Currant Lemon Cake Food

CURRANT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. Lightly dust a flat baking tray with flour.
• Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and mix well.
• Rub the margarine or butter into the dry ingredients until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the sultanas or raisins and mix through.
• Finally, add the egg and sufficient milk to make a soft dough, not too wet or sticky! Turn onto a lightly floured board and gently knead, just enough to bring the dough together.
• Transfer to the prepared baking tray and shape into a round 1 1/2” deep. Cut a cross on top and bake for about 40 minutes until golden brown.

LEMON-CURRANT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Whisk 3 egg whites, 3 tablespoons sugar and a pinch of salt until frothy. Stir in 3 cups shredded coconut, 1/3 cup currants and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Drop by packed tablespoonfuls onto an oiled baking sheet. Bake at 325 degrees F until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool, then dip in melted chocolate.

CURRANT TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Cream butter, lemon peel and lemon juice until light.
• Add sugar and cream until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs and blend well.
• In another bowl, mix flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating well until blended.
• Stir in currants.
• Drop by teaspoonsful onto greased and floured baking sheet.
• Bake at 350* for 10 minutes or until set.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool.

COCONUT-RED CURRANT CAKE ROLL

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet or jelly roll pan with coconut oil; line the bottom with parchment paper. Brush the parchment with more oil and dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl; set aside. Place the eggs (in their shells) in a medium bowl and cover with hot tap water; let stand 5 minutes, then drain. Crack the eggs into a separate large bowl and add the granulated sugar. Beat with a mixer on medium-low speed, 30 seconds, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until thick, pale and fluffy, 8 to 10 minutes. (Don't underbeat; the beaten eggs are essential to help the cake rise.) Pour the egg mixture over the flour mixture and gently fold together with a rubber spatula until combined. Add the melted coconut oil and coconut extract and stir to just combine. Spread the batter in the prepared pan; bake until the cake springs back when gently pressed, about 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Generously sift confectioners' sugar over the top of the warm cake and loosen the edges with a knife; lay a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) over the cake. Place another baking sheet over the towel and flip the cake with the baking sheets to invert it onto the towel. Remove the top baking sheet and parchment. Starting at a short end, roll up the cake and the towel together into a spiral. Transfer seam-side down to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F, stirring once, until lightly browned and toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool. Whisk the egg whites, granulated sugar, lemon juice and salt in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, whisking, until the sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and beat the egg white mixture with a mixer on medium-high speed until thick, glossy and cooled, about 6 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and coconut extracts.
• Gently unroll the cake. Spread the jelly over the cake about 1/4 inch from the edges; reroll (without the towel). Trim the ends with a serrated knife. Transfer to a platter and spread the frosting on the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle with the toasted coconut.

BLACK CURRANT DRIZZLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a 2 pound loaf tin and line with baking parchment, allowing the ends to drape over for easy removal.
• Put the butter, caster sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla into a large bowl. Beat together with an electric whisk until pale and creamy, about 5 minutes. Spread one third of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the black currants.. Dot another 1/3 of the batter over top of the currants. Spread over carefully. Sprinkle another 1/3 of the black currants over top. Finally spread with the remaining batter, reserving the remainder of the currants for after.
• Place into the heated oven and bake for about one hour, until risen and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven.
• Place the remainder of the currants in a bowl along with the granulated sugar. Add the lemon juice and stir in with a fork, lightly mashing the fruit just a bit.
• Take a skewer and poke holes all into the top of the cake. Spoon the fruit,sugar and juice mixture over top evenly. Allow to cool completely before removing from the pan. The top should be set and crisp. Cut into slices to serve. Eat within a few days. (So NOT a problem!!)