Almond Cake With Cream Cheese Ganache And Fresh Strawberry Filling Vanilla Buttercream Icing And Pink Poured Fondant Food

STRAWBERRY CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the puree: Pulse the strawberries in a food processor, scraping as needed, until a smooth puree forms. Add the strawberry puree to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the puree reduces by half (to about 1 cup). Transfer the puree to a bowl and set aside to cool.
• For the cake: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment rounds; lightly coat parchment with nonstick spray.
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl until combined. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, oil and vanilla in another bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the whole eggs and yolks one at a time, beating to blend between additions and occasionally scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl, until the batter is completely combined, smooth and creamy. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Fold in 1/2 cup of the cooled strawberry puree. Reserve the rest of the puree for the frosting.
• Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Smooth the tops. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cakes are a light golden brown and a tester inserted into the centers comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let the cakes cool for 30 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes and invert onto the wire rack. Remove the parchment and let the cakes cool completely.
• For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in the butter, beating until smooth. Sift the confectioners' sugar into the bowl and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Remove 3 cups of the frosting to a medium bowl and set aside. Fold the reserved strawberry puree into the remaining frosting. Refrigerate both until slightly chilled and firm, about 20 minutes.
• To assemble the cake: Place one cake domed-side down on a platter. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the strawberry frosting evenly over the top. Place the remaining cake domed-side up on top. Spread the top and sides of the cake with 1 1/2 cups of the white frosting. Smooth out completely to make an even crumb coat. (It's okay if some of the cake shows through. This is just a base layer.) Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the frosting set.
• Spread the remaining white frosting on the top of the cake and the upper half of the sides. There should be a band all around the bottom of the cake with the crumb coat exposed. Fill in the exposed area with 1 cup of the strawberry frosting. Use a large offset spatula to smooth the top and sides of the cake. The strawberry and white frostings should blend together during smoothing to create an ombre effect. Transfer the remaining strawberry frosting to a piping bag or resealable plastic bag fitted with a medium star tip. Pipe 8 rosettes evenly spaced along the top border of the cake.

VANILLA ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Beat the egg white with the vanilla extract, add the almonds and stir to coat. Combine the sugar, salt, and cinnamon and combine with mixture. Place in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees F for 20 minutes. Remove and cool on wax paper and break into clusters.;

ALMOND COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• 1.Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• 2.Spray a 9-inch spring form pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• 3.Combine the flour and ¾ cup sugar in a bowl.
• 4.Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• 5.Reserve 1 cup of the mixture and set it aside. To the remaining crumb mixture add the baking powder, salt, sour cream, 1 egg, and almond extract. Blend well.
• 6.Spread the batter in pan. In a separate mixing bowl combine cream cheese, cottage cheese and ¼ cup sugar and beat with the paddle attachment of the mixer.
• 7.Add the remaining egg and beat an additional minute until blended well.
• 8.Pour the cheese mixture over the batter in the pan.
• 9.Combine the reserved crumb mixture with almonds. Sprinkle over the cheese mixture in the pan.
• 10.Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes or until cheese mixture is set and cake is firm and slightly pulling away from the sides of the pan. Cool before removing the sides of the pan and serving.

ALMOND CAKE WITH ALMOND ICING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat over to 375 degrees. In small sauce pan, add water and butter; bring to a boil.
• 2. In mixing bowl, add flour and sugar. Pour boiling water and butter mixture over flour and sugar. Mix well.
• 3. Add baking soda. Add extract. Add sour cream. Add eggs.
• 4. Pour into prepared 9x13 pan. Bake 20-25 minutes until middle is set.
• 5. Let cool 20-30 minutes.
• 6. Icing: Bring butter and milk to a boil. Put powdered sugar and extract in a mixing bowl. Pour butter/milk mixture into bowl with sugar and extract and mix.
• 7. Pour over cake and let sit for 20 minutes before serving.