Fluffy Orange Shortcake
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 6 eggs, separated
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 23 cup orange or other marmalade
- 3 tablespoons eau de vie
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 cup candied orange, grapefruit or lemon peel, cut into slivers
- Have ready an ungreased 10-inch tube pan.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Sift flour, measure, resift 3 times with baking powder, salt and 3/4 cup sugar.
- Put the egg yolks into a mixer fitted with a whisk, add 1/4 cup cold water and the lemon juice, then beat on medium speed until thick and spongy, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Without stopping the beaters, gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and the vanilla and beat until mixture is again thick and spongy.
- Now turn the mixer to the lowest speed and add flour in 4 portions, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl constantly with a spatula.
- Beat until batter is smooth.
- Fold in the lemon zest.
- Remove and clean the whisk.
- In another mixer bowl (or in a bowl with a hand whisk), quickly beat the egg whites until stiff enough to form peaks, then beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar until the whites form shiny pointed peaks that curve at the tips.
- Fold the yolk mixture into the whites, lightly but thoroughly.
- Flow batter into the tube pan.
- Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched.
- Remove from the oven and invert over a large funnel or bottle.
- When just cooled, remove the cake from the pan using a thin-bladed knife.
- Slice the cake into 4 layers.
- Wrap and freeze 2 layers for up to 2 months.
- Ice the other two and eat now.
- Place one layer on a cake plate.
- In a small pan, warm the marmalade and eau de vie until loose, then brush this on the bottom layer.
- Whip the cream with the confectioners' sugar until it holds soft peaks; sweeten with more sugar if you like.
- Spread about 1 cup of the cream over the marmalade (now cooled).
- Place the second layer of cake on top, then ice the cake with the remaining whipped cream and decorate the top with slivers of candied peel.
- Chill and serve within 2 hours.
flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, lemon zest, orange, heavy cream, sugar, candied orange
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/6727 (may not work)