Italian Cassata Cake

Serves: 4

Kendrick Gleason

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

54

Spice

54

Sweetness

57

Sourness

38

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.3

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Marsala Wine

1 cup

White Sugar

2 tbsps

Heavy Cream

Directions:

1

Combine dried currants and 2 tablespoons Marsala in small bowl

2

Let soak for 15 minutes

3

Drain cherries and cut into eighths; drain on paper towels

4

Drain currants

5

In a food processor, puree ricotta cheese, sugar, 3 tablespoons Marsala and whipping cream until smooth

6

Transfer to medium bowl

7

Gently mix in currants and cherries

8

Peel any loose crust from pound cake and discard

9

Cut pound cake lengthwise into 3 horizontal layers

10

Place bottom layer on serving platter

11

Spread half of filling over

12

Place second pound cake layer on top of filling

13

Spread remaining filling over

14

Arrange third pound cake layer on top of filling

15

Smooth sides with rubber spatula

16

Refrigerate cassata until filling is firm, about 2 hours

17

To make the chocolate frosting: Combine 1/2 cup reserved cherry syrup, semisweet chocolate and 1/4 cup Marsala in heavy medium saucepan

18

Stir over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth

19

Remove from heat

20

Add unsalted butter a few pieces at a time and whisk until melted

21

Refrigerate frosting until thickened to spreading consistency, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes

22

Slide sheets of waxed paper under edges of cassata to protect the serving dish

23

Put 1 cup chocolate frosting to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip

24

Spread remaining chocolate frosting over sides and top of cassata

25

Pipe frosting in pastry bag in swirls on long sides and in rosettes along upper edges of cassata

26

Refrigerate for several hours until set

27

Let cassata stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving