Tag Archives: Dessert

Fall, Winter

Farm Wife’s Fresh Pear Tart

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Rustic and simple to make, this cake is an incredibly delicious treat in fall and winter.
A 9-inch tart
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2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1–1/2 cups flour
2 pounds fresh pears, preferably Bosc or Anjou rather than Bartlett
1/2 cup dry, unflavored bread crumbs
3 TBL butter
12 whole cloves

Note that the pears will cook and don’t have to be fully ripened, although they should be on their way to getting ripe. Preheat oven to 375º F. In a mixing bowl, beat

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk

together in a bowl. Add

  • 1 cup sugar
  • pinch of salt

mixing it thoroughly to produce a batter. Peel

  • 2 pounds fresh pears

and continue to beat. Add

  • 1–1/2 cups flour

mixing it thoroughly to produce a batter. Peel

  • 2 pounds fresh pears

Cut the pears lengthwise in two, scoop out the seeds and core, then cut them into thin slices about one inch wide. Add them to the batter in the mixing bowl, distributing them evenly. Smear a 9-inch round cake pan generously with

  • 1 TBL butter

and sprinkle with

  • 1/3 cup dry bread crumbs

then turn over the pan and give it a sharp rap against the counter to shake loose excess crumbs. Put batter in pan, level it off with the back of a spoon. Make many small hollows on the top with a fingertip and fill with bits of

  • 2 TBL butter, cut into small bits

Stud the cake with

  • 12 whole cloves

distributing them at random, but apart. Place the pan in the upper third of the preheated oven and bake for 50 minutes or until the top is lightly colored.

While it is still lukewarm, cut around the edge of the pan, invert the cake on a rack and then invert it back onto a serving plate. It is very nice served while still warm, but it’s no disappointment at room temperature.

Adapted from Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking, by Marcella Hazan.
Year Round

Chocolate Cake of My Dreams

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I had a dream that involved a chocolate cake. The next day I felt compelled to make one. You can mix this cake faster than your oven will heat up.
Makes one loaf
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1/4 cup cocoa powder
1–1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 TBL instant coffee
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp white vinegar

I had a dream about a meal in a restaurant with self-service dessert. There were two options and someone at our table came back with a piece of cake that didn’t look appealing. My cousin returned with 5 slices of a dark chocolate loaf cake; they were all for her. The cake looked great and I got myself 2 slices. This recipe isn’t quite as good as the cake of my dreams, but I bet if you add some chocolate chips to the recipe it might be!

One more note: I adjusted the original recipe in some minor ways, but in particular, I reduced the sugar. Got a sweet tooth? Add some sugar back in, or add some chocolate frosting, or both.

Preheat the oven to 350º F. Grease an 8–1/2 x 4–1/2-inch loaf pan. Cut a rectangle of parchment paper the size of the bottom of the pan, and place it inside the pan.

In a large mixing bowl, measure

  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1–1/2 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 TBL instant coffee
  • 1/2 tsp salt

In a quart liquid measure or bowl, combine

  • 1–1/4 cups water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp white vinegar

Using a whisk (or large spoon if you don’t have a whisk), combine the dry ingredients. Pour all the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until everything is mixed completely. You do not need to beat it a lot, just stir until it’s a smooth batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place in the oven. It will take up to 50 minutes to bake, but I’d start checking it after about 40 minutes. A toothpick inserted should come out with moist crumbs and the top should spring back when you press on it gently.

Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack. Remove the parchment paper when you take the cake out of the pan.

Inspired by a recipe (https://cookienameddesire.com/chocolate-loaf-cake/) from the Cookie Named Desire site.
Year Round

Biscotti

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Perfect for dipping in vin santo or coffee
40 medium biscotti
Shopping List

280 grams all-purpose flour
120 grams sugar
150 grams mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, blanched hazelnuts)
1 tsp fennel seeds
3 eggs
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix

  • 2 eggs
  • 120 grams sugar
  • 3/4 tsp vanilla extract

Add

  • 280 grams all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • a pinch of salt

and knead with your hands to get a homogeneous mixture.

