Zuccotto Alla Ricotta Food

ZUCCOTTO: A CREAMY ITALIAN DESSERT CAKE

Steps:

• Line a 2 1/2 quart bowl with plastic wrap. Have it much larger than you need to cover the top later.
• Cut the sponge cake in half. I love this inexpensive tool.
• Place one slice in the bottom of the bowl. If you're using a loaf cake, cut slices and then triangles and fill the bowl like a jigsaw puzzle to cover every spot, so that the entire bowl is covered.
• Slice a few pieces of the other half of the cake into strips.
• Use the strips to line around the cake in the bowl. This only takes a few minutes, and its very easy!
• Sprinkle the cake with your choice of liqueur. I used Kahlua this time.
• In a medium sized pot (off the heat), stir the egg yolks and sugar together briskly with a wooden spoon.
• Add the flour a little at a time and incorporate into the mixture.
• Heat the milk to boiling and add the vanilla. Begin adding the hot milk to the mixture a little at a time, mixing well in between additions. Do not add too much at once or the eggs may curdle.
• Continue adding the hot milk and stirring continuously with a wooden spoon.
• Once all the milk has been added, put the pot onto medium heat and continue to stir.
• When the mixture comes to a boil, let it cook for 3 or 4 minutes then remove from the heat. Keep stirring as it cools so that it doesn't form a skin.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave, or in a bowl over some hot water.
• Set aside.
• In a medium sized bowl, beat 10 oz (300 ml) heavy whipping cream with the instant coffee powder until stiff peaks form; set aside.
• To the cooled pastry cream, add 1 Tbsp of Grand Marnier, the 2 oz (57 g) of grated chocolate and the whipped coffee cream. Fold mixture until completely combined.
• Spread 2/3 of the mixture into the cake-lined bowl almost reaching the top, but not completely. Leave a hollow in the middle and don't worry if it doesn't look perfect, it will be fine in the end.
• Add the melted chocolate to the remaining cream.
• Mix well until the color is uniform, then fill the center of the zuccotto.
• Take pieces of the remaining cake and close up the bottom of the zuccotto.
• Sprinkle with more of your chosen liqueur, then seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, but I like to leave it overnight.
• Beat the remaining 8 oz of heavy whipping cream, with the other 2 teaspoons of coffee powder and 2 tablespoonfuls of sugar until stiff peaks form.
• When ready to decorate, remove top plastic wrap and place a FLAT (must be completely flat!) plate or cake stand on top of the zuccotto and invert. Remove the bowl.
• Ta dah! This is my favorite part! Have cracks? Doesn't matter, it's still going to turn out perfectly.
• Spread the coffee-flavored whipped cream all over the zuccotto.
• Make swirls or peaks in the cream, whichever way you like, but it doesn't have to be fancy. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings, curls or more grated chocolate.
• It's best to refrigerate the cake for an hour or so. However, you can serve it immediately if you need to.

CHOCOLATE ZUCCOTTO CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Line a 1.2-litre pudding basin with cling wrap, leaving enough hanging over the edges to fold over the top of the pudding and cover securely.
• Slice the cake horizontally into 3 layers, set aside 1 layer and then cut both of the remaining layers into 8 triangular slices.
• Line the pudding basin with the cake slices, the pointed ends at the bottom of the basin.
• Patch any holes with spare pieces of cake (you may not need all the slices) so the whole basin is lined with cake.
• Use a pastry brush to brush the cake with 2 tablespoons of the amaretto.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form.
• Place the ricotta, mascarpone, lemon zest and icing sugar in a food processor and process until smooth.
• Add the ricotta mixture to the cream and stir in 1 tablespoon amaretto.
• Transfer half the mixture to another bowl and stir in the almonds, mixed peel and half of the dark chocolate, set aside.
• Melt the chocolate over simmering water or using the method you prefer, stirring occasionally and when melted, remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Stir this into the other half of the ricotta mixture.
• Sift in the cocoa powder, stir until smooth and allow to cool completely.
• Spread the melted chocolate and ricotta mixture over the sides of the sponge cake in a thick layer and fill the center with the almond and ricotta mixture.
• Cover this with the reserved round of sponge, trimming the edges to fit the basin.
• Brush the top with the remaining tablespoon of amaretto. Fold over the plastic wrap and cover tightly, weigh down and refrigerate overnight.
• When it's ready to serve, turn out the zuccotto carefully onto a plate.
• Cut out 2 triangular templates from baking paper and dust the zuccotto with alternate triangles of cocoa powder and icing sugar, covering the dusted areas with the template as you go.
• Serve zuccotto in slices.

ZUCCOTTO

Steps:

• Spray a 1 1/2-quart bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bowl with plastic wrap. Cut the pound cake crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Cut each slice diagonally in half, forming 2 triangles. Line the bottom and sides of the prepared bowl with the cake triangles. Brush some of the brandy over the cake triangles lining the bowl. Reserve the extra triangles.
• Stir the chocolate in a large metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Allow the chocolate to cool slightly. Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup of cream in another large bowl until it is thick and fluffy. Fold 1/4 of the whipped cream into the chocolate. Fold half of the remaining whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spread the chocolate cream over the cake, covering completely and creating a well in the center. Cover and refrigerate if not assembling cake right away.
• In another clean large bowl, add the remaining 1 cup of cream and almond extract. Using an electric mixer with clean beaters, beat on medium speed and gradually add the powdered sugar. Beat until firm peaks form. Fold in the nuts. Spoon the cream mixture into the center of the well of the filling.
• Brush the remaining cake slices with brandy and arrange them, brandy side down, over the cake, covering the filling completely and trimming to fit, if necessary. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Invert the cake onto a platter. Remove the bowl and the plastic wrap. Sift the cocoa powder over and serve.

ZUCCOTTO

Steps:

• Spray a 1 1/2-quart bowl lightly with vegetable spray. Line bottom and sides with cake, ensuring a tight fit to completely encase the filling. Sprinkle with liqueur and set aside.
• Whip cream until it holds soft peaks. Separately, beat ricotta and sugar until smooth, about 3 minutes. Fold together whipped cream and ricotta. Fold in half the nuts and candied fruit. Pour half the mixture over the cake. Make a well in the center large enough to hold the remaining cream mixture.
• Thoroughly blend remaining cream mixture with chocolate and cocoa powder, then spoon mixture into the well left in Step 2. Sprinkle remaining nuts on top, cover lightly with plastic wrap and freeze until very firm, at least 6 hours.
• Fifteen minutes before serving, remove from freezer and invert onto a plate. Slice and serve.