Olive Oil Cake With Vanilla Yogurt And Caramelized Pears Food

CARAMELIZED PEARS FOR OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• Warm sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once sugar begins to caramelize, add cider, swirling to combine, and then add pears, cut side down. Cook over medium-low heat, turning occasionally, until tender and golden, 30 to 40 minutes, adding water 1 tablespoon at a time when pan looks dry.

OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan. In a large bowl, beat eggs on high speed 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually beat in oil. Beat in ground almonds, milk, orange zest and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; fold into egg mixture. Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. For icing, in a small bowl, whisk confectioners' sugar and enough orange juice to reach a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cake. If desired, sprinkle with almonds.

OLIVE OIL CAKE WITH VANILLA YOGURT AND CARAMELIZED PEARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Brush two 8-inch-round cake pans with oil. Line with parchment rounds and brush parchment with oil. Dust with flour, tapping out excess.
• In a medium bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. In another medium bowl, mix oil and milk. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar, then whisk in zest.
• Add flour and oil mixtures in three parts, beginning and ending with flour. Mix to combine. (Batter will be quite loose.)
• Pour into prepared pans and bake on middle rack, rotating halfway through, until cakes are golden brown and spring back when pressed, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Let cool in pans, then run a knife between cake and inside edge of pan before removing.
• For serving, whisk yogurt and vanilla in a small bowl. Smooth over top of cake and top with Caramelized Pears. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

OLIVE OIL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Oil 2 (10-inch) round cake pans.
• In a nonreactive saucepan, reduce the orange juice over medium heat to 1/4 cup. Add salt, stir, and let cool.
• Lightly beat eggs with paddle attachment in standing mixer on high for 1 minute until frothy. Add milk, sugar, liqueur, olive oil, reduced orange juice, lemon zest, anise and 1 teaspoon rosemary. Mix for 1 minute until well blended. Mix in the flour, baking soda and baking powder until well blended and smooth.
• Pour half of the mixture into each oiled cake pan. Bake for 1 hour. Place on a rack to cool. Run a knife around the edges and place it on a plate. While the cake is still warm, smooth 3 tablespoons of marmalade onto the top of each cake. Sprinkle remaining 1 teaspoon rosemary evenly over both cakes. Garnish center with rosemary sprig. Cut each cake into wedges and serve.

SALTED CARAMEL PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 195C/175C fan/gas 5 ½. Butter and line the base of three 20cm round cake tins. Add the grated ginger to the grated pear and push down with a wooden spoon to squeeze out as much juice as possible.
• Mix the flours, spices, baking powder and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. In a stand mixer, vigorously whisk the eggs and sugars for 3 mins until thick and frothy. Slowly pour in the oil in a steady stream. Turn the speed down, then add the flour mixture, 2 tbsp at a time, alternating with the yogurt, until incorporated. Mix in the grated pear (for no longer than 20 secs). Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 25-30 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out dry.
• For the caramel, heat the pear juice and perry in a pan until reduced to about 50ml. Add the sugar and butter and whisk to a smooth caramel, then add the cream and whisk again until smooth. Add sea salt to your taste - I'd go for a generous pinch, so that the caramel is still fruity and sharp but has a little saltiness to it - then allow to cool slightly to just warmer than room temperature.
• To make the buttercream, put the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the bowl over a pan of boiling water, then whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is no longer gritty. Put the bowl in the mixer, then whisk until soft peaks form and the bowl returns to room temperature. Switch to the paddle attachment, then add the butter, one spoonful at a time. Add the tahini, vanilla and a pinch of salt, and beat to a light, fluffy icing.
• Place the bottom layer of sponge on a platter or cake stand, then top with a layer of the buttercream and scatter over a third of the chopped pear. Repeat with the next two layers. To ice the cake, do an intial layer all over, chill in the fridge for 20 mins, then use the remaining icing to cover everything. Use a stepped spatula to spread it out evenly. Pour the caramel over the top of the cake, and allow it to drip down the sides. Scatter with toasted buckwheat, dehydrated pear and rosemary, if you like.