Brazo Gitano Spongecake Cien AÑos Food

BRAZO DE GITANO -- ROLLED SPONGE CAKE (SPAIN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & lightly butter a 15"x8" baking pan or sheet. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper, then butter that well & dust lightly with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar.
• In a mixing bowl, beat egg yolks & 1/4 cup granulated sugar until thick & smooth.
• Stir in flour, cocoa & vanilla extract, blending well.
• In another bowl, whip egg whites until stiff, but not dry, then fold them into the yolk/flour mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared baking sheet & spread out evenly.
• Bake 15 minutes, then cool for 5 minutes before turning onto a cloth to cool.
• After another 10 minutes peel off the paper.
• Combine whipped cream, rum & superfine sugar, & adjust to taste.
• Spread this cream mixture over the cake & then roll the cake like a jellyroll, starting with the long edge.
• Sprinkle with remaining powdered sugar, before slicing into 3-inch long slices & serving.

BRAZO DE GITANO (CREAM ROLL)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 18x12x1-inch aluminum pan. Line with parchment paper and grease paper generously.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Combine water, vanilla extract, and lime juice in a separate bowl. Set aside.
• Beat eggs in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer on high speed for 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium and add white sugar gradually. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture alternately with water mixture, mixing until well combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
• While cake is baking, dissolve cornstarch in 1 cup milk in a saucepan over medium heat until well blended. Add egg yolks and mix well. Pour in remaining milk, sugar, salt, and lime zest. Mix over medium heat using a wooden spoon until boiling; remove from heat. Keep filling warm if cake is still baking.
• Place a large, damp cloth on a table and sprinkle generously with sifted confectioners' sugar about 5 minutes before cake has finished baking.
• Remove cake from the oven. Release edges of cake using a knife. Turn cake over onto the sugar-coated cloth; remove parchment paper from cake and trim edges. Pour cream filling over cake immediately, spreading almost to the edges. Roll cake up from the bottom.
• Cut roll in the middle to divide into two 9-inch rolls. Transfer to 2 flat platters using 2 wide spatulas. Sprinkle rolls with additional confectioners' sugar just prior to serving.

BRAZO GITANO SPONGECAKE “CIEN AÑOS”

Steps:

• Filling In heavy saucepan, beat egg yolks with wooden spoon until lemon-colored. Add sugar and salt; beat well. Dissolve cornstarch in a little of the milk; add with rest of milk to egg mixture. Add cinnamon stick. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, till mixture thickens to a heavy custard. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract, and remove cinnamon stick. Set aside to cool. Cake Beat egg whites in electric mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Add yolks, one at a time. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Lower speed of mixer to folding speed and add flour gradually. Bake in wax-paper-lined jelly roll pan (11 x 16 x 1 inch size) at 400° for 12 minutes. Sprinkle cloth kitchen towel with sugar. When cake is done, immediately invert on towel. Remove waxed paper. Spread cake with filling and roll up length-wise like a jelly roll. Place on an ovenproof serving tray. Soak cake slowly with syrup (see below). Cover completely with meringue (see below), and bake at 425° for 6-8 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Top cake with glazed strawberries (see below). Flambé strawberries with Kirschwasser. Syrup Boil sugar, water, and lemon peel for about 10 minutes. Add sherry. Remove lemon peel. Meringue Combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Start adding sugar very gradually and beat until stiff. Strawberry Topping Remove hulls and quarter strawberries. Mix glaze and water. Add strawberries to glaze Cut into 1 ½" slices.