Star Fruit Cake Food

STAR FRUIT (CARAMBOLA) UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Arrange sliced star fruit in bottom of a greased 9 inch cake pan as close together as possible.
• Mix together 1/4 cup butter, brown sugar and passion fruit juice and pour into pan, turning so mixture covers bottom. Set aside.
• Cream together 1/2 cup of butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beat well.
• Mix together dry ingredients. Add flour mixture, alternately with milk, to butter mixture. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
• Pour into prepared cake pan. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until cake pulls away form sides of pan. Let cool for five minutes before inverting onto serving plate.

STAR FRUIT UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch round cake pan.
• For the topping: Melt the butter, brown sugar and lemon juice together in a microwave-safe small bowl in the microwave. Spread the mixture over the bottom of the prepared pan. Cover it with the starfruit slices by nestling them next to one another and overlapping (it will look crowded). Set aside.
• For the cake: Spread the pecans out on a baking sheet, and bake until nicely toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then pulse in a food processor until finely ground. Whisk together the ground pecans, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt and allspice. Set aside.
• Beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition. Scrape down the side of the bowl as needed. Adjust the mixer speed to low, and add half the flour mixture, then the yogurt, then the remaining flour.
• Pour the batter into the pan, spread it out into an even layer and give it a few taps on the counter. Bake until golden brown, a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean in the center and the cake pulls away from the edges, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack until the pan is cool enough to handle, then run a knife along the edge and invert the cake onto a serving platter. Let cool completely before serving.

FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the raisins, apricots, figs, ginger, and brandy (sub whiskey or apple cider if you like). Cover and let soak for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours, stirring a few times during the soak.
• Preheat the oven to 300F. Butter or spray 2 (9x5-inch) loaf pans with baking spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, pie spice, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with a hand mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until well incorporated. Beat in the vanilla. With mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. With a spatula, fold in the candied cherries, nuts, and soaked fruit. Divide the batter evenly among the two baking pans.
• Bake for 2 hours or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the cake to release it from the edges. Remove and place them on a cooling rack. Generously brush tops and sides of the cakes with brandy or whiskey (you can also use simple syrup). Cool completely. Store the cakes tightly wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 6 weeks.

FREE RANGE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Combine dried fruits, candied ginger and both zests. Add rum and macerate overnight, or microwave for 5 minutes to re-hydrate fruit.
• Place fruit and liquid in a non-reactive pot with the sugar, butter, apple juice and spices. Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. (Batter can be completed up to this point, then covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before completing cake.)
• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine dry ingredients and sift into fruit mixture. Quickly bring batter together with a large wooden spoon, then stir in eggs one at a time until completely integrated, then fold in nuts. Spoon into a 10-inch non-stick loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.
• Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet. Baste or spritz top with brandy and allow to cool completely before turning out from pan.
• When cake is completely cooled, seal in a tight sealing, food safe container. Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy. The cake's flavor will enhance considerably over the next two weeks. If you decide to give the cake as a gift, be sure to tell the recipient that they are very lucky indeed.

STAR FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl.
• Beat 2 cups pureed star fruit, sugar, butter, and lemon juice in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until combined. Fold in 1 cup sliced strawberries. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and remaining 1/4 cup pureed star fruit together to make the icing.
• Spread icing over the cooled cake and top with remaining sliced strawberries.

STARFRUIT (CARAMBOLA) UPSIDE DOWN CAKE WITH CAKE MIX

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bring sugar and water to a gentle boil in a wide (12 inch or more) saute pan. Add the star fruit in a single layer and allow to simmer for 5 minutes, turning over halfway.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain in a large sieve or paper towels.
• Melt butter over a low heat in a 12 inch cast iron skillet or other oven proof pan with a handle.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in the brown sugar and spread it to evenly cover the bottom of the skillet.
• Arrange the star fruit in a single layer on the brown sugar/butter mix.
• Combine the cake mix, pudding mis, eggs, water and oil. Beat for 2 minutes.
• Pour batter gently over the star fruit and bake in the center of the oven for an hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Invert over a serving plate as soon as the cake comes out of th oven.

HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. Combine fruit and nuts. In another bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pour over fruit and nuts; stir to coat. , Transfer to a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 2 hours. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool place. Bring to room temperature before serving; slice with a serrated knife.