Before adding

  • 150 grams mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, blanched hazelnuts)
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds

to the mixture, break the walnuts in half. Incorporate everything into the mixture.

Divide the dough into two 9″ x 2″ rectangles; they’ll be about 1/2-inch high. Beat

  • 1 egg yolk with a little water

Place each piece of dough on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet and brush each with the egg wash. Bake about 15-20 minutes, until the dough swells and has turned golden brown.

Remove the pan from the oven, reduce the temperature to 275 F. Let the logs cool a few minutes then slice each into about 20 pieces. A sharp knife and decisive cutting (not sawing) works best. Lay each slice back on the baking sheet, without the parchment paper.

Put the biscotti back in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 275° F, flipping them over halfway through so they cook and dry thoroughly.

Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Inspired by the flavors from a recipe in the “Polpo” cookbook, with technique from thefoodellers.com.

Year Round

Colonial Poppy Seed Cake

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A moist poppy seed cake with a strong taste of poppy seeds.

Shopping List
1/2 cup poppy seeds (2-ounce jar)
3/4 cup milk
3 eggs
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1–1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking power
2 cups flour

Combine

  • 1/2 cup poppy seeds (2-ounce jar)
  • 3/4 cup milk

Let stand at room temperature three or four hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Let remaining ingredients warm to room temperature.

Place all ingredients in bowl of electric mixer, including poppy seed-milk mixture

  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter (should be very soft)
  • 1–1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons baking power
  • 2 cups flour

Beat at medium speed with electric mixer for one minute, scraping side of bowl with spatula. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan (8–1/4-by 4–1/2-inch or 9- by 5-inch).

Bake at 350° F for 75 minutes or until center springs back when lightly pressed with fingertip. Insert a toothpick and make sure it comes out clean.

Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes; remove from pan and continue to cool on rack.

  This cake freezes well. The recipe suggests dusting with powdered sugar, but neither Evan nor Bob recommends this. For this, or any recipe, for that matter.

Adapted from Family Circle magazine, August 28, 1979

Year Round

Blueberry Sauce

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Perfect with cheese blintzes, but it will work over ice cream and on other desserts.
Makes about 2 cups.
Shopping List
2 cups blueberries (frozen are fine)
1 TBL butter
2 TBL lemon juice
1/2 tsp cornstarch

This recipe makes a good topping for cheese Blintzes. See the recipe for Cheese Filling for Blintzes.

In a 2-quart saucepan, combine

  • 2 cups blueberries (frozen are fine)
  • 1 TBL butter
  • 2 TBL lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp cornstarch
  • pinch of salt

and cook over a medium-low heat, stirring as it comes to a gentle boil. Let simmer on a low heat, stirring regularly for about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Inspired by a Martha Stewart recipe.
Year Round

Roasted Banana Ice Cream

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To be clear, the bananas are roasted, not the ice cream!
1 quart
Shopping List
4 bananas, lightly speckled
2 TBL vegetable oil
2 TBL brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup coconut milk
1–1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 400º F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice

  • 4 bananas (ripe, with a few speckles), cut into 1/4-inch slices

Toss with

  • 2 TBL vegetable oil
  • 2 TBL brown sugar
  • pinch of salt

Spread on parchment paper and bake until caramelized, about 15-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

In a small saucepan, combine

  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp salt

Heat over medium heat just until sugar and salt dissolve. Let cool to room temperature. In a blender jar, combine the cooked bananas, sugar syrup and

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1–1/2 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream

♦︎If your blender can’t handle all of this, just blend what it can accommodate and stir in the rest in a bowl. Alternatively use an immersion blender. Pour the liquid through a fine metal strainer or cheesecloth.

Lightly toast and reserve

  • 3/4 cup walnut pieces, if desired

Chill the mixture for 2 hours and then process in an ice cream maker. Near the end of processing, before the ice cream is too hard, add the walnut pieces.

