Cranberry Curd Almond Cake

• Vegetarian

• Produce

  • 6 oz Cranberries, fresh

• Refrigerated

  • 3 Egg
  • 2 Egg yolks

• Baking & Spices

  • 4 1/2 oz All-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp Almond extract
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 12 1/4 oz Granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract

• Nuts & Seeds

  • 2 oz Almonds
  • 3 tbsp Almonds, toasted

• Drinks

  • 1/2 cup Water or orange juice

• Dairy

  • 6 oz Butter, unsalted

Found on sugarhero.com

Ingredients

• 6 oz fresh cranberries (or defrosted frozen berries)
• ½ cup water or orange juice
• 2 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 5.25 oz (3/4 cup) granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 oz (1/2 cup) sliced almonds
• 4.5 oz (1 cup) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 4 oz unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 7 oz (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 TBSP toasted, sliced almonds

Directions

• First, make the cranberry puree. Combine the cranberries and orange juice (or water) in a small saucepan, and heat them, stirring occasionally, until the berries pop. Pour the cranberries into a blender and blend them well. If the mixture seems very thick, add 1-2 TBSP water to thin it out. Strain the cranberry puree through a mesh strainer to remove most of the bits of skin.
• Fill the bottom of a double boiler (or a regular saucepan) with about an inch of water and bring it to a simmer on the stovetop.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until the mixture is light and fluffy. Slowly add the egg and yolks, and beat for 1 minute more. Add the cranberry puree and mix—at this point the mixture might look curdled.
• Pour the liquid into the top of a double boiler or a bowl that fits snugly over your saucepan. (I actually like to use the metal mixing bowl that goes on my stand mixer so I’m not dirtying too many dishes.) Cook the mixture over the simmering water, whisking frequently, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. If you want to use a candy thermometer, cook the curd until it reaches 170-175 degrees F.
• Once the curd thickens, remove the pan from the heat and pour the curd through a strainer into a bowl to remove any bits of cooked egg. Press a layer of cling wrap directly on top of the curd, and refrigerate it until it is chilled and thick.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9-inch pan with a removable bottom (or a springform pan) with a parchment circle, and liberally spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place the 2 oz of sliced almonds in a food processor, and process until they’re fine crumbs. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, and pulse until everything is well-mixed. Set aside for now.
• Place the butter in the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, and add the granulated sugar. Cream them together for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each addition, then add the extracts. Finally, add the almond/flour mixture and mix on low speed until there are just a few streaks of flour remaining. Finish mixing by hand, scraping down the bottom and sides well with a spatula.
• Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Top with most of the cranberry curd, reserving 3-4 tablespoons for later use. Spread the curd in an even layer on top of the cake, and leave a ½-inch margin around the edge. Sprinkle the toasted sliced almonds and a bit of granulated sugar on the edges of the cake batter.
• Bake the cake for 40 minutes, until puffed and golden and barely jiggling in the center. It might puff up in the middle—insert a thin paring knife into the center to deflate any air bubbles. Let it cool to room temperature, then spread the reserved cranberry curd on top to give it a nice shiny look. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and release the cake. Sprinkle the edges with a bit of powdered sugar and serve!