Best Vanilla Roasted Black Plums With Toasted Lemon Cake And Ginger Ice Cream Recipes

LEMON-VANILLA CAKE ROLL

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet or jelly roll pan with cooking spray; line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the parchment. Beat the egg whites and lemon juice in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Whisk the egg yolks with the vegetable oil, milk and vanilla seeds in a separate large bowl until smooth. Sift the remaining 1 cup confectioners? sugar, the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl; whisk into the yolk mixture until smooth. Stir about one-third of the whites into the batter with a rubber spatula, then fold in the remaining whites in two batches. Spread the batter in the prepared pan; bake until the cake springs back when gently pressed, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Immediately sift confectioners' sugar generously over the top of the warm cake and loosen the edges with a knife; lay a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) over the cake. Place another baking sheet over the towel and flip the cake with the baking sheets to invert it onto the towel. Remove the top baking sheet and parchment. Starting at a short end, roll up the cake and the towel together into a spiral. Transfer seam-side down to a rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Whisk the egg whites, granulated sugar, vanilla seeds and salt in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, whisking, until the sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until cooled and stiff peaks form, 6 to 8 minutes. Beat in the butter, 1 piece at a time, until combined (the mixture may look curdled). Add the lemon zest and juice. Switch to the paddle attachment and continue to beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Gently unroll the cake. Spread 2 cups of the frosting over the cake about 1/4 inch from the edges, then top with a layer of the lemon curd; swirl together. Reroll the cake (without the towel). Trim the ends with a serrated knife. Transfer to a platter and spread the remaining frosting on the top and sides of the cake.

LATE SUMMER PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9-inch springform pan. (Alternatively, the cake may be made in a 9-inch cake pan or pie pan and served directly from the pan.)
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, cream the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on low speed until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, and beat on low speed until smooth. (Note: the batter will be quite thick.)
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Arrange the plums on top, skin side up, in a circular pattern so that they mostly cover the batter. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the plums.
• Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until golden on top and set in the center.
• When the cake is hot out of the oven, run a knife around the edges of the pan and then remove the springform edge, leaving the base in place (if using a springform pan). Let the cake cool on a rack completely. Slice and serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
• Note: This cake keeps well, loosely covered at room temperature, for several days.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, double-wrap it securely with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it in heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw overnight on the countertop before serving.

LEMON GINGER MOLASSES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch round baking pan, line with parchment paper, then grease and flour the pan.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, one at a time, the molasses, and the 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and mix until combined. (The batter may look curdled.)
• Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, scraping down the sides. Mix until smooth. With a rubber spatula, fold in the 1/3 cup of crystallized ginger.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick just comes out clean. Don¿t overbake it! Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, turn out onto a baking rack, and cool completely. Spread the top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crystallized ginger and grated lemon zest.
• Place the cream, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, creme fraiche, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed, until it forms soft peaks. Serve cold.

GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the water and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over moderate heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove pot from the heat and reserve. In a bowl beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and pale, and wide ribbons fall from whisk. Set aside.
• In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and cooked ginger, and bring to a boil.
• Slowly add about 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture to the beaten eggs, whisking as you pour. Immediately scrape the tempered egg mixture into the hot milk mixture, whisking to combine. Cook over moderate heat, whisking slowly, until it reaches custard stage, 180 degrees F. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. Don't let the custard boil.
• Immediately pour hot custard through a sieve pressing down on the ginger to extract all the juices. Discard the ginger. Refrigerate until cool or chill over ice water, stirring occasionally.
• Just before freezing, adjust mixture to taste with the lemon juice. Freeze the ice cream in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions and serve.

CANDIED GINGER-MASCARPONE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn?t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer, turn off the heat and let sit 10 minutes to infuse the flavor. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. In a thin stream, whisk the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Then pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees F it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you do not have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet. When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat. Whisk in the mascarpone.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, put in 2 handfuls of ice cubes and add cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve or chinois (to remove the vanilla bean pieces) and into the smaller bowl. Chill until cool, about 1 hour, then stir in the crystallized ginger and continue according to the directions of your ice cream maker to freeze.

OVEN-ROASTED PLUM CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Butter 8 ramekins and place them on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Combine the sugar and orange zest well.
• Cream the butter, 2 T of brown sugar, and the granulated sugar mixture for 6 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Add the vanilla and mix well.
• Add the flour and baking soda and beat on low speed for only 15 seconds.
• Pour in the buttermilk and beat for 30 seconds more.
• Remove from mixer and use a spatula to finish blending the ingredients if necessary.
• Place a half plum, cut side up, into each cup.
• Spoon the batter into the ramekins, dividing the batter among them evenly.
• Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar evenly over each plum.
• Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean.
• Cool the cakes 10 minutes.
• To serve, top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.