Grilled cake

Grill Cake - A Holiday Delight

Dear friends, today I invite you to discover together a splendid recipe, perfect for holidays or for those moments when you want to treat your family and friends to a special dessert. The Grill Cake, as we call it, is a delicious combination of flavor and texture, featuring a unique appearance thanks to the decorative grill on top. This cake is not only a true feast for the taste buds but also a visual delight. So, let’s begin our culinary journey!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 40-50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Servings: 12

Necessary ingredients:
- 400 g sugar
- 200 g margarine (or 140 g lard)
- 350 g flour
- 1 baking powder
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- A little milk (if necessary)
- 250 g ground walnuts
- A pinch of salt
- 1 jar of jam (approximately 450 g, preferably apricot or plum for a tangy note)
- 9 eggs
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 100 ml rum (or rum essence for a non-alcoholic version)
- Vanilla sugar
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

Recipe history:
The Grill Cake is a perfect example of a traditional recipe that has probably been passed down from generation to generation. This cake combines influences from various culinary cultures, based on simple yet flavorful ingredients. It is an excellent choice for special occasions, bringing a touch of elegance to festive tables.

Step by step: Making the Grill Cake

1. Preparing the ingredients: Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature. This will help achieve a uniform and well-aerated dough.

2. Mixing the flour: In a large bowl, combine the flour with the baking powder. This step is essential to ensure a fluffy and well-risen cake.

3. Incorporating the fat: Add the margarine (or lard) and rub it into the flour using your fingers or a mixer until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. This important technique will give the cake a tender texture.

4. Adding wet ingredients: In another bowl, beat 3 egg yolks with 150 g sugar, lemon juice, and zest. If the mixture is too thick, add a little milk to achieve a fluid consistency. Combining these ingredients will bring a fresh and revitalizing flavor to the cake.

5. Forming the dough: Pour the yolk mixture over the flour and mix well until you obtain a homogeneous dough. The recipe specifies to set aside 1/4 of the dough. This will be used to create the decorative grill.

6. Preheating the oven: While preparing the dough, turn on the oven to 180°C. It is important for the cake to be placed in a well-heated oven for even baking.

7. Preparing the base: From the remaining dough (3/4), roll out a thin sheet on a floured surface. Transfer the sheet to the prepared baking tray lined with parchment paper, ensuring it is evenly distributed.

8. Adding the jam: Spread the jar of jam evenly over the sheet in the tray. The jam will provide a delicious filling and a contrast of textures to the cake.

9. Beating the egg whites: In a clean bowl, beat the 9 egg whites with a pinch of salt until you obtain a stiff foam. This step is crucial as it will add volume and airiness to the cake.

10. Combining ingredients: In another bowl, beat the 6 egg yolks with 150 g sugar and vanilla sugar until creamy and pale. Gently fold the egg white foam into the yolk mixture using a spatula, mixing from top to bottom to avoid losing air in the composition.

11. Adding nuts and breadcrumbs: Finally, add the ground walnuts, cinnamon, and the 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs. These ingredients will give a special flavor and a crunchy texture to the cake.

12. Assembling the cake: Pour the obtained mixture over the sheet of dough and jam. Using the reserved 1/4 of the dough, form thin strips and place them diagonally over the cake, creating a grill appearance.

13. Baking the cake: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the cake turns golden on top. A useful trick is to check with a toothpick: if it comes out clean, the cake is ready!

14. Finishing the cake: Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and, while still warm, drizzle it with rum and sprinkle powdered sugar on top. This note of rum adds a deep and aromatic flavor to the cake. If you want to avoid alcohol, you can make a syrup from sugar and water, adding rum essence to keep the flavor.

15. Cooling and serving: Let the cake cool in the tray, then cut it into square or diamond-shaped pieces. It is delicious both warm and cold. You can serve it alongside a scoop of ice cream or a fragrant tea for a perfect dessert.

Useful tips:
- Use quality jam, preferably homemade, for an authentic flavor.
- Make sure the egg whites are whipped very well, as they are what will make the cake fluffy.
- You can experiment with different nuts or add cocoa to the dough for a flavor change.

Nutritional benefits:
This cake contains protein from eggs, healthy fats from nuts, and a decent amount of carbohydrates from sugar and flour. The nuts add omega-3, while the lemon provides vitamin C, which is important for a healthy immune system.

Pairing recipes:
The Grill Cake pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream or warm chocolate sauce. Additionally, a cup of green tea or a strong espresso complements the cake’s flavors perfectly.

Frequently asked questions:
1. Can I use another type of jam?
Yes, any preferred jam will work, but make sure it is well-strained and not too runny.
2. How can I make the cake less sweet?
Reduce the amount of sugar in the dough and opt for a less sweet jam.
3. Is it possible to make the cake gluten-free?
You can use gluten-free flour, but you may need to adjust the amount of liquid.