White Chocolate Easter Cake With Strawberries

Serves: 5

Ellsworth Rath

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

42

Spice

52

Sweetness

49

Sourness

38

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Sugar

4 large

Egg Yolk

5 large

Egg White

Directions:

1

To make cake: Preheat oven to 350°F

2

Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high-sides

3

Bring half and half to simmer in small saucepan

4

Remove from heat

5

Add chocolate and vanilla and stir until smooth; cool to room temperature

6

Finely grind pistachios with flour and baking powder in processor

7

Using electric mixer, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar in large bowl until fluffy

8

Add yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition

9

Beat in flour mixture alternately with white chocolate mixture in 2 additions each

10

Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form

11

Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff but not dry

12

Fold whites into batter in 2 additions

13

Divide batter between prepared pans

14

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes

15

Cool 10 minutes

16

Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes

17

Turn out cakes onto racks; cool completely

18

Hull and slice 2 baskets strawberries

19

Place 1 cake layer on platter

20

Spread 1 cup buttercream over

21

Arrange enough berry slices over to cover

22

Spread 1 cup buttercream over

23

Arrange another layer of sliced berries over to cover

24

Spread thin layer of buttercream over second cake layer and place cake, buttercream side down, atop berries

25

Press gently to adhere

26

Spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake

27

Chill cake until buttercream is firm, about 1 hour

28

Knead marzipan in medium bowl to soften

29

Shape marzipan into disk

30

Dust work surface with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

31

Roll out marzipan disk on powdered sugar to 9 1/2-round

32

Place on cake; press to adhere to top and gently press overhang onto sides of cake

33

Beat whipping cream and remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar in large bowl to firm peaks

34

Transfer to large pastry bag fitted with medium star tip

35

Pipe cream in side-by-side columns up sides of cake

36

Pipe border of rosettes around top edge of cake

37

Refrigerate cake until cold, at least 2 hours

38

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

39

Cover with cake dome and keep refrigerated

40

Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before continuing

41

) Arrange remaining whole strawberries in center of cake

42

Preheat oven to 350°F

43

Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high-sides

44

Bring half and half to simmer in small saucepan

45

Remove from heat

46

Add chocolate and vanilla and stir until smooth; cool to room temperature

47

Finely grind pistachios with flour and baking powder in processor

48

Using electric mixer, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar in large bowl until fluffy

49

Add yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition

50

Beat in flour mixture alternately with white chocolate mixture in 2 additions each

51

Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form

52

Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff but not dry

53

Fold whites into batter in 2 additions

54

Divide batter between prepared pans

55

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes

56

Cool 10 minutes

57

Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes

58

Turn out cakes onto racks; cool completely

59

Hull and slice 2 baskets strawberries

60

Place 1 cake layer on platter

61

Spread 1 cup buttercream over

62

Arrange enough berry slices over to cover

63

Spread 1 cup buttercream over

64

Arrange another layer of sliced berries over to cover

65

Spread thin layer of buttercream over second cake layer and place cake, buttercream side down, atop berries

66

Press gently to adhere

67

Spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake

68

Chill cake until buttercream is firm, about 1 hour

69

Knead marzipan in medium bowl to soften

70

Shape marzipan into disk

71

Dust work surface with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

72

Roll out marzipan disk on powdered sugar to 9 1/2-round

73

Place on cake; press to adhere to top and gently press overhang onto sides of cake

74

Beat whipping cream and remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar in large bowl to firm peaks

75

Transfer to large pastry bag fitted with medium star tip

76

Pipe cream in side-by-side columns up sides of cake

77

Pipe border of rosettes around top edge of cake

78

Refrigerate cake until cold, at least 2 hours

79

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

80

Cover with cake dome and keep refrigerated

81

Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before continuing

82

) Arrange remaining whole strawberries in center of cake

83

To make frosting: Bring half and half and pistachios to boil in heavy small saucepan

84

Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour

85

Whisk sugar, yolks and flour in medium bowl to blend

86

Bring half and half mixture to simmer; gradually whisk into yolk mixture

87

Return to same saucepan; stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles thickly, about 5 minutes

88

Mix in vanilla

89

Transfer to processor; blend until nuts are very finely chopped

90

Transfer pistachio pastry cream to bowl

91

Cover and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours

92

Using electric mixer, beat unsalted butter in large bowl until fluffy

93

Add pastry cream by 1/4 cupfuls, beating well after each addition

94

(Can be prepared 2 days ahead

95

Cover and refrigerate

96

Bring to room temperature before using

97

) Bring half and half and pistachios to boil in heavy small saucepan

98

Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour

99

Whisk sugar, yolks and flour in medium bowl to blend

100

Bring half and half mixture to simmer; gradually whisk into yolk mixture

101

Return to same saucepan; stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles thickly, about 5 minutes

102

Mix in vanilla

103

Transfer to processor; blend until nuts are very finely chopped

104

Transfer pistachio pastry cream to bowl

105

Cover and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours

106

Using electric mixer, beat unsalted butter in large bowl until fluffy

107

Add pastry cream by 1/4 cupfuls, beating well after each addition

108

(Can be prepared 2 days ahead

109

Cover and refrigerate

110

Bring to room temperature before using)