Sambuca Cake With Strawberries Whipped Cream And Shaved Chocolate Recipes

WHITE CHOCOLATE-SAMBUCA CREAM

Steps:

• Combine 1/3 cup whipping cream and chocolate in medium metal bowl. Set over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let bottom of bowl touch water). Stir until mixture is smooth. Remove from over water. Cool 15 minutes. Beat remaining 1 2/3 cups whipping cream, sambuca and vanilla in large bowl until soft peaks form. Fold 1/4 of whipped cream into white chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whipped cream in 2 additions. Chill topping up to 8 hours.

STRAWBERRY WHIPPED CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• For the berries:.
• Combine all ingredients in a medium nonreactive mixing bowl and toss to thoroughly coat strawberries. Let macerate at room temperature at least 20 minutes before using.
• Strain macerated berries and reserve syrup separately.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the cake:.
• Heat oven to 350°F and arrange rack in upper third. Butter and flour two (8-inch) cake pans.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a mixing bowl; set aside.
• Combine vegetable oil, water, lemon zest, vanilla extract, egg yolks, and 1 1/4 cups of the sugar. Whip until mixture is airy and light in color (about 5 to 7 minutes). Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl; add dry ingredients and whip until smooth, about 1 minute more.
• In a clean bowl using clean oil-free beaters, whip egg whites to medium peaks. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute more. Using a rubber spatula, fold 1/4 of the egg whites into the cake batter until evenly incorporated; gently fold in remaining egg whites until just combined.
• Divide batter between prepared cake pans. Bake until surface of cakes springs back when pressed and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
• Remove cakes from the oven, run a knife around the perimeter of each, and turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Make the filling and the frosting while the cakes cool.
• For the filling:.
• Combine mascarpone cheese and heavy cream and whip until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the frosting:.
• Place the cleaned bowl of the mixer and the whip attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes. Combine vanilla extract, sugar, and heavy cream in the chilled bowl and whip at medium speed until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes.
• Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least one hour. (The frosting can be prepared up to 12 hours ahead.).
• To assemble:.
• Using a long serrated knife, trim the tops of the cakes as necessary so they are level.
• Place cake rounds on a clean, dry surface and, using a pastry brush, brush 1/2 of the reserved strawberry syrup on the cut side of the first cake round; repeat on the cut side of the second cake round.
• Evenly spread 1/4 of the mascarpone filling over the cut side of the bottom cake layer. Arrange strawberries standing upright, stem end down, over the mascarpone layer and trim as necessary to create an even layer. Cover berries with the remaining filling, being sure to fill in any empty space.
• Place second cake layer over mascarpone and strawberries, cut side down, pressing gently to secure it. Using an offset spatula or a long, thin spatula, spread 3/4 cup of the frosting in a thin layer over the top and sides of the cake. Return remaining frosting and cake to the refrigerator until frosting on cake is set, about 15 minutes.
• Spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides of the cake. Let sit in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes before serving.

CARRY CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES AND WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch tube pan.
• In a small saucepan, combine the butter and milk. Warm until butter has melted, but do not boil. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 2 cups sugar. Stir in the warmed milk and butter and vanilla. Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into the batter just until blended. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 55 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before removing and placing on a wire rack to cool completely.
• In a mixing bowl fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Pour the heavy cream in a slow steady stream while the mixture is whipping until the mixture has fluffed up and can hold a stiff peak. Don't let it get grainy looking though. Scrape the bottom of the bowl with a spatula occasionally to remove any lumps.
• Slice the cooled cake horizontally into three layers. Arrange strawberries on the bottom layer with the top ends facing outward. Fill in the remaining space with more berries. Spoon some of the whipped cream over the berries and spread evenly. Place another layer of cake on top and repeat the process. Place the top layer on the cake and cover with the remaining cream. Arrange remaining berries over the cream.

STRAWBERRIES IN SAMBUCA

Steps:

• Bring water, sugar, and lemon juice to a boil in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into saucepan using tip of a paring knife and add pod. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then boil until reduced to about 1 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in Sambuca.
• Transfer syrup to a bowl and let cool completely. Stir in strawberries and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour. Discard pod.