Inspired by a vegan banana ice cream recipe from the book Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream.
.

Year Round

Cranberry Walnut Buckwheat Shortbread

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Tasty, simple, and quite delicate. Also vegan and gluten-free.
Makes about 30 cookies

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1/2 cup coconut oil (or substitute Crisco, vegan margarine, etc.)

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup buckwheat flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350º F and lightly grease five 4-inch tart pans (see note at end).

In a stand mixer, combine

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add

  • 1 cup buckwheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix until the dough is smooth. Add

  • 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

and mix on low to incorporate. Press the dough into the tart pans and bake for 20 minutes, or until starting to get dark around the edges. Slice each into 6 triangles while still warm, then let cool completely.

Note: The original recipe (adapted from Gluten-Free and Vegan Holidays by Jennifer Katzinger) calls for one 9-inch tart pan, sliced into 10 triangles. These light, fragile cookies break easily which is why I suggest smaller pans and cookies.

Spring, Summer

Peach-Sweet Tea Sherbet

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I'm not a fan of sherbet but I really loved this: captures the taste of fresh peaches perfectly, and it's not icy.
1+ quart sherbet

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3  large fresh peaches (or frozen)

1/2 cup buttermilk

almond extract

1 tsp citric acid

1–1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

3 TBL black tea leaves (loose, not from tea bags)

2 tsp tapioca starch OR 4 tsp cornstarch

The book Hello, My Name is Ice Cream is an outstanding source of information and recipe ideas for ice cream. I found the amount of almond flavor overwhelming and suggest a smaller amount here.

Peel

  • 3 large fresh peaches

If using frozen peaches make sure they are peeled.

Cut the peaches into chunks and heat in a small saucepan, mashing. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool and strain through a medium-to-fine sieve. You need to obtain 1–1/4 cups peach puree and to it add

  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 couple drops (1/8 tsp) almond extract
  • 1 tsp citric acid

Refrigerate this mixture.

In a saucepan, combine

  • 1–1/2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup (The book provides other options)

Over medium heat, cook and stir until it comes to a full boil.  I prefer to use tapioca starch, but ♦ATTNif you are using cornstarch, add

  • 4 tsp cornstarch dissolved completely in 2 TBL water

Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.

If you are using tapioca starch, add

  • 2 tsp tapioca starch dissolved completely in 2 TBL water

Add

3 TBL black tea leaves (not from tea bags)

Steep for 6 minutes, but ♦ATTN no longer as it will impart a bitter taste. Strain the hot base through a fine sieve and cool in an ice bath. When the temperature is cool to the touch (50º F), combine with the peach mixture.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (to get a better texture). Churn in ice cream freezer. While  you can eat it right away, it’s much better packed and frozen for at least 4-6 hours.

Dana Cree’s excellent book Hello, My Name is Ice Cream

 

Spring, Summer

Mango Lassi Frozen Yogurt

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The hint of orange flower water really makes this frozen yogurt a delight. It's tangy.
1+ quart of frozen yogurt

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2 cups full fat Greek yogurt

2 or 3 fresh mangos or 300g frozen mango pieces

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 tsp orange flower water

1 cup heavy cream

2 TBL milk

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

2 tsp tapioca starch OR 4 tsp cornstarch

The recipe in Hello, My Name is Ice Cream is a much more nuanced description of how to make this frozen yogurt, giving you a number of options for thickeners (“texture agents”) and it has a more subtle mango flavor. I pushed up the mango puree volume substantially. I encourage you to track down the book if you have any interest in ways to improve the result through the use of other texture agents or alternatives to the corn syrup I used. Don’t use low-fat Greek yogurt: it will change the texture of the result because of the higher water ratio.

In a blender, puree about

  • 300g (3/4 pound) mango peeled cubes (fresh or defrosted)

run through a medium strainer to remove any stringy bits. You should have about 1–1/3 cups mango puree.

