Miniature Almond Cakes with Sugared Cherries and Kirsch Cream
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg whites
- 4 teaspoons powdered egg whites
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 3/4 cup superfine granulated sugar
- 20 sweet cherries with stems attached
- 1/2 cup chilled heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon kirsch
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Special equipment: a 1- to 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Butter a 9-inch square cake pan and line bottom with parchment or wax paper.
- Butter paper and dust pan with flour, knocking out excess.
- Whisk together yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, milk, and extract in a large bowl until combined well, then whisk in flour and salt.
- Beat whites with an electric mixer at high speed until they just hold soft peaks.
- Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, mixing at low speed until whites just hold stiff peaks.
- Stir about one third of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
- Pour batter into cake pan, spreading evenly, and bake in middle of oven until pale golden and a tester comes out clean, 14 to 16 minutes.
- Cool cake completely in pan on a rack.
- Whisk together powdered egg whites and warm water in a small bowl until combined well.
- Put superfine sugar in another small bowl.
- Holding 1 cherry by stem, brush evenly with some egg white and spoon sugar over it to coat.
- Transfer to a rack to dry and coat remaining cherries in same manner.
- Beat cream with kirsch and sugar using cleaned beaters until it holds stiff peaks.
- Cut out 20 rounds from cake with cookie cutter and transfer to a platter.
- Top each round with a teaspoon of kirsch cream, then top cream with a cherry.
egg yolks, sugar, milk, almond, allpurpose, salt, egg whites, powdered egg whites, warm water, sugar, sweet cherries, sugar, cutter
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/miniature-almond-cakes-with-sugared-cherries-and-kirsch-cream-105129 (may not work)