ALMOND RICOTTA CAKE (A 2 LAYER CAKE)

Almond Ricotta Cake (a 2 layer cake) image

Provided by Garrison Wayne

Categories Cakes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 23

FOR THE CAKE
4 large eggs, separated, room temp
1 1/3 c superfine sugar
1 c whole milk ricotta cheese
1/3 c heavy cream
3/8 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp orange zest
2 Tbsp amaretto liqueur
3/8 tsp almond extract (not imitation)
1 1/4 c cake flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 c almond meal
FOR THE FROSTING
4 c confectioners' sugar
1 pinch kosher salt
3 Tbsp butter, unsalted, softened
1/3 c whole milk ricotta cheese
1/4 tsp orange zest
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 tsp orange juice
GARNISH
1/3 c sliced almonds

Steps:

1. Prepare 2 (8 inch) cake pans by greasing well. Line the bottom of pans with waxed paper or parchment paper. Grease the paper. Dust entire pan(s) with flour. Tap out excess.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees or 325 degrees for convection oven.
3. Sift cake flour with baking powder and baking soda 3 times. Measure almond meal. Add to flour and mix well with a fork. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl beat the 4 egg yolks with the sugar, cream and cheese. Do this with a whisk by hand. Add the salt, zest, amaretto and almond extract. Whisk well.
5. Add the flour/almond meal mix all at once and fold in with a rubber spatula until well mixed.
6. In a separate bowl (not plastic), beat the 4 egg whites until stiff but not dry. I do this with a hand held mixer. Fold the beaten whites into the cake batter until well incorporated. Fold...do not beat or stir.
7. Divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake about 25 minutes. Cakes will press back when touched and test dry with a pick.
8. Cool cakes on a rack for 20 minutes before flipping back on to rack and unmolding from pans. Remove the paper. Cool completely on the rack.
9. In a medium bowl mix/beat all the frosting ingredients until smooth.
10. Frost the cake and garnish with the sliced almonds. Keep cake covered in the refrigerator. Remove cake from fridge about 1 hour before serving to take the chill off.