Saffron Cakes With Lemon Fig Compote Food

FIGUEROA CUPCAKES: CHUNKY LEMON FIG CAKE, SALTED HONEY FIG COMPOTE, CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line muffin pans with 24 muffin liners. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well combined. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, oil and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the figs and lemon zest and mix for about a minute until well combined. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour mixture just until combined. Then remove from the mixer and scrape by hand. Fill the prepared muffin pans three-quarters full with batter and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 24 minutes.
• For the fig compote: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the figs, granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water and the honey. Bring to a boil and stir until the water has evaporated and the figs are soft. Add the sea salt and refrigerate until cool.
• For the frosting: Whip the cream cheese and butter in an electric mixer with the paddle attachment until fully incorporated. With the mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar until combined. Add the vanilla and mix until fully incorporated.
• To assemble: Use a knife to make a hole in the center of the cupcakes. Fill with salted honey fig compote, and then frost with cream cheese frosting.

DELICIOUS SAFFRON CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Mix together the saffron and water. Stir and set aside. Mix together the egg yolks and sugar. Mix together until well combined. Should be light and fluffy. Add the oil and water. Mix. Using a sieve, sift the flour, baking soda and salt on top of the egg yolk mixture. Mix until lumps are no longer visible.
• In a separate bowl, beat the eggwhite, vinegar, and sugar until stiff peak.Fold in the eggwhite mixture to the batter one scoop at a time until all is used and combined.
• Line the pan with parchment paper and slowly pour batter into the pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until toothpick that's inserted in center comes out clean. Allow cooling in pan or mold for 30 minutes on a wire rack; remove cake from pan. Cool completely! In a medium bowl, pour the condensed milk and saffron. Using an electric mixture, on high speed, mix the milk for 4 minutes. Once the cake is completely cooled, turn the cake upside down in the same pan, remove the paper, then frost the cake. See notes for frosting methods. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting and serving. Serve as desired and enjoy!*** If you are not using the frosting method, sprinkle the cake with powder sugar.

LEMON CAKE WITH BLUEBERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the lemon cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the lemon zest and vanilla.
• Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with two additions of milk and lemon juice and beating until just combined after each. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans on a rack for 5 to 10 minutes, then remove the cake layers from the pans and wrap in plastic wrap to cool completely.
• For the blueberry compote: Meanwhile, bring 1 cup of the blueberries and the sugar, lemon juice and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the berries burst and the liquid thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup blueberries and let cool.
• For the buttercream: Wipe the bowl of a stand mixer with a paper towel dampened with lemon juice, to remove any trace of grease.
• Add the egg whites and sugar to the bowl, and cook over a pot of simmering water, whisking constantly but gently, until hot and the sugar has dissolved. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and begin to whip until the meringue is thick and glossy, and the bottom of the bowl feels room-temperature to the touch, about 10 minutes. Switch to the paddle attachment and, with the mixer on low speed, add the butter cubes 1 at a time until incorporated; then mix until silky smooth. Add the vanilla and salt, continuing to beat on low speed until well combined. Slowly add up to 1/2 cup blueberry compote, mixing until the desired texture is reached.
• To assemble: Top a cake layer with blueberry compote, then top with the remaining cake layer. Frost all over with the buttercream. Serve immediately, or refrigerate and bring the cake back to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

SAFFRON CAKES WITH LEMON-FIG COMPOTE

Steps:

• Coat ten 6-ounce ramekins with margarine or butter; dust with granulated sugar. Chill in freezer 10 minutes.
• Finely grind walnuts with 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor; set aside. Stir wine, saffron, and vanilla in a bowl; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put margarine or butter and 1 cup sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in yolks and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Fold in walnut mixture, then saffron mixture. Stir in lemon zest.
• Put egg whites, cream of tartar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; beat until stiff peaks form.
• Using a large rubber spatula, fold one-third of the egg white mixture into the walnut mixture. Fold in remaining egg white mixture. Spoon into ramekins.
• Bake until tops are deep golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool slightly on wire racks. Run a knife around edges of cakes to loosen; unmold onto racks, and let cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve with compote.

LEMON-FIG COMPOTE

Steps:

• Place chopped lemon segments in a bowl; squeeze juice from membranes into bowl. Set aside. Put lemon peel into a small saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil, then drain and repeat.
• Bring sugar, spices, honey, lemon segments and juice, lemon peel, and 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes.
• Add figs. Simmer 10 minutes. Stir in arrowroot; cook 2 minutes. Let cool. Remove cardamom and cinnamon.

FIG COMPOTE

Steps:

• In a medium pot, bring figs, sugar, orange zest and juice, cinnamon, and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Reduce to a rapid simmer and cook, partially covered, until figs are tender and liquid is reduced, 20 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid is syrupy, 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.