Layer Fruit Cake Food

BERRY LAYER MAGIC CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square metal baking pan with a 12-by-8-inch piece of parchment paper leaving an overhang on 2 sides.
• Melt the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl in the microwave, about 1 minute. Brush the parchment paper with some of the melted butter, then flip it over and press it back in the pan. Brush the other side of the paper and the sides of the pan with butter.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar vigorously in a large bowl until pale, creamy and thick, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the remaining melted butter and whisk until incorporated. Add the salt and all but 2 tablespoons of the flour, mixing until completely combined.
• Heat the milk in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup in the microwave until warm, about 1 minute. Slowly add the milk and vanilla to the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly until well combined (the batter will be thin). Toss the berries with the reserved 2 tablespoons flour and gently stir into the mixture.
• Beat the egg whites and the cream of tartar in a clean bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed in until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Scrape the whites into the yolk mixture, gently breaking them up a little with a whisk. Using a whisk, gently stir and fold the mixture a few times to coat the whites with liquid while keeping as much volume as possible (the batter will not be homogeneous). Pour the batter into the prepared pan and gently smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
• Bake until the top is browned and puffed and the cake is mostly set with a slight jiggle in the center, about 1 hour. Let the cake cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours.
• To serve, dust the top of the cake with confectioners' sugar. Run a small offset spatula or thin knife around the edges of the pan to loosen. Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the cake from the pan and place it on a cutting board. Cut the cake into 9 squares and serve topped with whipped cream.

ANGEL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Pour the blueberries into a strainer, rinse with water, and shake off excess water. Spread the berries out onto paper towels to dry slightly.
• In a deep, clear glass bowl or trifle bowl, spread a layer of angel food cake chunks. Scatter the cake with chopped strawberries in a thin layer. Sprinkle the strawberries with a layer of blueberries, followed by a layer of chopped peach slices. Sprinkle a few fresh raspberries over the peaches. Dollop a layer of whipped topping, then repeat layers until all cake and fruit has been used. Finish trifle with a layer of whipped topping. Cover the trifle, and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

CREAMY FRUIT AND CAKE LAYERS

Steps:

• Pour milk into medium bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Layer 1/2 of the cake cubes, fruit and pudding in 3-quart serving bowl. Repeat layers once.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.

CREAMY LAYERED FRUIT SENSATION

Steps:

• Mix juice and extract. Drizzle over cake cubes in large bowl; toss to coat.
• Beat pudding mixes and milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP.
• Reserve a few berries for garnish. Place half the cake cubes in 2-qt. glass bowl; top with layers of half each of the remaining berries and pudding mixture. Repeat layers. Refrigerate 2 hours. Top with remaining COOL WHIP and reserved berries just before serving.

LAYERED FRUITCAKE WITH CREME FRAICHE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat oven to 400. Butter three 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment cut to fit, and butter parchment.
• Whisk together flours, confectioners' sugar, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.
• Finely chop fruits and peels; coarsely chop almonds. Mix with brandy.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually beat in granulated sugar. Raise speed to medium-high, beating until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle a third of the flour mixture over the peaks, and fold with a spatula until just combined. Gently fold in another third of the flour mixture. Toss brandied fruits and nuts with remaining flour mixture, then fold into batter.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared pans, and smooth tops. Bake until golden brown and cakes pull away slightly from sides of pans, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool in pans on wire racks for 20 minutes. Run a knife around edges to loosen, then invert cakes onto racks to cool completely. (Cakes can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated overnight.)
• For the frosting: Beat cream cheese with a standing mixer on medium-high speed until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and beat in confectioners' sugar. Raise speed to medium-high, and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Switch to the whisk attachment. With mixer on low speed, beat in 1 1/2 cups cream and the vanilla. Add creme fraiche, and beat until smooth, scraping sides of bowl as needed. (Frosting is best used the day you make it; refrigerate it in an airtight container until needed.)
• To assemble: Place 4 1/2 cups frosting in a large bowl, refrigerating remainder for glaze. Whisk until very stiff peaks form. Place 1 cake on an inverted baking sheet lined with parchment. Brush with 2 tablespoons jam. Using an offset spatula, spread 3/4 cup frosting over jam. Repeat with second cake, 2 tablespoons jam, and 3/4 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake. Refrigerate remaining 3 cups frosting. Freeze cake for 1 hour.
• Spread remaining 3 cups frosting over top and sides of cake, smoothing with an offset spatula. Freeze for 1 hour.
• For the glaze: Add remaining 1 1/2 cups cream to the refrigerated frosting, and whisk until combined. Place cake on a wire rack set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a ladle, spoon glaze over cake, allowing it to drip down sides, until cake is covered. (You will have a generous amount of leftover glaze. The glaze on the cake will appear slightly translucent but will become more opaque when chilled.) Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Using 2 spatulas, transfer cake to a serving platter or a cake stand. Sprinkle sanding sugar over top, and gently toss it onto sides to coat entire cake. Wipe sugar from edges of platter. Garnish with sugared lemon zest if desired. Serve immediately.

