Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Ina Gartens Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins

 



Applesauce Cake is a classic recipe but Ina Gartens Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins has a modern twist with bourbon soaked raisins and bourbon cream cheese frosting, from her new cookbook Modern Comfort Food. "I love the earthiness of old-fashioned cakes but I often wish they had more flavour. Apples and raisins are great together in a cake, but I thought some bourbon would give it more depth, so I infused the raisins with bourbon before adding them to the batter. A splash of bourbon in the cream cheese frosting doesn’t hurt either, and who doesn’t need more cream cheese frosting in their life right now?" 



Ina Garten's newest cookbook, Modern Comfort Food — a birthday gift for my cousin Diane




Applesauce Cake with Bourbon Raisins
Serves 8
Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten

3/4 cup golden raisins
2 tbsp good quality bourbon
10 tbsp (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra to grease the pan
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the pan
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Whole pecans halves, for decorating

Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting:
6 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tbsp good quality bourbon (I added Rum instead)
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 lb confectioners’ sugar, sifted 


Place the cream cheese, butter, bourbon, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth. With the mixer on low, slowly add the sugar and mix well. Scrape down the sides and stir well with a rubber spatula.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9 × 2-inch round cake pan, line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pan. Tap out the excess flour.

Combine the raisins and bourbon in a small bowl, cover, and microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside for 15 minutes.

Place the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. With the mixer on medium, add the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, and mix until smooth.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the batter, mixing just until combined. Stir in the applesauce. Fold in the raisins (including the liquid) and chopped pecans with a rubber spatula and mix well. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top springs back when lightly touched and a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes, turn out onto a cooling rack, rounded side up, and cool completely. Spread the Bourbon Cream Cheese Frosting on just the top of the cake, not the sides, and artfully place the pecan halves on top. Serve at room temperature.














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