Martha Bakes Episode Guide Recipes

IDAHO POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 12-cup Bundt or tube pan with butter. Dust with cocoa, tapping out excess.
• Peel potato and coarsely chop. Place in a small saucepan and add enough water to cover. Heat over medium-high, bring to a boil, and cook until tender. Drain, then mash until no lumps remain. Measure out 3/4 cup for the recipe; set aside. Reserve the remainder for another use.
• Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and melted chocolate and beat until thoroughly incorporated. Add potato and beat to combine. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with sour cream, beating until just combined.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan and smooth top with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Turn out onto rack to cool completely. (Cake can be wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature up to 1 day or frozen up to 1 month.)
• When cake has completely cooled, slice with a serrated knife, and serve with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

MARTHA'S BEIGNETS

Steps:

• Using a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together yeast, warm water, and granulated sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and nutmeg. While mixing yeast mixture on medium speed, add butter. In a smaller bowl, lightly whisk together milk and egg using a fork before adding to the yeast-butter mixture. Mix in 1 1/2 cups flour mixture to combine, then add 1 3/4 cups more flour mixture and mix until thoroughly incorporated. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in remaining 1/4 cup flour mixture by hand until dough is smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm, draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and punch down. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough to a 12-inch square. Using a pizza wheel or sharp knife, cut dough into 3-inch squares. Transfer squares to a floured baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free spot for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium pot or deep-fryer until it registers 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches, add a few squares to the oil and fry, rolling them around constantly with a slotted spoon or spider, until golden brown all over, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer beignets to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Coat with confectioners' sugar, and repeat process with remaining dough and more confectioners' sugar. Serve warm.

BOSTOCK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Make the simple syrup: In a small pot, combine sugar, 1/2 cup water, and vanilla bean; cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
• Make the frangipane: In bowl of a food processor, combine almonds and sugar and process until finely ground. Add butter, egg, flour, rum, salt, and almond extract, and process until frangipane is smooth.
• Assemble the bostock: Slice brioche into eight 1-inch-thick slices. Brush both sides of each slice with simple syrup; place on prepared baking sheet. Spread each top evenly with 1 tablespoon jam and then 3 tablespoons frangipane.
• Bake until golden brown, 13 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced almonds and dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.