20 something Jana of Cherry Tea Cakes was our July Daring Bakers’ host and she challenges us to make Fresh Frasiers inspired by recipes written by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson in the beautiful cookbook Tartine. The day the challenge was revealed I was both scared, excited and full of questions – what if I don’t find the ingredients, what if I won’t be able to complete or if I totally fail?
I stumbled upon Daring Bakers way back 2006 I applied, got accepted then I backed out and didn’t once again got the nerve to join the group, guess life back then was well kinda complicated.
Here I am 5 years after my first attempt to be a Daring Baker actually completing a challenge but waited the last minute. Yes, I was studying the recipe for weeks and only managed to work on the challenge yesterday because my phone reminded me of the deadline. Lazy lazy me.
This is my first time to incorporate fresh fruits on a cake, reading how to make Fresh Fraisier made me miss my Mama who absolutely love fruits on her cake. She’d stare at the beautiful fruit cake dessert and cherish every bite. I just hope I can squeeze some time to make this for her on our vacation.
As I take out the cake Vierte requested if he can put sprinkles and chocolate which led me to make a chocolate ganache that we spooned over the sliced cake. Since the strawberries were not that sweet the ganache somehow added a bit of twist to the fraisiers freshness.
I absolutely had fun completing this Fresh Fraisier challenge while thinking about my Mama and celebrating FIA’s 1st birthday.
Once again a Yummy Happy Birthday to my fellow UAE Food Bloggers! Enjoy some virtual Fresh Fraisier slice.
Fresh Fraisier Recipe
1 cup + 2 tablespoons (270 ml) (5½ oz/155 gm) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon (5 ml) (4 gm) baking powder
3/4 cups (180 ml) (6 oz /170 gm) sugar
1/2 teaspoon (2½ ml) (1½ gm) salt, preferably kosher
1/4 cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) vegetable oil
3 large egg yolks
⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon (3.17 fl oz/95 ml) water
1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon (3¾ ml) (3 gm) lemon zest, grated
5 large egg whites
¼ teaspoon (1¼ ml) (1 gm) cream of tartar
- Preheat the oven to moderate 325°F (160°C/gas mark 3).
- Line the bottom of an 8-inch (20 cm) spring form pan with parchment paper. Do not grease the sides of the pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. Add in all but 3 tablespoons (45 ml.) of sugar, and all of the salt. Stir to combine.
- In a small bowl combine the oil, egg yolks, water, vanilla and lemon zest. Whisk thoroughly.
- Combine with the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly for about one minute, or until very smooth.
- Put the egg whites into a stand mixer, and beat on medium speed using a whisk attachment on a medium speed, until frothy. Add cream of tartar and beat on a medium speed until the whites hold soft peaks. Slowly add the remaining sugar and beat on a medium-high speed until the whites hold firm and form shiny peaks.
- Using a grease free rubber spatula, scoop about ⅓ of the whites into the yolk mixture and fold in gently. Gently fold in the remaining whites just until combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Removed the cake from the oven and allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack.
- To unmold, run a knife around the sides to loosen the cake from the pan and remove the spring form sides. Invert the cake and peel off the parchment paper. Refrigerate for up to four days.
1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) whole milk
1/2 teaspoon (2½ ml) pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon (1/2 ml) (¼ gm) salt, preferably kosher
2 tablespoons (30 ml) (10 gm)cornstarch
1/4 cup (60 ml) (2 oz/55 gm) sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons (30 ml) (1 oz/30 gm) unsalted butter
3/4 teaspoon (3¾ ml) (4 gm) gelatin
1/2 tablespoon (7½ ml) water
1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) heavy cream
- Pour the milk, vanilla, and salt into a heavy sauce pan. Place over medium-high heat and scald, bringing it to a near boiling point. Stir occasionally.
- Meanwhile, in a stand mixer add the cornstarch and sugar. Whisk to combine
- Add the eggs to the sugar and cornstarch and whisk until smooth.
- When the milk is ready, gently and slowly while the stand mixer is whisking, pour the heated milk down the side of the bowl into the egg mixture.
- Pour the mixture back into the warm pot and continue to cook over a medium heat until the custard is thick, just about to boil and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and pass through a fine mesh sieve into a large mixing bowl. Allow to cool for ten minutes stirring occasionally.
