Italian Rum Squares Recipes

RUM SQUARES

Steps:

• MAKE THE SPONGE CAKE
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 11 x 9-inch quarter-sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Combine the eggs, sugar, and salt in a stainless-steel bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Lightly whisk until the temperature of the mixture reaches 110°F. This will help add volume to your sponge.
• Transfer the egg mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the wire whisk attachment (or use a hand mixer), and whip on high speed until very light, pale, and thick, 10 to 12 minutes. I always set a timer for this stage because it is so important.
• Carefully fold in flour, a quarter at a time, being careful not to deflate the foam.
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake the cake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown and the center springs back when touched.
• Remove the pan from the oven. Cool the cake in the pan completely before assembling. (The cake can be made and frozen 2 weeks in advance. Thaw before assembly.)
• BAKE THE PASTRY
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Place the puff pastry sheets on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Prick the pastry with a fork and brush with egg wash.
• . Bake the pastry for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown, pricking the pastry with a fork every 5 minutes. This will keep the pastry flat
• MAKE THE PASTRY CREAM
• . In a medium saucepan over low heat, bring 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup sugar just to a boil. In a mixing bowl, whisk cornstarch, egg yolks, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and remaining 1 cup milk.
• . Slowly whisk hot milk mixture into egg mixture in a thin stream. Return the mixture to the pan and whisk constantly over low heat until boiling and thick. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and butter.
• . Transfer half the mixture to a small bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming on top. Cool completely before using.
• . Add the chocolate to the remaining half of the mixture and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a small bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming on top. Cool completely before using. (The pastry cream can be made 1 to 3 days in advance. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate.)
• MAKE THE RUM SYRUP
• . In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil. Boil until the sugar has dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the rum.
• ASSEMBLE THE RUM SQUARES
• . Spread the chocolate pastry cream over one layer of puff pastry. Top with the layer of sponge cake. Brush and soak the sponge cake with rum syrup. Spread a layer of vanilla pastry cream on top of the sponge cake and top with the remaining layer of puff pastry. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Slice into 2-inch squares with a serrated knife. Place in paper liners, if desired.

QUICK ITALIAN RUM CAKE CUPS

Steps:

• Separate lady fingers or spread out 4 individual sponge cakes on a work surface. Using a pastry brush, liberally paint the cake with rum. Line small dessert cups or small glass bowls with cake. Top with heaping spoonfuls of prepared vanilla instant pudding, about 1/2 cup per dessert cup. Sprinkle sliced strawberries with sugar and toss to coat. Top dessert cups with sliced berries and sliced almonds and serve or refrigerate.

ITALIAN RUM CAKE

Steps:

• Italian Sponge Cake (Pan di Spagna):.
• Place egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat until very thick and lemon colored (mixture should be at least doubled in volume, and thick like frosting - it can take up to 15 minutes (or longer with a hand mixer) of beating to reach the proper volume/texture) .
• Add flour, a little at a time, gently folding it in until well blended.
• Gently fold in vanilla and lemon rind (if using it).
• Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry and fold into cake mixture.
• Butter and flour an 18-inch square (or a 9 x 13 x 3, or a 11 x 17 x 2-inch half-sheet) cake pan, (make sure pan size will fit your oven; you could also use three 8 or 9-inch layer pans).
• Pour cake batter into prepared pan(s) and bake at 375°F for 15 to 35 minutes (depending on your oven and the volume of your pans.), or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Remove cake from oven and turn out (of pan) onto a cake rack to cool completely.
• Cake can be tightly wrapped and refrigerated overnight, or frozen (up to 3 weeks) for future use.
• Italian Pastry Cream (Pasticciera Cream): Place sugar, egg yolks, flour, lemon rind (if using it), and vanilla in a sauce pan and mix together well.
• In a separate sauce pan, scald milk.
• Very slowly pour milk over egg yolk mixture, in a thin stream, beating constantly with rotary beater.
• Continue cooking on low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until mixture reaches the boiling point.
• Cook 4 minutes longer, stirring constantly.
• Remove pan from heat, add butter and mix well.
• Pour into bowl and let cool, stir occasionally to prevent skin from forming over the top.
• If using as a filling, chill (with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming) until very thick (about 3-4 hours).
• Chocolate Pasticciera Cream: Place sugar, egg yolks flour, and vanilla in a sauce pan and mix together well.
• In a separate sauce pan, scald milk.
• Very slowly pour milk over egg yolk mixture, in a thin stream, beating constantly with rotary beater.
• Continue cooking on low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until mixture reaches the boiling point.
• Cook 4 minutes longer, stirring constantly.
• Add chocolate and while stirring, cook 1 minute longer.
• Remove pan from heat, add butter and mix well.
• Pour into bowl and let cool, stir occasionally to prevent skin from forming over the top.
• If using as a filling, chill (with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming) until very thick (about 3-4 hours).
• Rum Syrup*: Mix together the water, sugar, and rum in a small pot.
• Bring to a boil, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
• Remove from the heat and cool before using.
• *NOTE:If you prefer not to use rum syrup, you may sprinkle/brush cake layers with 1/3 cup rum which has been diluted with 1/4 cup water.
• Stabilized Whipped Cream - Corn Syrup Method: In a large chilled bowl, with chilled beaters, beat cold cream until it just starts to thicken.
• Add corn syrup and vanilla from the side of the bowl, and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Stabilized Whipped Cream - Gelatin Method: Prepare gelatin- Soak plain gelatin in cold water for 5 minutes.
• Dissolve by placing it in a container over a small pot of simmering water, stir until dissolved.
• Set aside to cool before using.
• In a large well-chilled bowl, with well chilled beaters, beat cream with electric mixer.
• Just before it becomes soft and billowy, slowly add the sugar and vanilla to the whipped cream at the sides of the bowl, continue to whip as you do.
• Whip the cream until barely stiff.
• Add melted and cooled gelatin all at once to cream during whipping.
• Stop whipping when cream forms soft peaks.
• Finish beating with whisk to adjust consistency to stiff peaks.
• Use/serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until needed.
• If peaks have softened during refrigeration, rewhip by hand using a whisk.
• Rum Cake Assembly Instructions: Slice sponge cake in half to form two 9 x 18-inch layers Using a long, thin bladed knife, cut/split each layer in half lengthwise making four thin 9 x 18-inch layers.
• Place bottom sponge layer on platter cut side up, sprinkle/brush with about 1/4 of the rum, be careful not to get the cake too wet, or layers will become soggy.
• Allow sprinkled/brushed rum to soak into the cake for about 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle/brush remaining sponge layers (on the cut side) evenly with remaining rum.
• Spread a layer of vanilla pasticciera cream on the first sponge layer.
• Top the vanilla cream layer with another layer of rum sprinkled sponge cake.
• Spread a layer of stabilized whipped cream on the second sponge layer.
• Top the whipped cream layer with another layer of rum sprinkled sponge cake.
• Spread a layer of chocolate pasticciera cream on the third sponge layer.
• Top the chocolate layer with the last layer of sponge cake.
• Frost the top sponge cake layer (and sides of cake, optional) with remaining stabilized whipped cream.
• Cover and refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
• Refrigerate any leftovers.

