Giada Italian Cream Cake Recipes

ITALIAN ALMOND CAKE - GIADA DE LAURENTIIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter and lightly flour an 8-inch round cake pan (or use vegetable spray).
• In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, cake flour, and baking flour, whisking well to mix; set aside.
• In an electric mixer and using a paddle beater, beat together the softened butter and almond paste on high speed until very smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the confectioners' sugar, mixing until well combined and the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Increase the speed to high, then add the vanilla, whole eggs, and the egg yolks one at a time; mix until incorporated well.
• Reduce the speed to medium then add the sour cream and the cornmeal mixture, and mix until just blended (don't overmix- only mix for a couple of minutes, tops).
• Pour the cake batter into the greased pan and smooth the top with the back of a large spoon or a spatula.
• Bake at 350 degrees F in the lower third of the oven for 35 minutes, or until the color of the cake is golden and the batter pulls away from the side of the pan.
• Remove from oven, place pan on wire rack, and let cool.
• Turn the cake out from the pan, place on serving platter or dish, and dust with confectioners' sugar.
• Serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with vegetable spray. An alternative is to butter and flour the cake pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, cake flour and baking powder and set aside.
• Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and almond paste on high speed until smooth, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low and slowly add confectioners' sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined and light and fluffy. Raise speed to high and add the vanilla extract, whole eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time. Mix until well combined. Reduce speed to medium and add the sour cream and dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake in the lower third of the oven for 35 minutes, or until the cake is golden and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool. Remove from pan and dust with confectioners' sugar.

CIAMBELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Position a rack one above the center position. Spray the inside of a 9 or 10 inch bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, use a band mixer to beat together the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy and pale in color, about 3 minutes. Add the olive oil, milk, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla extract to the bowl and beat again on medium speed until smooth and combined. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and fennel seed to the liquid ingredients and beat on low speed until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for approximately 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without and crumbs. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Carefully invert the cake onto a wire rack and cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

TORTA DI MELE (ITALIAN APPLE CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan.
• Mix together the apples, granulated sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• For the cake, combine the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Using a hand-held mixer, beat on medium high until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully combined, then add the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and yogurt. Beat on low speed until a few streaks remain, then fold together with a rubber spatula until fully combined. (Do not overmix.)
• Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with half of the apple mixture. Spread the batter over the top of the apples. Top the batter with the remaining apples, making decorative rows across the cake. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Allow the cake to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar and serving.

ITALIAN CREME CAKE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cream shortening and margarine until even consistency. Add sugar and vanilla, cream until even. Add egg yolks 1 at a time, creaming after each addition.
• In a separate bowl, mix the maraschino cherry juice and buttermilk.
• In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking soda.
• Add half of the wet ingredients to the creamed mixture and then mix into the dry ingredients. Repeat with the other half of ingredients.
• Fold in coconut.
• Beat egg whites to stiff peaks and fold into the mixture.
• Divide mixture between 2 greased floured layer pans and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before icing.
• Beat first 4 ingredients until light and creamy. Spread mixture/icing between layers and over entire surface. Press toasted nuts around the periphery of the cake and arrange the remaining nuts on the top.

ITALIAN CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• For Cake: HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Spray three 9-inch round cake pans with no-stick cooking spray with flour. Beat shortening in large bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time; beat until blended after each addition. Add vanilla; beat until blended.
• COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt; stir well. Add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in coconut and pecans.
• BEAT egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared baking pans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
• For Frosting: MIX cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and butter in large bowl at low speed of electric mixer until ingredients are well combined. Beat at high speed until light and fluffy. Spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish top of cake, if desired, with coconut and pecans and sprinkle coconut around bottom of cake. Chill several hours or until serving time.