Combine and refrigerate

  • 1–1/3 cups mango puree
  • 2 cups full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp orange flower water
  • 1/2 tsp salt

In a saucepan, combine

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup  (The book provides other options)

Over medium heat, cook and stir until it comes to a full boil.  I prefer to use tapioca starch, but ♦ATTNif you are using cornstarch, add

  • 4 tsp cornstarch dissolved completely in 2 TBL cold milk

Reduce heat to a low boil and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.

If you are using tapioca starch, add

  • 2 tsp tapioca starch dissolved completely in 2 TBL cold milk

Cool the hot base mixture using an ice bath. When the temperature is cool to the touch (50º F), pour the base through a fine sieve to combine it with the mango mixture.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (to get a better texture). Churn in ice cream freezer. While  you can eat it right away, the frozen yogurt will have a  much better packed and frozen for at least 4-6 hours.

Dana Cree’s excellent book Hello, My Name is Ice Cream

 

Summer

Fresh Cherry Crostata

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Easy to make and adaptable to other fruit (see notes)
Makes a 12-inch crostata, serving about 8 people

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8 ounces (2 sticks) butter

1/4 cup sugar

2 TBL almond flour or blanched, slivered almond ground finely

2+ cups  flour

3 pounds fresh cherries, pitted (or other stone fruit)

1 TBL tapioca starch or corn starch (for other stone fruit)

A crostata is a homestyle pie that is made in a free-form shape on a flat pan.

In food processor bowl, combine

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 TBL sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Add

  • 6 ounces (1–1/2 sticks) cold butter, cut into dice

Pulse food processor until mixed. With the motor running, in a slow stream begin to add

  • 1/2 cup ice water

♦ATTN however you will not use all the water.  As soon as the dough starts to come together, stop the motor. (Discard any extra water.) Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap or place in a sealed container and ♦ATTN refrigerate for at least one hour.

Prepare the fruit just before the dough comes out of the oven. If using cherries, wash and pit them, removing stems. If using peaches or other larger stone fruit, peel them by dipping briefly in boiling water, cut into wedges or desired pieces..

Preheat oven to 400º F.

In a small bowl combine the following

  • 2 TBL almond flour
  • 1 TBL flour
  • 1 TBL sugar

♦ATTN If using fruit other than cherries, add

  • 1 TBL flour (for a total of 2 TBL)
  • 1 TBL tapioca starch

Roll the dough into a 15-inch circle, even up the edges of the dough and transfer to a baking tray that has sides Spread the almond/flour mixture in the center 12-inch circle and place the fruit in that area. Fold the outer 1–1/2 inch edge of dough in, making a pattern of decorative folds with the excess. Spread

  • 2 TBL melted butter

on the dough and then sprinkle with

  • 2 TBL sugar (sometimes I use coarser sugar)

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until the crust is lightly browned and the fruit is bubbling. Remove and serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Adapted from Food & Wine Magazine.

 

Year Round

Pâte Sucrée

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Shopping List

16 ounces (about 1–5/8 cups) all purpose flour

8 ounces (2 sticks) butter

5.5 ounces granulated sugar

2 eggs

1–1/2 Tbl heavy cream

1 Tbl vanilla extract

This is a sweet tart dough. Makes 2 tart shells. Use one, freeze one to use later.

Sift

  • 16 ounces (about 1–5/8 cups) all purpose flour

and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream

  • 8 ounces (2 sticks) butter
  • 5.5 ounces granulated sugar

on high speed until light and fluffy, stopping regularly to scrape down the sides, bottom and paddle, about 8 minutes. One at a time, add

  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk

and beat well between additions. Scrape one more time, then give it a good final mix on high speed. Add

  • the 16 ounces of sifted flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1–1/2 Tbl heavy cream
  • 1 Tbl vanilla extract

Mix on low until the dough comes together. Finish mixing by hand with a large rubber spatula. Divide the dough into two flat, round disks. Double wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least two hours.

