Porter Cake Food

PORTER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C/Gas mark 4). Line the sides and bottom of an 8-inch (20 cm) high-sided round cake pan (the sides should be about 2 3/4 inches/7 cm high) with waxed (greaseproof) paper.
• Sift the flour, nutmeg, spice, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Rub in the butter, then stir in the brown sugar, raisins, and candied peel.
• Whisk the eggs in another bowl and add the porter. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake for about 2 hours. If the cake starts to brown too quickly on top, cover it with aluminum foil or waxed (greaseproof) paper after about 1 hour. The cake is done when a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to sit in the pan for about 20 minutes before turning it out and cooling it on a wire rack.

IRISH PORTER (GUINNESS) CAKE

Steps:

• Put mixed dried fruit in a bowl with couple of teaspoons of Whiskey (more if you are inclined!) Allow to soak overnight. Fruit will absorb the whiskey.
• Preheat oven to 375 or Gas Mark 5.
• Sieve flour. Combine flour, sugar, butter and spice. Crumble it with your fingers but not as fine as you would for pastry. Add fruit to dry mixture.
• Beat eggs with fork and add them to mixture. When you have mixed add the Guinness/Stout and mix well with a wooden spoon.
• Line 8 and half inch cake tin with greaseproof or parchment paper (use ready liners if available) and put mixture in tin. Put on middle shelf and cook for 2 hours. Enjoy the aroma in the house.
• Enjoy with a cup of tea or glass of Guinness!

CHOCOLATE PORTER CUPCAKES, PORTER GANACHE, CARAMEL CORN CRUNCH, TOASTED MERINGUE

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a mini cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl. Set the bowl aside.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the sugar and oil together, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and then add the vanilla and coffee extracts and 1 egg at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
• Whisk your porter beer and cocoa together in a separate bowl and set aside.
• Turn the mixer to low and add your sour cream. Continue with the mixer on the lowest speed and add the flour mixture and cocoa mixture, alternating between the two, beginning and ending with the flour.
• Fill the prepared liners half full with the batter and bake for 30 minutes. Cool.
• For the ganache: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the porter beer to 130 degrees F. Pour the beer over the white chocolate in a clean medium bowl. Whisk until incorporated. Transfer the ganache into a sauce bottle for use. Hold at room temperature until the cupcakes are cooled.
• For the caramel corn crunch: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat your peanut butter and milk chocolate for 30 second increments until melted. Stir with a spoon between heating. Crush the caramel corn in a food processor until fine. Pour the chocolate mixture over the caramel corn. Stir with a spoon until incorporated. Chill in the refrigerator until set. Scoop with a number 70 ice cream scoop on to a plate lined with waxed paper. Reserve at room temperature until assembly.
• For the meringue: Combine the sugar and egg whites in a saucepan. Whisking constantly over low heat, bring the mixture to 110 degrees F. Pour the egg mixture into a standing mixer fitted with a whip attachment. Whip until it reaches room temperature; the mixture should be light, fluffy and shiny. Add the vanilla extract and salt. This recipe should be done just prior to assembly.
• To assemble: Push the caramel corn filling into the middle of each porter cupcake. Fill in the hole with the porter ganache. Chill until set.
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a star tip half full with the meringue. Pipe on top of the cupcake. Toast the meringue with a kitchen torch. Garnish with caramel corn.

PORTER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas2. Butter and line the base of a deep 20 cm round cake tin. Put the butter, dried fruit, orange zest and juice, sugar and porter in a large pan. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the boil, stirring until the butter has dissolved, then simmer for 15 mins.
• Cool for 10 mins, then stir in the bicarbonate of soda. The mixture will foam up, but don't worry, this is normal.
• Stir the eggs into the pan, then sift in the flour and spice, then mix well. Pour into the prepared tin, smooth the top with the back of a spoon and sprinkle with the flaked almonds and Demerara sugar. Bake for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hrs. cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out and cool on a wire rack.