egg wash. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar over top.
• Bake cake until top crust is golden and rhubarb is tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool, about 30 minutes.
• Make whiskey cream:
• Beat cream with confectioners sugar, whiskey, and vanilla in a bowl with an electric mixer until it forms stiff peaks.
• Serve cake warm or at room temperature with whiskey cream.

FRENCH-STYLE APPLE RHUBARB CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch round pan.
• Beat 1 1/4 cups sugar and butter together using an electric mixer until well blended, light, and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla extract, mixing well after each addition.
• Turn mixer to low speed and slowly add in flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing just until combined. Fold in rhubarb.
• Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Smooth the top and place apple slices in a circular pattern on batter. Sprinkle almonds and additional sugar on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool, and serve warm or cold.

APPLE AND RHUBARB CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees C, Grease a 26 cm spring pan.
• Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl cream butter with sugar for about 5 minutes. Add one egg at a time until well incorporated. Add the vanilla extract, mix well. Turn mixer to low and slowly add the flour mixture. Don't over mix.
• Flod in the cut rhubarb and transfer dough to baking pan. Smooth the top. Sprinkle on the almonds.
• Baked for about 35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack.

RHUBARB OR APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar(it does not get to the consistency of white sugar and butter).
• Add eggs and vanilla.
• Sift in a tablespoon of flour first and fold it in (a trick my mummy always taught me).
• Sift in the rest of the flour, baking soda and cinnamon; fold it together.
• Add rhubarb, lemon rind and sour cream; combine well.
• Pour into a 22cm cake tin.
• Bake at 180 degrees C for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
• Topping (optional): 80g brown sugar with cinnamon.