Baked

How's your week going? Hope it's been stress-free.

I was in the mood for balsamic soaked strawberries, and decided to make chocolate sponge cake to go with them. Just couldn't leave well enough alone, it seems Have you tried balsamic with strawberries? If not, you need to. Outrageously good.   

Chocolate Sponge Cake with Balsamic Strawberries - makes 6
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
4 eggs, room temperature and separated
1/2 cup berry/caster sugar
2 oz unsalted butter, melted
8 oz fresh strawberries
1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon raw sugar
1 cup whipping cream
Icing sugar for dusting

Balsamic Strawberries:

Hull strawberries and cut in half. In a bowl, mix the strawberries, balsamic vinegar and raw sugar together with a spoon. Allow to stand for about an hour. 

Preheat oven to 350f/180c. Grease and dust with cocoa powder, a six cup muffin tin (3/4 cup) and set aside.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa and baking powder, 3 times. In a large bowl, beat the 4 egg yolks and sugar, with an electric mixer, until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. In another bowl, beat together the 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites making sure not to over mix. The batter needs to remain light and airy. Next, sift half the flour over the egg mixture and carefully fold in until just incorporated. Sift over the remaining flour mix and fold in. Add the butter and gently fold into batter.

Spoon the batter into each cup of the muffin. Bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until cake springs back with lightly pressed, and cake is coming away from sides of muffin tin. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. 

Cut cakes in half, and top one half with whipped cream and strawberries. Place other half on top and dust with icing sugar. Enjoy!

Have you baked anything lately? Do you find baking to be a bit of a stress-reliever or a stress-adder (new word)? I'd love to know.

Have a great day! Back soon.

Janis