THEThe idea of a portioned cake at the start is perfectly practical. This chocolate one is already decorated. Therefore there is no obstacle to presenting it in a simple serving dish in almost raw ceramic. Rectangular to contain it all, of a lighter shade to fully highlight the chocolate colour.
INGREDIENTS X 8:
260 g 00 flour
150 g sugar
110 g butter
450 g Golden apples (270 g puree)
8 g baking powder
2 eggs
70 g bitter cocoa powder
120g 60% dark chocolate
80 g raisins
50 g walnut kernels
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
1 pinch of grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
salt.
For the decoration:
1 Royal Gala apple
20 g butter
20 g sugar
1/2 lemon.
Procedure
Soak the raisins in warm water for 15 minutes. Peel the apples, cut them into cubes and cook them covered in a saucepan with 4 tablespoons of water until they become very soft. Raise the flame and let the cooking liquid evaporate completely. Blend them with an immersion blender and let them cool.
Spiced chocolate, apple and walnut cake. Recipe by Claudia Compagni, photos by Luca Colombo – Studio XL, taken from “Cakes and tarts” (Il Cucchiaio d’Argento).
For decoration, cut the Royal Gala apple into 4 segmentsremove the core, cut it into segments and then in half and cook it for 5 minutes with the butter, brown sugar and a teaspoon of lemon juice until it is cooked and caramelised.
Work the very soft butter with the sugar with a hand whisk until you obtain a soft cream, add the separately beaten eggs, the apple puree and mix. Add 50 grams of cocoa sifted with the flour and yeast, cinnamon, spices, drained and squeezed raisins, coarsely chopped walnut kernels, finely chopped chocolate and a pinch of salt and mix.
Cakes and tarts (The Silver Spoon)
Pour the mixture into an 18×23 centimeter mold covered with baking paper and bake the cake in a preheated oven at 180° for 50 minutes. Remove it from the mold, transfer it to a wire rack and let it cool. Cut it into squaresarrange a slice of caramelized apple on each and serve.
The pastry chef c’est moi
Purchased from a pastry shop or homemade? The second option earns points and self-esteem. The assist comes from Cakes and tarts (The Silver Spoon), with its 80 recipes of different levels. From the teacher’s plum cake to the marbled donut with gianduia icing.
