Cornmeal Plum Cake With Lemon Whipped Cream Food

CORNMEAL UPSIDE-DOWN PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Butter the bottom and sides of 9-inch cake pan. Cut a circle of parchment to fit the bottom and press into the pan.
• Whisk together the almond flour, polenta, flour, baking powder, salt and lemon zest in a bowl.
• Put 1 cup of the sugar in a small saucepan with 1/3 cup water. Stir to dissolve, then place the pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar begins to form large bubbles and turns a light amber color (be patient - this can take 15 minutes or so). Remove from the heat and drop 2 tablespoons of the butter into the syrup, swirling to melt. Immediately pour into the cake pan.
• Arrange the plums in a single layer around the bottom of the pan (careful - the syrup is very hot).
• Beat the remaining 2 sticks butter and 1 cup sugar on medium-high speed in a heavy duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time until each one is emulsified, then add the almond extract. Stir in the flour mixture in 2 additions until blended.
• Scrape the batter over the plums and even out the top. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the top is golden, crackled and firm to the touch. Set the cake on a rack and cool completely.
• When the cake is cool, run a dull knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Put a large plate over the top and invert the pan. Peel off the parchment paper.

LEMON (OR LIME) CORNMEAL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F
• Spray cooking spray into a 12 cup Bundt pan.
• Mix together flour, cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, set aside.
• In medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, lemon zest and juice with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time, until well-blended.
• With mixer on low, alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk until the batter is smooth.
• Scrape into the prepared Bundt pan; level the top with a spatula.
• Bake 55-65 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
• Cool cake in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk glaze ingredients in a small bowl (sugar may not be dissolved all the way).
• Invert cake from pan to plate.
• Brush glaze all over hot cake (sugar crystals will be evident).
• Let cake rest several hours before serving.
• Store cake at room temperature up to 4 days.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar or serve with blueberry or strawberry preserves.
• Enjoy!

PLUM AND POLENTA CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Grease and lightly flour an 8 x 2-inch round cake pan or an 8-inch springform pan, tapping out any excess flour. Set aside.
• 2. In a small bowl, toss the cornmeal, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• 3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer, until pale yellow and creamy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the whole eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Mix in the lemon zest and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and blend until just combined.
• 4. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Place the plum halves, skin side down, at even intervals on top of the batter. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top of the fruit and batter. Bake until the cake is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

PLUM AND RASPBERRY CORNMEAL CRISP

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Make the filling: In an 8-inch square baking dish, combine the light brown sugar, flour and salt. Add the plums, raspberries, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Stir gently to combine. (Your hands are a great tool for this step.) Try not to mash the raspberries too much, and set aside.
• Make the topping: In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, light brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and pinch the mixture together with your fingertips until evenly moistened and pebble-sized crumbs form. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the top of the fruit.
• Bake until the topping is golden brown and fruit juices are bubbling all around the edges, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool slightly. If you like, serve with ice cream or whipped cream. Store leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

LEMON CORNMEAL CAKE WITH LEMON GLAZE

Steps:

• For cake
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F
• Butter 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides; line bottom with parchment.
• Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl; whisk to blend.
• Whisk buttermilk, eggs, lemon, lemon peel, and vanilla in small bowl. Pour buttermilk mixture and melted butter into flour mixture.
• Using rubber spatula, gently fold liquids into flour mixture until just blended (do not stir or mix).
• Scrape batter into pan; spread evenly.
• For glaze.
• Combine powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in small bowl.
• Stir with spoon until smooth and paste-like, adding more lemon juice by 1/2 teaspoonfuls if glaze is too thick to spread. Set aside.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean and cake pulls away from sides of pan, about 30 minutes.
• Immediately run knife around sides of cake.
• Place rack atop cake in pan. Using oven mitts, hold pan and rack firmly together and invert cake onto rack.
• Remove pan from cake. Place another rack on bottom of cake; invert 1 more time so that cake is top side up.
• Stir glaze until blended.
• While cake is still very hot, drop glaze by tablespoonfuls onto cake; spread to within 1/2 inch of edge (some glaze may drip down sides of cake).
• Cool completely and serve.

LEMON CORNMEAL CAKE WITH RASPBERRY FILLING

Steps:

• For filling:
• Puree berries in processor. Strain into heavy medium saucepan. Add sugar and cornstarch. Stir over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, about 3 minutes. Cool. Cover; chill until cold, about 2 hours.
• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment paper. Butter parchment. Dust pan with flour; shake out excess. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Stir in cornmeal. Add to butter mixture and beat just until blended. Mix in lemon peel and extract.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until cake is golden and toothpick inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 35 minutes. Transfer cake to rack, cool. Using knife, cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out. Peel off parchment.
• For frosting:
• Beat cream, sugar and extract in large bowl until soft peaks form. Beat in 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel. Set aside 2/3 cup frosting for decoration.
• Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Using bottom of 9-inch-diameter tart pan as aid, transfer 1 layer to platter. Spread half of filling over. Spread 1 cup frosting over filling. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining filling over. Spread 1 cup frosting over filling. Top with third cake layer. Spread sides and top of cake with remaining frosting. Press nuts onto sides of cake. Spoon reserved 2/3 cup frosting into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe around top edge of cake. Sprinkle top of cake with 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)

LEMON RASPBERRY CORNMEAL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch round or 8-inch square pan, then line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• Zest the 2 lemons into a large mixing bowl. Add ¾ cup/150 grams of sugar and the eggs, and whisk vigorously until pale and smooth, about 30 seconds.
• Add the sour cream, melted butter and salt, and mix until smooth and emulsified. Whisk in the baking powder and baking soda.
• Add the flour and cornmeal, and stir until just a few streaks of flour remain. Add ⅔ of the raspberries and fold them into the batter.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and top with the remaining raspberries. Sprinkle the remaining 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar over the top.
• Bake the cake until puffed and golden brown and a skewer inserted comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Carefully run a thin knife or offset spatula around the edge of the pan, then set the pan on a wire rack and let the cake cool completely in the pan. When the cake is cool, remove it from the pan, gently peel off the parchment and set it on a serving plate.
• While the cake cools, make the glaze: Juice some of the zested lemon to produce 2 tablespoons of juice. To a medium bowl, add the confectioners' sugar, a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. Whisk until smooth, adding more lemon juice as necessary to make a thin but still opaque glaze.
• Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake and let it set for a few minutes before serving. Store any leftovers at room temperature, loosely covered for up to 2 days.

CORNMEAL PLUM CAKE WITH LEMON WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray and sprinkle the bottom with 1 tablespoon cornmeal.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip on medium-high speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Add 1/3 cup of the sugar in a stream and whip to soft-medium peaks or the consistency of marshmallow cream. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Wipe the stand mixer bowl out with a paper towel. Whisk the flour, remaining 1/3 cup cornmeal, 2/3 cup sugar, baking powder and salt until combined. Add the egg yolks, lemon zest, cream, butter, oil and vanilla and mix on low speed until combined. Scrape the bowl and whisk clean and mix on medium speed for 20 seconds.
• Use a spatula to fold the whipped egg white mixture into the batter in two additions, mixing until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread until smooth. Place the plum slices over the top and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs, 44 to 48 minutes.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for 20 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan and let the cake cool until barely warm. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with a dollop of Lemon Whipped Cream. Store leftover cake covered at room temperature on the counter overnight.
• Combine the sugar, zest and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Stir the mixture with a spoon to release the lemon aroma. Add the cream and vanilla and whip on medium speed until medium peaks form. Serve a dollop with a slice of Cornmeal Plum Cake. Store leftover cream covered in the refrigerator.