One hour before baking, roll out the dough on a heavily floured surface, until it is just shy of 1/4-inch thick. Roll the dough back onto the rolling pin, then gently roll it out over the tart pan. Press the dough into the pan to shape it, then cut off the excess, leaving 1/4-inch of overhang. Chill for one hour.

Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the tart shell from the fridge, trim the overhang off of the edge of the tart, patch any thin parts or cracks with excess dough. Line the tart shell with foil and fill with weights or beans. Place the tart in the center of the bottom rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating halfway through. Remove the weights and foil, and continue to bake until the bottom is golden brown, about 15-20 additional minutes. Cool the shell completely before removing from the pan or filling.

 

 

Summer

Fig and Hazelnut Tart

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Shopping List

1 cup blanched hazelnuts, toasted

1/3+ cup granulated sugar

scant light brown sugar

1/2 tsp kosher salt

2 large eggs

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut into chunks

1 Tbl Frangelico

1 Tbl vanilla extract

about 15 fresh black figs

In an 8- to 10-inch tart pan, make

  • 1/2 recipe for Pâte Sucrée (Sweet Tart Dough), blind baked and cooled

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Adjust oven rack to middle position. In a food processor, combine

  • 1 cup blanched hazelnuts, toasted
  • 1/3+ cup granulated sugar
  • scant TBL light brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Pulse until the mixture is sandy and there aren’t large pieces of nuts left.  Add

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, cut into chunks
  • 1 Tbl Frangelico
  • 1 Tbl vanilla extract

and pulse until the eggs are smooth but chunks of butter are still visible, about 15 – 20 short pulses. Scrape the sides of the food processor and pulse an additional 5 times. Scrape the mixture into the cooled tart shell. Arrange

  • about 15 fresh black figs, stems trimmed and cut in half

cut side up on top of the filling.

Bake 20 minutes at 375°F, then rotate the tart 90 degrees on the rack. Lower the oven to 325°F and bake until the figs begin to bubble and caramelize and the filling turns golden brown all over, about 45 additional minutes, turning again halfway through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving.

Year Round

Flourless Orange and Almond Cake

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No butter, no oil, no flour: a delicious, moist cake with the flavor of almonds and orange. Served with a marmalade sauce.
Makes an 8-inch or 10-inch cake

Shopping List

2 navel oranges

65g or 100g brown sugar

130g or 200g granulated (white) sugar

4 or 6 eggs

165g or 250g almond flour

1 tsp or 1–1/2 tsp baking powder

orange marmalade

This recipe can make either an 8-inch or 10-inch pan. Whichever you use, ♦ATTNmake sure it is at least 1–1/2 inches high.

Simmer, covered thoroughly in water for 2 hours:

  • 2 navel oranges

Alternatively, place them in a 6-quart pressure cooker with enough water to cover (even if you have to hold them down to measure it) and process at high pressure for 20 minutes. Let pressure release naturally. Discard the water.

Preheat oven to 350º F. Line the bottom of the greased baking pan with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine

  • 65g or 100g brown sugar
  • 130g or 200g granulated (white) sugar
  • 4 or 6 eggs

Process until it forms a fluffy mixture. Cut the cooked unpeeled cooked oranges into 8 pieces. The two oranges I used weighed just over 600g (total) after cooking, so for the 8-inch cake I used only 400g of the orange and discarded the excess. For the 10-inch cake I used the total amount of the oranges. Add the orange pieces to the food processor and process until it has been fully incorporated: you’ll see small pieces of skin floating through the mixture. ♦ATTN For the larger cake I had to process it in two batches.

Combine in a bowl

  • 165g or 250g almond flour
  • 1 tsp or 1–1/2 tsp baking powder

Transfer the liquid mixture to a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake. ♦ATTNYou may need to cover the top loosely with foil if it starts to get too dark. The small cake takes about 45 to 55 minutes. The 10-inch cake bakes in 55 to 65 minutes.  A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes on a rack, run knife around pan and then invert twice (removing parchment paper) and leave it on a rack to finish cooling.

