Crème Fraiche Rum Cakes Food

CRèME FRAîCHE POUNDCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, including the rim. Sprinkle a little sugar into the pan, tilting to coat the bottom and sides in a thin, even layer.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. (Using 1/2 teaspoon baking powder yields a dense and velvety interior, while 1 teaspoon makes the cake slightly airier and softer.)
• In a large bowl using an electric mixer, either hand-held or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions.
• With the mixer set on low speed, beat in half the flour mixture. Beat in the crème fraîche, then the remaining flour mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top. (Depending on your pan, it may fill it all the way to the top, and that is OK.) Bake until the cake is browned on top and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes while you make the syrup.
• In a small bowl, combine 1 cup/120 grams of the confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract or rum, and 2 tablespoons water, whisking until smooth. (It should be quite thin. Add more water, if needed.) Using a long, thin paring knife, pierce the cake all over about 20 times, poking all the way through. Spoon 4 tablespoons of the syrup over the warm cake. Reserve remaining syrup in the bowl.
• After the cake has cooled in the pan for an hour, run a thin metal spatula or butter knife around the edges to release them from the pan, then unmold the cake onto the rack to finish cooling.
• Whisk crème fraîche and remaining 1/2 cup/60 grams confectioners' sugar into the syrup until you get a thick glaze, as thick as heavy cream. Add a little more confectioners' sugar or water if needed to get the right texture.
• Pour the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Let the glaze set for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

CRèME FRAîCHE CHEESECAKE WITH HONEY-RUM-ROASTED PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend all ingredients in bowl. Press mixture over bottom of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 23/4-inch sides. Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool. Wrap outside of pan with 2 layers of foil. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• For filling:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean and blend 1 minute. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in crème fraîche. Transfer filling to crust. Place cheesecake in roasting pan. Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come 1 inch up sides of springform pan.
• Bake cake until top is dry-looking and slightly puffed, about 1 hour. Turn off oven. Let cake cool in closed oven 1 hour. Remove from water bath. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, at least 6 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• For topping:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place pineapple rings on large rimmed baking sheet. Boil remaining ingredients in small saucepan 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour syrup over pineapple. Roast pineapple 12 minutes. Turn rings over; roast until tender and syrup thickens, turning rings every 5 minutes, about 20 minutes longer. Cool pineapple on sheet. Cut into 1/3-inch cubes; transfer pineapple and syrup to bowl. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill.)
• Drain pineapple, reserving syrup. Cover top of cheesecake with some pineapple; stir remainder back into syrup. Serve cake, passing remaining pineapple in syrup separately.

CREME FRAICHE CHEESECAKE WITH HONEY-RUM-ROASTED PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• CRUST:
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Blend all ingredients in bowl.
• Press mixture over bottom of 9 inch-diameter springform pan with 2&3/4-inch sides.
• Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F
• FILLING:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese in large bowl until fluffy.
• Gradually beat in sugar.
• Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean and blend 1 minute.
• Beat in eggs 1 at a time.
• Mix in crème fraîche.
• Transfer filling to crust.
• Place cheesecake in roasting pan.
• Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come 1 inch up sides of springform pan.
• Bake cake until top is dry-looking and slightly puffed, about 1 hour.
• Turn off oven. Let cake cool in closed oven 1 hour.
• Remove from water bath.
• Refrigerate uncovered until cold, at least 6 hours.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.).
• TOPPING:
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place pineapple rings on large rimmed baking sheet.
• Boil remaining ingredients in small saucepan 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour syrup over pineapple.
• Roast pineapple 12 minutes.
• Turn rings over; roast until tender and syrup thickens, turning rings every 5 minutes, about 20 minutes longer.
• Cool pineapple on sheet.
• Cut into 1/3-inch cubes; transfer pineapple and syrup to bowl. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill.).
• Drain pineapple, reserving syrup.
• Cover top of cheesecake with some pineapple; stir remainder back into syrup. Serve cake, passing remaining pineapple in syrup separately.