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Prep time
35 minutes
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Cook time
1 hour 5 minutes
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Serves
6-8
Author Notes
This cake recipe comes from Ava Chambers, a food stylist, who’s the only person I know who can make cakes without a recipe. But I got her to write this one down! If you wanted, you could make just the cake and you'd have a lovely breakfast or afternoon snacking cake. I think the payoff for roasting the rhubarb and strawberries and spreading them on top of the cake, though, is much greater than the effort. So go on now, do it! Also, toss in all the optionals and get that mint in there, too. They all add more flavor and joy to this delicious cake.
—Amanda Hesser
Ingredients
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FOR THE CAKE:
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100 grams
rhubarb, cut into batons
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3/4 cup
(150 grams) granulated sugar, divided
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2
oranges, 2 zested and 1 juiced
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8 tablespoons
(113 grams) unsalted butter softened, plus more for greasing the cake pan
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3 tablespoons
raw/Demerara sugar (optional)
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3/4 cup
(100 grams) all-purpose flour
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1/4 cup
(40 grams) almond flour
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1 teaspoon
baking powder
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1/4 teaspoon
salt
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2
large eggs
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1 cup
(225 grams) sour cream
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FOR THE ROASTED RHUBARB & STRAWBERRY TOPPING:
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1 cup
(100 grams) rhubarb, cut into 1-inch pieces
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1 cup
strawberries tops removed, then halved
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1/4 cup
(50 grams) granulated sugar
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2 tablespoons
water, orange juice, or Grand Marnier
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2 tablespoons
leftover juices from rhubarb maceration if you have it
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Zest of an orange (optional)
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Splash of orange blossom water (optional)
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Vanilla bean (optional), halved and seeds scraped (use both the bean and the seeds in the mixture)
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Handful mint leaves (large pieces torn)
Directions
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Macerate the rhubarb. Cut the rhubarb into thin batons to fit across the top of the cake (you may want some shorter pieces to fit the sides). In a tray, sprinkle the rhubarb batons with ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon orange zest and the juice of one orange. Let sit and macerate while you prepare the cake.
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Prepare the cake. Heat the oven to 350°F and butter a 9-inch cake pan. Line the base with parchment paper then butter the paper. Optional: sprinkle the Demerara sugar around the sides and bottom of the cake pan, for a sugar crust.
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Mix the flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. In a mixer fitted with a paddle, cream the butter and ¾ cup sugar until light and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time. Fold in the dry ingredients, followed by the sour cream, and remaining orange zest.
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Scrape the batter into the cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Top with the rhubarb batons (add the juices for the roasted rhubarb recipe below). Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Let the cake cool, then transfer to a cake plate.
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Prepare the fruit topping. Increase the oven heat to 400°F. Toss the fruit with the sugar, 2 tablespoons water (or other options), 2 tablespoons leftover rhubarb juices, and any of your optional ingredients (hold off on the mint). Pour into a baking dish (large enough so that there isn’t too much crowding, some overlap is okay).
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Roast the fruit until it’s soft but still has some body; it should be neither raw nor mushy—about 10 to 15 minutes (the time will depend on the ripeness and density of the fruit). There should be a nice syrup filling the baking dish from the fruit juices and sugar, that is loose but with syrupy viscosity (this will thicken as it cools).
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Once cooled, toss the fruit with some fresh mint leaves, then spread on top of the cooled cake.
Before starting Food52 with Merrill, I was a food writer and editor at the New York Times. I've written several books, including "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and "The Essential New York Times Cookbook." I played myself in "Julie & Julia" -- hope you didn't blink, or you may have missed the scene! I live in Brooklyn with my husband, Tad, and twins, Walker and Addison.
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