Ingredients for - Strawberry Mascarpone Cake
How to cook deliciously - Strawberry Mascarpone Cake
1. Stage
In a large bowl, combine the strawberries, sugar, orange zest, orange juice and almond extract. Cover and refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes.
2. Stage
Place the egg whites in a large bowl and let them stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the bottoms of two 8-inch round baking pans and line them with parchment paper. Editor's Tip: Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites beforehand, as cold eggs separate much easier. Then, be sure to let the egg whites sit at room temperature to make it simpler to beat them to soft glossy peaks.
3. Stage
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together twice and place them in another large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks, 1-1/4 cups of sugar, oil, water, orange zest and almond extract until blended. Add the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture and beat until well combined.
4. Stage
With clean beaters, beat the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until the sugar dissolves. Continue beating until soft, glossy peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into the batter, then fold in the remaining egg whites. Editor's Tip: There's a difference between soft and stiff peaks. Soft peaks form first. You know you have soft peaks when you have a definite peak shape on your whisk, but it's loose and melts back after a few seconds.
5. Stage
Gently transfer the batter to the prepared cake pans. Bake them on the lowest oven rack until the tops spring back when lightly touched, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes before removing them and transferring them to wire racks. Remove the parchment paper and let the cake layers cool completely.
6. Stage
Meanwhile, make the whipped cream. In a large bowl, beat the cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla, and beat until soft peaks form. Refrigerate, covered, for at least one hour. Editor's Tip: Chill the bowl and beaters ahead of time for the best whipped cream. It makes the whipping process easier and quicker.
7. Stage
In a small bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese and cream until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until you're ready to assemble the cake.
8. Stage
Drain the chilled strawberries, reserving the juice mixture. Using a serrated knife, trim the tops of the cakes if they're domed. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Brush the top with half of the reserved juice mixture and spread with 3/4 cup of the mascarpone filling. Arrange half of the strawberries over the top, creating an even layer. Spread with the remaining filling. Brush the remaining cake layer with the remaining juice mixture. Place the layer on top of the filling, brushed side down.
9. Stage
Gently stir the whipped cream and spread it over the top and sides of the cake. Just before serving, arrange the remaining strawberries over the cake.