Cherrygateaux Food

CHERRY CREAM CHEESE GALETTE

Steps:

• For the crust: Pulse the flour, sugar and salt together in a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal with some pea-size lumps. Drizzle in the vinegar and 4 tablespoons of the water; pulse until a dough starts to come together. If the mixture is too dry, add more water, a teaspoon at a time.
• Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, form into a disk and wrap well. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, egg yolk, 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, and the vanilla in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
• In another bowl, toss the cherries with the cornstarch and the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.
• Finish the galette: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll the dough out to a 12-inch round. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Spoon the cherries over the cream cheese, leaving any excess juice in the bowl. Fold the edges of the dough over so they just barely cover some of the filling.
• Beat the egg white with a splash of water and brush it over the crust. Sprinkle the Demerara sugar evenly over the filling and crust.
• Bake until the crust is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

CHERRY AND PEACH GALETTE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Butter a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon butter. Unfold 1 sheet puff pastry on a floured surface. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush over the dough. Unfold the other sheet of puff pastry and lay it on top; press the sheets together with a rolling pin, then roll out into a 14-inch square. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. (Refrigerate the leftover egg wash for brushing the galette.)
• Combine the sugar, allspice, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice in a large bowl; transfer 2 tablespoons of the mixture to a small bowl and set aside for sprinkling. Add the cherries, peaches and 3 tablespoons flour to the remaining sugar mixture and toss.
• Trim the edges of the pastry with a pizza wheel or sharp knife to make a 12-inch round. Spoon the cherry mixture in the center, leaving a 2-inch border. Cut the remaining 1 tablespoon butter into small pieces and scatter on top. Fold in the pastry edges over the filling, pleating as needed.
• Bake the galette until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Remove the galette from the oven, brush the crust with the reserved egg wash and sprinkle with the reserved sugar mixture. Return the galette to the oven and bake until the juices thicken and the pastry is cooked through, 30 to 45 more minutes (depending on the juiciness of the cherries). Transfer to a rack and let cool at least 10 minutes so the filling sets.

BLACK FOREST GATEAU

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of 3 x 20cm cake tins. Boil the kettle. Put the butter and 75g chocolate broken into chunks in a small pan and gently heat, stirring, until completely melted.
• Mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda with a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk the eggs and buttermilk or yogurt together. Scrape the melted chocolate mixture and egg mixture into the dry ingredients, add 100ml boiling water and whizz briefly with an electric whisk until the cake batter is lump free.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 25 mins, swapping the tins round after 20 mins if they're on different shelves. To test they're done, push in a skewer and check that it comes out clean.
• Prick the cakes a few times with a skewer. Mix together the 2 tbsp reserved cherry juice and the kirsch (or more juice) and drizzle over the cakes. Cool the cakes.
• Mix together the remaining drained cherries and jam. Tip 200ml of the cream into a small pan and heat until just below simmering point. Chop the remaining chocolate and put in a heatproof bowl, pour over the hot cream and stir until melted. Set aside until spreadable.
• When the cakes are cool whisk the remaining cream and the icing sugar together until softly whipped. Spread over two of the cakes, then spoon over the jammy cherries. Stack the cakes together. Spread the chocolate cream over the third cake and sit on top of the other cakes. Pile the fresh cherries in and around the cake and serve

CHERRY GALETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• On a piece of lightly floured parchment, roll out dough.
• Transfer dough and parchment to a baking sheet.
• Process 1/4 sugar, almonds, nutmeg, and salt in food processor until almonds are ground.
• Gently toss with the cherries.
• Spoon cherries over dough, leaving a 2" border.
• Dot with butter.
• Fold in edges, pressing gently.
• Whisk yolk and cream together; brush over edges of tart.
• Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Bake until golden, 40-45 minutes. (Original recipe stated 45-50 minutes, but I found that my oven was done sooner.).

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with olive oil.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder and baking powder until evenly distributed and no lumps remain. To a separate large bowl, add the 1/2 cup oil, eggs, milk, almond extract and salt and whisk until smooth, at least 30 seconds. Gently whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the last streak of flour disappears.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and tap gently against the counter to pop excess air bubbles. Bake until a skewer or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan.
• Microwave the cherry preserves in a small bowl in 30-second intervals or in a small saucepan over medium heat until looser and slightly liquidy. Spread the preserves evenly over the cooled cake.
• Make the frosting: In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa powder and salt and pour over the hot water. Either by hand or with an electric mixer, whisk until smooth. Add the heavy cream and continue whisking until billowy soft peaks form. When you turn the whisk upside-down, a peak of cream should flop over slightly like a Santa hat. Spread the frosting over the cake and, if using, garnish with the cherries. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHERRY GâTEAU BASQUE

Steps:

• To make the dough, in a food processor fitted with the metal blade, process the flour, almonds, baking powder, salt, and sugar until the almonds are ground to a powder. Add the butter and process until the butter is in tiny pieces.
• Add the egg, egg yolk, and the vanilla and almond extracts and pulse until the dough comes together. Divide the dough into 2 pieces, one slightly larger than the other, form each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan, dust it with flour, and tap out any excess.
• To make the filling, in a small bowl, mix the cherry jam, rum, brandy, and anise-flavored liqueur. Set aside.
• Dust the larger disk of dough on both sides with flour and roll it out to a 10-inch (25-cm) circle between 2 sheets of lightly floured plastic wrap. Peel off the top sheet of plastic and invert the dough into the prepared pan. Peel off the sheet of plastic that is now on top and press the dough gently into the bottom of the pan and partially up the sides. Don't worry if the dough tears; it's very forgiving-just patch and press together. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch (3-cm) border.
• Roll out the second piece of dough between 2 sheets of lightly floured plastic wrap. Peel off the top sheet of plastic and invert the dough over the filling. Peel off the sheet of plastic that's now on top. Gently press the edges together to enclose the filling.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and milk and brush it liberally over the top. Rake the tines of a fork 5 or 6 times over the surface in two diagonally opposing directions to create a crosshatch design.
• Bake the cake until the top is deep golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then run a knife around the sides to loosen it from the pan. Release the sides of the springform pan and let cool completely. Cut into wedges and serve.
• Storage
• Gâteau Basque is actually better the second day, after the flavors have had a chance to meld. Wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, it'll keep for about 1 week at room temperature.
• Variation
• A prune filling for gâteau Basque isn't exactly traditional, but since the nearby Gascon region is famous for its prunes, I'll often make a filling with them: Quarter 8 ounces (225 g) of pitted prunes; heat them in a small saucepan with 3 tablespoons (45 ml) brandy, 1 tablespoon rum, 1 tablespoon anise-flavored liqueur, 1/4 cup (50 g) sugar, and 1/4 cup (60 ml) water. When the liquid comes to a boil, cover, and remove from the heat. Once cool, process the mixture in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until chunky and use in place of the cherry jam.
• tip
• Use a top-quality sour cherry jam. The less-expensive ones are primarily sugar and are too runny-you want a filling that's plump with flavorful cherries. If you can't find sour cherry jam, add a squirt of lemon juice to regular cherry jam.