Torta di Fragola -- Strawberry Cake
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 pkg. savoiardi (lady fingers)
- 3 lb. strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam
- 1 container (8-1/2 oz.) mascarpone cheese
- 1 pint heavy cream, chilled
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 sprig fresh mint for a garnish
- Make one cup of simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat, boiling briefly until clear.
- Remove from the heat and let cool thoroughly.
- Line the bottom of a 13x9-inch pan with two rows of Savoiardi.
- It will take about 20 of the fingers and you may have to snip off the ends of one of the rows to make the lady fingers lay flat.
- Slice up about 2/3 of the strawberries and cover the Savoiardi layer well.
- Drizzle about half of the cooled simple syrup over the bottom berry-Savoiardi layer.
- In a small bowl mix the strawberry jam and all of the Mascarpone cheese by hand, creaming the two together well.
- In a separate, larger bowl, beat just 1 cup of the chilled heavy cream into whipped cream, stirring in a teaspoon of vanilla and a tablespoon of sugar at the end.
- Lighten the Mascarpone mix by stirring in a spoonful of the whipped cream, before folding the rest of it back into the larger bowl of whipped cream.
- Spoon the Mascarpone mix onto the berry layer, spreading it out to the edges.
- Press another 22 fingers into the that creamy layer.
- Slice the remaining berries and layer them over the lady fingers.
- Drizzle the torte with the remaining sugar syrup.
- Allow to settle, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for no more than 6 hours.
- It will get soggy if you do.
- Just before serving, whip more cream and decorate the top.
- This is a large torte, serving at least a dozen people.
- Halve it if you would like a smaller rendition.
- Use a small pan to build it in also.
sugar, water, savoiardi, strawberries, strawberry jam, mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, vanilla, sugar, mint
Taken from www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/18855 (may not work)