Cornmeal Almond Cake with Strawberries & Mascarpone
Posted on May 10, 2012 by Leslie Blythe 1 comment
This recipe screams Spring, Mother’s Day, garden party…. It’s from the latest Food & Wine. It’s a little different from your typical strawberry shortcake.
Cornmeal Almond Cake with Strawberries & Mascarpone
3 cups sliced blanched almonds (about 10 oz)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 stick plus 2 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs, at room temperature
Finely grated zest of 2 lemons
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 cup fine yellow cornmeal
¾ cup heavy cream
½ cup fresh mascarpone cheese
3 Tbs confectioners’ sugar
1 qt strawberries, hulled and sliced ¼ inch thick
Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan. Spread the almonds on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes, stirring once, until golden. Let cool completely, then transfer the almonds to a food processor and process until finely ground but not pasty.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat the butter with the sugar and vanilla, scraping down the bowl, until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
Beat in the eggs, 1 at time, beating well between additions. Scrape down the bowl and beat the batter until fluffy, 1 minute. Beat in the lemon zest and juice. With a rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the batter, then the cornmeal and the ground almonds.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Transfer the cake to a wire rack, still in the pan, and let cool to room temperature.
In a large stainless steel bowl, using an electric mixer, whip the cream to soft peaks. Add the mascarpone and confectioners’ sugar and whip until barely firm peaks form.
Run a thin knife around the side of the cake pan and invert the cake onto the wire rack. Place a plate on top of the cake and turn the cake right side up. Cut the cake into wedges and serve with the mascarpone cream and strawberries.
Make Ahead – The cake can be kept at room temperature overnight.