Thin out some orange marmalade with water at a simmer. Let cool. To serve, combine some mascarpone with milk or cream, served on the side of a slice of cake, drizzling the top of the wedge with a spoonful of the thinned marmalade mixture.

Adapted from the Polpo cookbook

 

Year Round

Almond Polenta Pound Cake

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We love this cake, but getting to this point was a little bit of torture. Read the story at the end of the recipe.
Makes one Bundt or 10-inch tube cake

Shopping List

3/4 cup (1–1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

1/2 cup (4 ounces) almond paste

1–1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

6 eggs

1–1/2 cups cake flour

3/4 cup coarse cornmeal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a Bundt or 10-inch tube pan.

Separate

  • 6 eggs

Reserve egg yolks. With electric mixer beat egg whites with

  • 1/4 cup sugar

until soft peaks form. In an electric mixer, cream together

  • 3/4 cup (1–1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup almond paste
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Scrape down the sides of the bowl frequently. Add all six egg yolks to butter-sugar mixture and blend well. In another bowl, sift together

  • 1–1/2 cups cake flour (or 1–1/2 cups less 3 tablespoons of sifted all-purpose flour)
  • 3/4 cup coarse cornmeal (I prefer the consistency of Quaker cornmeal)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

Add to the butter-sugar mixture. Add

  • 1 cup heavy cream

Mix until well blended and set aside.

Fold half the egg whites into the butter mixture and incorporate well. Gently fold in remaining whites and pour mixture into prepared pan.

Bake 65 minutes. Cake will be done with the top is golden and is firm to the touch. A toothpick inserted in the cake will come out clean when cake is completely baked.

Let the cake cool on the rack for ♦ATTN 15 minutes before turning out.

The original recipe calls for one 9-inch pan. When Bob mixed the batter, he knew he had a problem: it couldn’t all fit in one pan. He called the Coyote Cafe restaurant in Santa Fe, asked for the pastry chef, and told her his dilemma. She said, “Oh, the old pastry chef contributed most of the dessert recipes, and many of them have problems.” She even went as far as naming one recipe that should be completely avoided. Her suggestion was a bigger pan and longer baking. This is now one of our favorite recipes.

Adapted from Coyote Cafe, by Mark Miller

Winter

Dried Fruit Fruitcake

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My mother found the basis for this recipe in Family Circle or Good Housekeeping magazine around 1970 and made it several times. Before eating this, I thought fruitcake was awful, but this is a real delight.
2 loaves or 1 large round cake

Combine

  • 2 cups dried apples, finely chopped
  • 6 ounces dried apricots, chopped
  • 8 ounces pitted whole dates, snipped into small pieces
  • 1 cup currants
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3/4 cup calvados (or apple juice)

(Note that this totals to about 8 cups of fruit but the volume will vary depending on how it is packed and how large the pieces are cut.)  Let mixture stand 1 hour.

Meanwhile, stir together and set aside

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp ground allspice

Preheat over to 300º F. Make batter by creaming

  • 1 cup butter

Blend in

  • 1 cup sugar

One at a time, beating after each, add

  • 6 eggs

Add flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with a total of

  • 16 ounces applesauce

Stir in fruit after incorporating flour. Grease and flour pans: I use 2 9- by 5-inch loaf pans, but you may choose to make one large cake in a 10-inch tube pan.  The tube pan takes 2 hours to cook and the loaf pans take about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Cool cake(s) and remove from pan(s). Soak cheesecloth in

  • brandy as needed

wrapping cake(s) in cheesecloth, then in a plastic bag. Store the cake at room temperature, but avoid hot places. Check back on the cake every 2 weeks and if the cheesecloth has dried, be sure to re-soak the cloth and re-wrap the cake. The cakes will need about 6-8 weeks of aging before they are ready to eat.

♦ATTN The brandy you choose will change the flavor of the cake. A fruit-flavored brandy, such as Calvados or Grappa would probably be great. I’ve used Metaxa and been quite happy, but I’ve also had great results with cheap blackberry-flavored brandy, which is what my mother always used.