Every cook should have a silver-bullet dessert. Here’s mine. Prep tips: The key to really red compote is a preliminary maceration (marinade) in sugar. This helps set the color and pull out some of the juice in the fruit. Serving tips: The compote can be added to the cake in two ways: A tablespoon of purée dropped on top of the batter before baking will settle nicely into the cake, or you can use it more like a sauce. I also recommend a little soft, sweetened whipped cream or crème fraîche.
Brown Butter Cakes with Rhubarb-Strawberry Compote
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Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons
- 2 1/2 ounces ground almonds about 2/3 cup ground
- 2 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour about 2/3 cup
- 2 cups confectioner’s sugar lightly spooned
- 3/4 cup egg whites 5-6 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- RHUBARB-STRAWBERRY COMPOTE makes 1 1/2 cups
- 1 pound rhubarb sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup natural cane sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tablespoons port
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup strawberries leave small ones whole; cut large ones in half
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or to taste
Instructions
- Make compote: Combine rhubarb, sugar, salt, and port in a nonreactive (nonaluminum) saucepan. Leave to macerate for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours, tossing occasionally. Add vanilla; cook on medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring every so often to discourage sticking. Stir in strawberries and cook 5 more minutes. Adjust taste with lemon juice and more sugar, if desired.
- Make cakes: Cook butter gently in a saucepan over medium heat until milk solids become dark brown. This will take between 10 and 20 minutes depending on your stove. Slower is best. The milk will start to caramelize as moisture evaporates. I like to make the milk very dark. Be sure to scrape all the solids into your batter.
- Combine ground almonds, flour, and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in egg whites, vanilla, and salt with a wooden spoon. Add browned butter and all its bits in a steady stream, stirring constantly. Coat muffin pans generously with cooking spray. Fill 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350˚ for 20 minutes. Serve on dessert plates, topped with compote.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Brown Butter Cakes with Rhubarb-Strawberry Compote
Amount Per Serving
Calories 267
% Daily Value*
Cholesterol 25mg
8%
Sodium 29mg
1%
Total Carbohydrates 34g
11%
Dietary Fiber 2g
8%
Protein 4g
8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
PER SERVING: 267 cal, 42% fat cal, 13g fat, 6g sat fat, 25mg chol, 4g protein, 34g carb, 2g fiber, 29mg sodium
