Steamed Currant Cake Recipes

STEAMED SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Arrange a large bamboo steamer or a large vegetable steamer over simmering water. Make sure it is large enough to hold a 10 inch tube pan.
• In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. In a medium bowl, beat together egg yolks, milk and vanilla. Quickly fold into whites until no streaks remain. Sift together flour and baking powder, then quickly fold into egg mixture. Pour batter into 10 inch tube pan.
• Place the pan into the steamer. Steam for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

SPOTTED DICK WITH BRANDIED CURRANTS

Steps:

• Creme Anglaise:In a medium saucepan, bring milk, cream, and vanilla seeds and pod to a simmer over medium heat.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, and salt. While whisking, slowly add about half the hot milk mixture to temper, then return to saucepan with remaining milk mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, 6 to 8 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing with a flexible spatula to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Pudding:In a small saucepan, heat currants and brandy until warm; let stand at room temperature until most of the brandy has been absorbed, 30 to 45 minutes. Meanwhile, set a round wire rack in bottom of a large stockpot. Set a 2 1/2-quart ovenproof bowl on rack. Fill pot with enough water to come about three-quarters of the way up sides of bowl. Remove bowl; dry, butter inside, and set aside. Cover pot and bring to a boil.
• Butter a 10-inch parchment round; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut in cold butter until pieces are no larger than small peas. Stir in eggs, cream, lemon zest and juice, and currant-brandy mixture until combined.
• Transfer batter to prepared bowl. Place parchment round, buttered-side down, over bowl and top with foil to seal. Fold a long piece of foil into thirds and center bowl on foil. Pull ends of foil to top edge of bowl and carefully lower pudding into boiling water. Fold ends of foil down into pot and cover pot. Return to a boil, then reduce to a simmer; steam until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of pudding registers 180 degrees, about 1 hour 15 minutes, occasionally adding boiling water to maintain level, if necessary.
• Using foil sling, transfer pudding to a wire rack. Let cool 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of bowl to loosen; invert pudding onto a serving plate. Serve warm with creme anglaise.

MOM'S CURRANT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan; set aside.
• In a small saucepan, heat the cream over medium heat. Stir in molasses. In a medium bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating to combine after each addition. Stir in the cream mixture, then the currants. Add the dry ingredients and beat to combine.
• Pour into prepared pan, and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

CHINESE STEAMED CAKE

Steps:

• Arrange a large bamboo steamer or a large vegetable steamer over simmering water. Make sure it is large enough to hold the baking pan. Line a 9 inch square pan with waxed paper.
• Separate the eggs. Place the yolks in a large bowl along with the sugar and water. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture has increased about three times in volume. Whisk together the flour and the baking powder; sift this over the egg mixture, and fold in gently. Blend in the extract.
• Whip the egg whites in a clean bowl to stiff, not dry, peaks. Fold into yolk base. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth out to edges. Rap the pan on the counter to get rid of large air bubbles.
• Place the pan into the steamer. Cover the top of the steamer with a kitchen towel, and place the lid on top; the towel will absorb any steam that collects on top from dripping onto the cake. Steam for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with confectioner's sugar.