Lemon-Ginger Cake With Pistachios

Serves: 6

Jewel Boehm

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

47

Spice

52

Sweetness

51

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.1

Difficulty

Ingredients:

7 large

Egg

4 large

Egg Yolk

3 tbsps

Sugar

5 tsps

Ground Ginger

1 tbsp

Baking Powder

1.5 tsps

Fine Sea Salt

1.333333 cups

Whole Milk

1 cup

Water

Directions:

1

For lemon curd: Whisk eggs and yolks in large bowl

2

Combine lemon juice, butter, and sugar in medium metal bowl

3

Set over saucepan of simmering water; stir until sugar dissolves

4

Gradually whisk hot lemon mixture into egg mixture

5

Return mixture to bowl set over water; whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer registers 180°F, about 5 minutes

6

Pour curd through fine strainer set over bowl; stir in lemon peel

7

Place plastic wrap directly on surface of curd

8

Refrigerate until cold, at least 8 hours or overnight

9

(Can be made 2 days ahead

10

Keep refrigerated

11

) Whisk eggs and yolks in large bowl

12

Combine lemon juice, butter, and sugar in medium metal bowl

13

Set over saucepan of simmering water; stir until sugar dissolves

14

Gradually whisk hot lemon mixture into egg mixture

15

Return mixture to bowl set over water; whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer registers 180°F, about 5 minutes

16

Pour curd through fine strainer set over bowl; stir in lemon peel

17

Place plastic wrap directly on surface of curd

18

Refrigerate until cold, at least 8 hours or overnight

19

(Can be made 2 days ahead

20

Keep refrigerated

21

) For cake: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F

22

Lightly butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides

23

Line bottom of pans with parchment rounds

24

Sift first five ingredients into large bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment

25

Add butter, milk, and lemon peel and beat on medium-high speed until thick batter forms, about 2 minutes

26

Add 4 egg whites; beat until smooth

27

Add remaining 4 egg whites; beat until well blended and smooth

28

Divide batter between prepared pans (about generous 4 1/2 cups for each); smooth tops with offset spatula

29

Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into centers come out clean, about 45 minutes

30

Cool in pans on rack 10 minutes

31

Turn cakes out onto racks; remove parchment and cool completely

32

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

33

Wrap in foil and store at room temperature

34

) Cut domed tops from both cakes, making each cake 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 inches high

35

Using long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half

36

Place 3 cake layers on separate cardboard rounds or plates (reserve fourth cake layer for another use)

37

Spread 1/3 cup preserves over top of each of 3 cake layers

38

Transfer 1 cup curd to large bowl; reserve for mousse

39

Divide remaining curd among layers (generous 3/4 cup for each); spread evenly over preserves to edge of layers

40

Refrigerate layers separately while preparing mousse (do not stack cake layers)

41

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F

42

Lightly butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides

43

Line bottom of pans with parchment rounds

44

Sift first five ingredients into large bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment

45

Add butter, milk, and lemon peel and beat on medium-high speed until thick batter forms, about 2 minutes

46

Add 4 egg whites; beat until smooth

47

Add remaining 4 egg whites; beat until well blended and smooth

48

Divide batter between prepared pans (about generous 4 1/2 cups for each); smooth tops with offset spatula

49

Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into centers come out clean, about 45 minutes

50

Cool in pans on rack 10 minutes

51

Turn cakes out onto racks; remove parchment and cool completely

52

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

53

Wrap in foil and store at room temperature

54

) Cut domed tops from both cakes, making each cake 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 inches high

55

Using long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half

56

Place 3 cake layers on separate cardboard rounds or plates (reserve fourth cake layer for another use)

57

Spread 1/3 cup preserves over top of each of 3 cake layers

58

Transfer 1 cup curd to large bowl; reserve for mousse

59

Divide remaining curd among layers (generous 3/4 cup for each); spread evenly over preserves to edge of layers

60

Refrigerate layers separately while preparing mousse (do not stack cake layers)

61

For mousse: Pour 1/4 cup water into small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over

62

Let stand until gelatin softens, about 15 minutes

63

Place saucepan over low heat, stirring until gelatin dissolves, about 2 minutes (mixture will be lukewarm)

64

Stir gelatin into reserved 1 cup lemon curd

65

Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and 3 tablespoons sugar in large bowl until stiff but not dry

66

Fold egg whites into curd mixture in 2 additions; set aside until mousse begins to set slightly, about 10 minutes

67

Spoon 1/3 of lemon mousse (scant 1 cup) atop each layer, then spread gently to edges using offset spatula

68

Chill layers until mousse firms up slightly, about 30 minutes

69

Pour 1/4 cup water into small saucepan; sprinkle gelatin over

70

Let stand until gelatin softens, about 15 minutes

71

Place saucepan over low heat, stirring until gelatin dissolves, about 2 minutes (mixture will be lukewarm)

72

Stir gelatin into reserved 1 cup lemon curd

73

Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and 3 tablespoons sugar in large bowl until stiff but not dry

74

Fold egg whites into curd mixture in 2 additions; set aside until mousse begins to set slightly, about 10 minutes

75

Spoon 1/3 of lemon mousse (scant 1 cup) atop each layer, then spread gently to edges using offset spatula

76

Chill layers until mousse firms up slightly, about 30 minutes

77

Place 1 cake layer on platter

78

Gently top with second, then third, being careful not to press down firmly

79

Refrigerate at least 2 hours

80

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

81

Cover with cake dome and keep refrigerated

82

) Garnish top edge of cake with white chocolate curls

83

Sprinkle pistachios and crystallized ginger in center of cake

84

Place 1 cake layer on platter

85

Gently top with second, then third, being careful not to press down firmly

86

Refrigerate at least 2 hours

87

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead

88

Cover with cake dome and keep refrigerated

89

) Garnish top edge of cake with white chocolate curls

90

Sprinkle pistachios and crystallized ginger in center of cake