Tuscan Cake With Citrus Compote Recipes

LEMON CAKE WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the lemon cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the lemon zest and vanilla.
• Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with two additions of milk and lemon juice and beating until just combined after each. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans on a rack for 5 to 10 minutes, then remove the cake layers from the pans and wrap in plastic wrap to cool completely.
• For the blueberry compote: Meanwhile, bring 1 cup of the blueberries and the sugar, lemon juice and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the berries burst and the liquid thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup blueberries and let cool.
• For the buttercream: Wipe the bowl of a stand mixer with a paper towel dampened with lemon juice, to remove any trace of grease.
• Add the egg whites and sugar to the bowl, and cook over a pot of simmering water, whisking constantly but gently, until hot and the sugar has dissolved. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and begin to whip until the meringue is thick and glossy, and the bottom of the bowl feels room-temperature to the touch, about 10 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment and, with the mixer on low speed, add the butter cubes 1 at a time until incorporated; then mix until silky smooth. Add the vanilla and salt, continuing to beat on low speed until well combined. Slowly add up to 1/2 cup blueberry compote, mixing until the desired texture is reached.
• To assemble: Top a cake layer with blueberry compote, then top with the remaining cake layer. Frost all over with the buttercream. Serve immediately, or refrigerate and bring the cake back to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

RUBY GRAPEFRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine the water, honey, zests, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice berries in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer, until cinnamon is unfurled and mixture is aromatic, about 10 minutes. Strain.
• Meanwhile, cut peel and white pith off the grapefruits and oranges with a serrated knife. With a sharp paring knife, cut between the membranes, catching any juices in a bowl, to release segments. Add the juices to the honey-spice mixture. Put the fruit segments in a bowl.
• Pour the hot liquid over the citrus, add the grenadine or vermouth and stir to combine. Serve the citrus compote with biscotti.

TUSCAN CAKE WITH CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 2. To prepare cake, place sugar and oil in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed for 2 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add rinds, vanilla, and yogurt; beat until combined. 3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour and cornmeal into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to oil mixture; stir with a whisk just until combined. Pour batter into a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove sides from pan. Cool cake completely on rack. 4. To prepare compote, peel and section grapefruit and oranges over a medium bowl, reserving juices; place sections in another bowl. Combine reserved juices and lime juice in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir in honey and allspice; reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes or until syrupy. Cover and chill 30 minutes. Pour over fruit sections; toss gently. Chill. Serve compote over cake.

FRESH CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• For Syrup:
• Bring all ingredients to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Boil until liquid is reduced to 3/4 cup, about 25 minutes. Using small sharp knife, scrape vanilla seeds into syrup; return bean to syrup. Cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)
• For Fruit:
• Cut peel and white pith off oranges and grapefruit. Using small sharp knife, cut between membranes of oranges and grapefruit to release segments. Cut each kiwi into 8 wedges. Cut pineapple into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Drain fruit. Place in bowl. Discard vanilla bean and star anise from syrup. Pour syrup over fruit and stir to combine. Serve over frozen vanilla yogurt or ice cream.

TUCSON LEMON CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube cake pan. In large bowl, beat granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• In medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Add to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended. Stir in poppy seed, 2 tablespoons lemon peel and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Spread in pan.
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix all glaze ingredients until smooth.
• Remove cake from oven. Immediately poke several holes in top of cake with long-tined fork; pour about 2/3 of the glaze over top. Cool 20 minutes. Turn pan upside down onto heatproof serving plate; remove pan. Spread with remaining glaze.

RASPBERRY CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in raspberries. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature. Add oranges, pears and grapefruit; stir gently to coat. Chill leftovers.

CITRUS COMPOTE

Steps:

• Peel the tangerines, oranges and grapefruit, segment and half segments, removing seeds and then combine in large bowl.
• Quarter lime and lemon and squeeze over fruit in bowl.
• If desired sprinkle sugar or splenda over fruit. Toss.
• Chill at least 1 hour before serving and garnish with coconut and almonds if desired.

CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine cherries, sugar, and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat slightly and simmer until mixture becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in lemon juice. Let cool to room temperature before serving, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Store in the refrigerator.