Hazelnut Crunch Cake With Honeyed Kumquats

Serves: 5

Clair Leannon

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

53

Spice

49

Sweetness

47

Sourness

45

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

3 tbsps

Sugar

1 cup

Water

1.5 cups

Chardonnay

3 cup

Honey

1 tbsp

Baking Powder

3 tsp

Salt

3 large

Egg Yolk

1.25 cups

Whole Milk

5 large

Egg White

4 tsps

Cognac

Directions:

1

For nut crunch: Line baking sheet with foil

2

Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium–low heat until sugar dissolves

3

Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing down sides with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally

4

Mix in nuts

5

Pour onto foil; cool completely

6

Coarsely chop nut crunch

7

Set aside

8

Line baking sheet with foil

9

Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium–low heat until sugar dissolves

10

Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing down sides with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally

11

Mix in nuts

12

Pour onto foil; cool completely

13

Coarsely chop nut crunch

14

Set aside

15

For kumquats: Starting at rounded end, cut cross into each kumquat to within 1/4 inch of stem end

16

Bring wine, sugar, honey, and star anise to boil in heavy large saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves

17

Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean

18

Add kumquats; simmer until almost tender, about 8 minutes

19

Using slotted spoon, transfer kumquats to plate; cool

20

Seed and finely chop enough kumquats to measure 2/3 cup (reserve remaining kumquats)

21

Gently boil kumquat syrup until reduced to 11/4 cups, about 12 minutes

22

Cool

23

Starting at rounded end, cut cross into each kumquat to within 1/4 inch of stem end

24

Bring wine, sugar, honey, and star anise to boil in heavy large saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves

25

Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean

26

Add kumquats; simmer until almost tender, about 8 minutes

27

Using slotted spoon, transfer kumquats to plate; cool

28

Seed and finely chop enough kumquats to measure 2/3 cup (reserve remaining kumquats)

29

Gently boil kumquat syrup until reduced to 11/4 cups, about 12 minutes

30

Cool

31

For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F

32

Line 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1–inch or 17 x 11 x 3/4–inch baking sheet with foil; butter and flour foil

33

Finely grind nuts with flour in processor; transfer to medium bowl

34

Whisk in baking powder, spice, and salt

35

Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended

36

Beat in yolks and extracts

37

Beat in dry ingredients alternately with milk in several additions, just until combined

38

Using clean dry beaters, beat whites in another large bowl until stiff but not dry

39

Fold 1/3 of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites

40

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan

41

Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes for 17 x 11–inch cake and 28 minutes for 15 1/2 x 10 1/2–inch cake

42

Cool cake in pan on rack 20 minutes

43

Run knife around cake to loosen

44

Turn cake out onto foil–lined rack; cool completely

45

Cut hazelnut cake crosswise into 3 equal pieces

46

Preheat oven to 350°F

47

Line 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1–inch or 17 x 11 x 3/4–inch baking sheet with foil; butter and flour foil

48

Finely grind nuts with flour in processor; transfer to medium bowl

49

Whisk in baking powder, spice, and salt

50

Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended

51

Beat in yolks and extracts

52

Beat in dry ingredients alternately with milk in several additions, just until combined

53

Using clean dry beaters, beat whites in another large bowl until stiff but not dry

54

Fold 1/3 of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites

55

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan

56

Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes for 17 x 11–inch cake and 28 minutes for 15 1/2 x 10 1/2–inch cake

57

Cool cake in pan on rack 20 minutes

58

Run knife around cake to loosen

59

Turn cake out onto foil–lined rack; cool completely

60

Cut hazelnut cake crosswise into 3 equal pieces

61

For frosting: Combine all ingredients in large bowl; beat to soft peaks (do not overbeat or mixture will curdle)

62

Place 1 cake piece on platter

63

Spread 3/4 cup frosting over; sprinkle with 1/3 cup chopped kumquats and 1/3 cup nut crunch, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons kumquat syrup

64

Top with second cake piece

65

Spread 3/4 cup frosting over; sprinkle with 1/3 cup chopped kumquats and 1/3 cup nut crunch, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons kumquat syrup

66

Top with third cake piece

67

Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake

68

Drain remaining kumquats; remove seeds and any attached pulp

69

Top cake with kumquats, arranging like flowers

70

Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill cake

71

Store remaining nut crunch and kumquat syrup at room temperature

72

Press remaining nut crunch around sides of cake

73

Drizzle 2 tablespoons syrup over cake and serve

74

Combine all ingredients in large bowl; beat to soft peaks (do not overbeat or mixture will curdle)

75

Place 1 cake piece on platter

76

Spread 3/4 cup frosting over; sprinkle with 1/3 cup chopped kumquats and 1/3 cup nut crunch, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons kumquat syrup

77

Top with second cake piece

78

Spread 3/4 cup frosting over; sprinkle with 1/3 cup chopped kumquats and 1/3 cup nut crunch, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons kumquat syrup

79

Top with third cake piece

80

Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake

81

Drain remaining kumquats; remove seeds and any attached pulp

82

Top cake with kumquats, arranging like flowers

83

Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill cake

84

Store remaining nut crunch and kumquat syrup at room temperature

85

Press remaining nut crunch around sides of cake

86

Drizzle 2 tablespoons syrup over cake and serve