LAYERED FRUIT DESSERT

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the mango, orange juice and yogurt. Blend until smooth. Layer the fruit with the puree in wine glasses. Garnish with a whole berry and slice of kiwi on top. As an alternative, spread mango mixture on plate. Top with a slice of store bought pound cake and sprinkle with berries.

LIGHT LAYERED ANGEL FOOD DESSERT (LOW-FAT)

Steps:

• Get your three main ingredients prepared and then it's just a matter of assembly.
• First, thaw strawberries. Mash up any large chunks; mix in balsamic vinegar. You'll be dividing this for TWO layers. Set aside.
• Second, cut angel food cake into slices no more than 1" thick. You'll be dividing this for THREE layers, so try to get 18 slices.
• Third, just before assembly, mix UNdrained pineapple, dry pudding mix and 1/2 the thawed Cool Whip. You'll be dividing this for TWO layers. It will start to firm up as it sits, so you'll want to do your assembly as soon as this mixture is ready.
• Assembly: I use a 9" square glass baking dish. Arrange angel food slices, pineapple/pudding mix, strawberries. Repeat those three layers so now you have six layers. The next layer will be angel food cake. The top layer will be the remaining Cool Whip. Feel free to garnish with some fresh fruit.
• Chill in refrigerator several hours in order for the cake to absorb the moisture and flavor.
• If you have a clear glass trifle bowl, this dessert will be as delightful to look at as it is to eat!

FRUIT AND CREAM LAYERED SALAD

Steps:

• In small bowl, combine cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, and lemon juice. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Add whipped topping and almond extract, continue beating until smooth and thick. Refrigerate.
• In large glass bowl, layer blueberries, peaches and strawberries. Spoon on half of topping mixture. Layer on grapes and mandarin oranges. Spoon on remaining half of topping over fruit to within one inch of edge. Sprinkle with almonds. Garnish with whole strawberries. The salad can be made a day ahead and any fruit combination can be used.

LAYERED FRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• In a 2-1/2-qt. glass bowl, layer the fruits in the order listed. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth; fold in whipped topping. Spoon over fruit. Refrigerate until serving. Sprinkle with pecans.

LAYERED FRESH FRUIT DESSERT

Steps:

• Mix milk with sour cream.
• Add in pudding. Mix well.
• Stir in crushed pineapple with juice included. Set aside.
• Cut pineapple into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
• Slice strawberries in half.
• Layer fruit in large glass bowl in order given. On bottom.
• fresh pineapple, 2nd green grapes, 3rd strawberries, top with blueberries saving a few for garnish.
• Pour pudding over the top of fruit , taking care that on the sides you drissle it spaced apart, so the fruit still shows from outside of the bowl.
• Garnish with a few blueberries.
• Cover and refrigerate till serving.