ITALIAN RUM CAKE RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• CAKE: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter two 8 or 9-inch round cake pans. Line the bottom of the pans with circles of waxed paper or parchment. Using an electric mixer with a large bowl, begin to beat the eggs at low speed. Gradually add the sugar and then add the vanilla. Increase the speed to high. Beat the eggs until very thick and pale yellow, about 7 minutes. Place the flour in a mesh strainer. Shake about 1/3 of the flour over the egg mixture. Gently fold in the flour with a rubber spatula. Repeat, adding the flour in 2 more additions. Fold the mixture until all the flour is incorporated. Divide the batter between the 2 prepared cake pans; smooth the tops. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. The cake should spring back when pressed with a finger and the top is lightly browned. Place the cake pans on wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Invert the cakes onto the racks and remove the pans. Carefully peel off the paper. Let cool completely before adding rum, filling, and icing. PREPARE THE CREAM FILLING: Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. In a bowl, whisk together milk and egg yolks Whisk milk mixture into sugar mixture. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Boil for 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Transfer 2/3 of the pastry cream to a bowl. Add the chopped chocolate to the cream remaining in the saucepan. Stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Transfer the chocolate pastry cream to another bowl. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry creams. Allow to cool for 30 minutes and then refrigerate until cold. ASSEMBLE THE CAKE: Cut both cake layers in half horizontally. Place one of the layers on a serving dish, cut side up. Brush some of the rum over the cake (you want to moisten it without soaking it.) Spread half of the vanilla pastry cream evenly over the cake. Top with a second layer of cake, cut side up. Brush some of the rum over the cake. Spread all of the chocolate pastry cream over the cake. Top with the third layer of cake, cut side up. Brush some of the rum over the cake. Spread the remaining vanilla pastry cream evenly over the cake. Top with the final layer of cake, cut side down. Refrigerate the cake while you prepare the icing. To make the icing and garnish the cake: Beat the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla together until stiff peaks form. Frost sides and top of cake, reserving some of the cream to pipe stars. Put the reserved whipped cream in a pastry bag; set aside. With the palm of your hand, press the almonds onto the side of the cake. Using the pastry bag, pipe stars around the bottom and top edge of the cake. MAKE THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE: Put the chopped chocolate and cream in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 25-30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Heat for additional time if the chocolate is not completely melted and smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature. Apply the chocolate ganache in a decorative design to the top of the cake. You may also use the ganache to write a Happy Birthday or other message on the top. Refrigerate the cake until serving. OPTIONAL BUTTERCREAM ICING: If you'd rather have a buttercream frosting instead of a whipped cream frosting, this is the recipe I'd recommend. It gives the finished cake a different flavor. With an electric mixer, beat together the shortening and butter until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until well incorporated. Add the salt, vanilla, and cream. Blend on low until the mixture is smooth. Increase the speed to high, and beat until the icing is fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.