Apricot And Raisin Butter Cake
- 100 g raisins
- 100 g dried apricots, finely chopped
- 120 ml brandy or 120 ml apricot brandy
- 300 g cake flour, can use all purpose in a pinch (2 1/2 cup)
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 egg whites, at room temperature
- 15 g caster sugar (1 TB)
- 210 g unsalted butter, softened (1 cup minus 1 TB)
- 170 g caster sugar (3/4 cup)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (or lemon)
- 4 egg yolks, at room temperature
- 150 g low-fat plain yogurt, at room temperature
- Crumb Mixture
- 1/2 cup cashews, chopped
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 30 g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes (2 TB)
- Brandy Syrup
- 2 tablespoons brandy or 2 tablespoons apricot brandy
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- Soak raisins and chopped apricots in brandy for 2 hours (preferably overnight in the fridge) - See TIPS above
- Prepare crumb mixture by mixing all ingredients by hand/food processor until crumbly; set aside
- Sift flour, baking powder and salt together, set aside
- Whip egg whites with 1 TB sugar until they form stiff peaks (but not dry); set aside
- Cream butter and 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy
- Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition
- Next, add the soaked fruits with the brandy and stir gently
- Using LOW speed on your mixer, add the sifted flour mixture, alternating with the yogurt according to this sequence - flour-yogurt-flour-yogurt-flour, until well combined
- Now gently fold the whipped egg whites into the creamed mixture
- Pour half of the batter into greased and floured pan (bundt/square/round), followed by the crumb mixture, then finally all the remaining batter
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180u0b0C / 350u0b0F for 55 mins for Bundt pan, 25-30 mins for square/round pan, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean
- Remove from oven, cool in the pan for 10-15mins, then cool completely on wire racks
- For a very moist cake, sprinkle brandy syrup on warm cake (I poke some holes using toothpick all over the cake before sprinkling)
- To make brandy syrup - combine 2 TB brandy, 2 TB hot water and 2 tsp sugar; stir to dissolve sugar
- The cake is best made 1 day ahead
raisins, brandy, cake flour, baking powder, salt, egg whites, caster sugar, unsalted butter, caster sugar, vanilla, lime juice, egg yolks, lowfat plain yogurt, cashews, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, unsalted butter, syrup, brandy, water, sugar
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/apricot-and-raisin-butter-cake-116397 (may not work)