Kuchen Borracho Chilean Drunken Apple Cake Food

KUCHEN BORRACHO (CHILEAN DRUNKEN APPLE CAKE)

Steps:

• Make the apple filling: Peel and core the apples. Cut each apple into 8 wedges and then cut each wedge lengthwise into slender slices.
• In a bowl, combine the sugar and cream. Add the apples. Set aside until needed.
• Make the batter: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter the pan and dust with flour.
• Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt and set aside.
• Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl, either with an electric mixer or by hand, until smooth and creamy. Add the lightly beaten eggs to the butter mixture in 4 batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl and beating well after each addition. Gently fold in the flour in 4 batches, adding the rum and water with the third batch. Stop mixing as soon as the last batch of flour is incorporated.
• Divide the batter into 3 portions. You can eyeball it, but each portion should be about 1 cup or so. Scrape 1/3 of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Spread half the apple mixture evenly on top, leaving a 1/2-inch plain border around the edge and smoothing the slices so they're neatly level. Scrape another 1/3 of the batter on top of the apples and smooth the surface, spreading the batter all the way to the edge of the pan. Spread the remaining apple mixture evenly on top of the batter, and then top the apples with the third and final batch of batter, smoothing it all the way to the edge of the pan, which will be quite full.
• Bake the cake for 1 1/2 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes, then release the sides of the pan and transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely. Your drunken apple cake will keep at room temperature for up to 4 days.

CHILEAN PINEAPPLE CAKE

Steps:

• 1.- Grease two 9" cake pans and set aside. In a medium bowl sift the dry ingredients all together. In a small sauce pan pour the sugar and wet it with a little bit of water (it should look like wet sand), cook it until it reaches the consistency of a soft ball (240 degrees F) and set aside. Beat egg whites in separate bowl until they form stiff peaks and add the syrup you just made. Continue beating until the meringue is cool. Add the egg yolks one at a time, making sure they are well incorporated after every addition. Finally, add the dry ingredients softly. Do not over beat.
• 2.- Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake it at 325ºF for 30 minutes. (Note- original recipe has you put batter in 1 9" spring form pan and then cut the cake in half to ice. I'm lazy, so I use two cake pans!) The timing can vary depending on your oven, but make sure that when you insert a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Let it cool completely and remove from cake pans.
• 3.- Preparing the heavy whipping cream. Beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar. Set it in the fridge until you are ready to assemble the cake.
• 4.- Open and strain the pineapple can. Reserve the juice and mix it with the liquor of your preference. (I've used no alcohol before and think the recipe is fabulous with only the pineapple juice). Put the bottom layer of the cake on a cake stand and sprinkle it with the pineapple juice mixture until it is very moist (not mushy). Add an abundant layer of heavy whipping cream and evenly distribute pineapple chunks on top of it, add a thin layer of cream again. To wet the second cake layer, put it on top of a plate and wet one side. Turn it upside down on top of the cake and wet the other side. Repeat the process of the cream, pineapple chunks and cream.
• 5.- Moist the last layer of the cake and assemble it on top of the rest of the cake. Cover completely with heavy whipping cream (a very thin layer, this is just to get rid of the crumbs). Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• 6.- Once the first layer is set, add the final coat of heavy whipping cream and proceed to decorate with the rest of pineapple chunks and toasted coconut flakes.