Cardamom Nectarine Galette With Coconut Whipped Cream Food

THROWDOWN'S GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH COCONUT-PECAN-CAJETA FROSTING, CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the cajeta filling/frosting:
• Bring the milk, coconut milk and goat's milk to a simmer over low heat in a small saucepan. Keep warm while you prepare the caramel.
• Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over high heat and cook (do not stir) until it becomes a deep amber brown color. Slowly whisk in the warm milk mixture and continue whisking until smooth; add the vanilla seeds and corn syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the sauce is reduced by half and is the consistency of a caramel sauce, about 55 minutes.
• Once the sauce is reduced, remove from the heat and whisk in the cold butter, vanilla extract, salt and rum and whisk until combined. Transfer the sauce to a medium bowl and stir in the pecans and coconut. Let the frosting cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally before frosting the cake.
• For the ganache:
• Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat. Put the chocolate into a medium bowl, add the hot cream and the corn syrup and let sit for 30 seconds. Gently whisk until smooth. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before pouring over the cake.
• For the chocolate cake:
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter 2 (9-inch) cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Melt the 12 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the cocoa powder and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add the sugars and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Add the coffee, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract and continue whisking until smooth and just combined. Slowly add the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans and bake on the middle rack until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 42 minutes. Let cool in the pans on a baking rack for 20 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto the baking rack and let cool for at least 1 hour before frosting. Slice each cake in half horizontally. Put 1 cake layer on a cake round or platter and spread 1/3 of the frosting evenly over the top, repeat to make 3 layers and top with the remaining cake layer, top side up. Pour the chocolate ganache over the cake and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
• For the coconut whipped cream:
• Combine the heavy cream, coconut milk, sugar, rum and vanilla in a stand mixer and mix until soft peaks form. Slice the cake, top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with some of the toasted coconut.

CARDAMOM NECTARINE GALETTE WITH COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the pastry: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the shortening, coconut oil, sugar and salt on medium speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Add the flour and mix on low until the dough comes together in a ball, about 2 minutes. Divide the dough into two even pieces, form into discs and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• For the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the tapioca flour, sugar, cardamom and salt. Add the nectarines, lemon juice, brandy and vanilla paste. Toss gently to combine.
• To assemble: Position a rack in the center of the oven; preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Remove one disk of dough from the refrigerator and leave to soften until pliable, 10 to 15 minutes; reserve the other disk for another use.
• Roll the softened dough between two sheets of lightly floured parchment paper into a 14-inch round. While still between the parchment, transfer the dough to a large, rimmed baking sheet. Gently peel away the top sheet of parchment.
• Spoon the filling into the center of the pastry and spread it toward the edges, leaving a 2- to 2 1/2-inch margin all the way around. Gently lift the edges of the parchment to help fold the dough up and over the edges of the filling--allow the dough to fold over itself, creating a blanket effect, with crimps and ruffles. Peel away the parchment to leave a border of pastry around the exposed center of the filling.
• Whisk together the egg and milk, and brush the mixture over the crust. Sprinkle with the turbinado sugar.
• Bake the galette, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the crust is golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool.
• For the coconut whipped cream: Open the can of coconut cream and spoon out the thick, hardened cream into a medium bowl; reserve the watery liquid for another purpose. Add the powdered sugar and almond extract to the coconut cream and beat, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, until fluffy like whipped cream, 2 to 3 minutes.
• To serve, spoon a dollop of the whipped cream onto a slice of the galette and garnish with a pinch or two of the toasted sliced almonds.

GRAPE GALETTE WITH ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add half of the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add the remaining butter and pulse into pea-size pieces. Add 1/4 cup ice water and pulse until the dough clumps together but has not yet formed a ball. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap; press into a disk and wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Pulse 1/2 cup almonds, 1/4 cup sugar, the egg yolk, butter, vanilla and lemon zest in a food processor to make a paste.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. Spread the almond filling over the dough, leaving a 2 1/2-inch border; top with the grapes. Fold the edge of the dough over the fruit by about 2 inches, pleating as needed. Refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Lightly beat the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water. Brush the dough with the egg wash. Scatter the remaining 2 tablespoons almonds all over the galette, then sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the grapes are softened, about 40 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet.