Friday, April 18, 2008

PRALINE AND FRESH FRUIT GATEAU



There is nothing like a moist, creamy, chilled fruit cake. I had made this one for my husbands birthday. Though it did take a lot of time and effort, but you know, after all it was for his birthday. This cake looks so colourful, specially with all the fruits on a snow white creamy icing. I added praline to the sides of it, which gave it that little sweet crunch.
I made the sponge cake at home, but i realised that one could make it with store bought angel food cake too.
Here is the recipe

You will need:

8 inch round sponge cake (recipe below)- 2 cakes, cut horizontally into four layers. (or one full angle food cake, cut horizontally)
Fruit cocktail- 1 tin. (keep the syrup)
Chopped strawberry- 1/2 cup + a few slices to decorate
Chopped kiwi- 1/2 cup + a few slices to decorate
Heavy whipping cream-3 cups
Sugar- 1/4th cup
Praline (recipe below)- 1 cup.

You have to

  1. Whip the cream with sugar, till it forms peaks.
  2. Place a layer of the cake on a serving plate.
  3. Soak it with a tsp of the fruit cocktail syrup, that you kept aside.
  4. Add a tbsp of the fruit cocktail, some strawberry and some kiwis.
  5. Spread some whipped cream.
  6. Place the other layer on top, and repeat the process.
  7. After placing all the four layers, cover the entire cake with the whipped cream.
  8. Crush the praline, and stick it on the sides of the cake.
  9. Decorate with strawberry slices and kiwi slices.
  10. Add a few pieces of praline.
  11. Chill overnight (preferably).
enjoy..........



For the cake

YOU WILL NEED

all purpose flour-1,1/2 cup
eggs-4
sugar- generous 1/2 cup
baking powder- 1/4th tsp
vanilla essence- 1/2 tsp

YOU HAVE TO:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
  2. Grease an 8 inch cake tin.
  3. Separate the egg yolks and the egg whites.
  4. Sieve the flour and the baking powder.
  5. Cream the egg yolks and the sugar, over hot water, till the mixture turns a pale yellow.
  6. Beat the egg whites till it stands in peaks.
  7. Slowly add the egg whites to the egg yolk and sugar mixture.
  8. Fold in the flour.Add the vanilla essence
  9. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or till a skewer inserted comes out clean.
  10. Leave in tin for 5 mins, cool.

For the praline

YOU WILL NEED

Mixed nuts-1 cup (cashews, pecans, hazelnuts)

Sugar- 1/2 cup

Water- 1 cup

YOU HAVE TO:

  1. Dissolve the sugar and water. Heat.
  2. Once the sugar solutions begins to brown, add the chopped nuts.
  3. Grease a plate.
  4. As the sugar begins to caramelize, and the mixture started to stick.
  5. Empty it out on the grease plate, and spread it.Let it cool.
  6. Break into pieces, or crush with a rolling pin.
I know it got a little elaborate, but trust me the taste is worth all the effort.

happy eating.









18 comments:

Cham said...

The fruit cake look fresh and yum :)

Unknown said...

I love fruit cakes..This one looks extremely delicious and tempting..

TNL said...

this is delicious!

Namratha said...

Wow, the cake is beautiful, and anything with fresh cream and chilled, is surely on the top of my cake list :)

Rachel said...

lovely fruit cake....looks very nice

Miri said...

I have never iced a cake before though I bake plenty of them - seems like my clumsiness will make a mess of it. But I really want to bake the cake for my daughter's birthday in June and this one looks perfect for it! Its so creamy and fresh looking....

Divya said...

the cake looks yummy and lovely presentation ..thanks for sharing ..

SMN said...

Thats a yummy fruit cake..

Sagari said...

beautiful gateau

Anonymous said...

looks fabulous!! just so right for the summer...with all those fresh fruits on it

zlamushka said...

This is a huge calorie bomb. I dont think I would feel any guilt though indulging myself into a piece.

Dhivya said...

beautiful one:))

Uma said...

this delicious cake is worth all that hard work. You have given a wonderful treat on your hubby's b'day! Good one, Karuna!

ranji said...

OMG!! the cake looks gorgeous and delicious!!!love the presentation...recipe looks simple and nice..will try soon:)

Suganya said...

I've always wondered what praline is. Thats a gorgeous cake.

sunita said...

Beautiful cake...belated wishes to the lucky hubby :-)

Srivalli said...

my my, this looks just too good!...fab work on this..am sure you guys enjoyed...my belated wishes!

Vatsala. said...

This cake is looking so delicious!