- Cut the butter into four pieces and whisk into the pastry cream a piece at a time until smooth.
- Cover the cream with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic wrap onto the top of the cream to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- In a small dish, sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let stand for a few minutes to soften.
- Put two inches (55 mm) of water into a small sauce pan and bring to a simmer over a medium heat.
- Measure 1/4 cup (2 oz/60 ml) of the chilled pastry cream into a small stainless steel bowl that will sit across the sauce pan with the simmering water, without touching the water.
- Heat the cream until it is 120 F (48.8 C). Add the gelatin and whisk until smooth. Remove from the water bath, and whisk the remaining cold pastry cream in to incorporate in two batches.
- In a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream until it holds medium-stiff peaks. Immediately fold the whipped cream into the pastry cream with a rubber spatula.
1/3 cup (2⅔ fl oz/80 ml) (2⅔ oz/75 gm) of sugar, flavored or white
1/3 cup (2⅔ fl oz/80 ml) of water
- Combine the water and sugar in a medium saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and let the sugar dissolve. Stirring is not necessary, but will not harm the syrup.
- Remove the syrup from the heat and cool slightly.
- Transfer syrup to a lidded container or jar that can be stored in the refrigerator. Simple syrup can be stored for up to one month.
1 baked 8 inch (20 cm) chiffon cake
1 recipe pastry cream filling
⅓ cup (80 ml) simple syrup or flavored syrup
2 lbs (900 g) strawberries
confectioners’ sugar for dusting
½ cup (120 ml) (5 oz/140 gm) almond paste
- Line the sides of a 8-inch (20 cm) spring form pan with plastic wrap. Do not line the bottom of the pan.
- Cut the cake in half horizontally to form two layers.
- Fit the bottom layer into the prepared spring form pan. Moisten the layer evenly with the simple syrup. When the cake has absorbed enough syrup to resemble a squishy sponge, you have enough.
- Hull and slice in half enough strawberries to arrange around the sides of the cake pan. Place the cut side of the strawberry against the sides of the pan, point side up forming a ring.
- Pipe cream in-between strawberries and a thin layer across the top of the cake.
- Hull and quarter your remaining strawberries and place them in the middle of the cake. Cover the strawberries and entirely with the all but 1 tbsp. (15 ml) of the pastry cream.
- Place the second cake layer on top and moisten with the simple syrup.
- Lightly dust a work surface with confectioners’ sugar and roll out the almond paste to a 10-inch (25 cm) round 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) thick. Spread the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of pastry cream on the top of the cake and cover with the round of almond paste.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- To serve release the sides of the spring form pan and peel away the plastic wrap.
- Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Cuddles and Crumbs 
It looks really really good!
Yummy too. Thank you.
Looks fabulous!!! Great start on DB…
Thanks Najla. I had fun making this yummy cake.
Great job on the challenge! the last photo is mouthwatering…
Thank you! The chocolate ganache gave it a nice twist.
Oh! Your cake looks great! the addition of chocolate ganache is genius!
Thanks!
Your Frasier is gorgeous. Great job! best, Sandie
Thanks for dropping by Sandie.
I felt like my fraisier was missing chocolate, but your fraisier helps to solve that problem. Chocolate ganache is such a fun idea to jazz up the cake!
Oh Katie go jazz up your Fraisier with ganache too. Thanks to my son who suggested it.
I signed up for Daring Bakes too (b/c I don’t bake so thought it would be “fun” to challenge myself) but OMG now I’m scared! this looks absolutely so complex! I’m going to be posting my finished challenge VERY late as my mom’s oven doesn’t work and will have to wait until I visit my in-laws in late August.
Well done on your Fraisier and you are an amazing baker – so glad you’ve decided to participate again. The chocolate ganache sounds delicious!
Thanks Sandy!
I’m still contemplating on being a Daring Cook, maybe once I get the hang of scheduling V’s school and house chores.
Beautiful presentation and I looove the chocolate drizzled on top!
I love the chocolate drizzle over that slice. Yes, and I agree that making Daring Bakers challenges while celebrating loved ones is the best way to go!!!
Welcome back to the Daring Bakers! Your fraisier looks delicious with the chocolate, great job!
I love your triffle and the combination with the ganache was luscious, congratulations!!!
wow! it looks amazing!
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