My niece, Amy, is to be wed on Friday. She is very lucky to have found a husband who is deserving of her. Wedding brunch is to be held at my house on Saturday so of course the menu must consist of many and various fresh herbs and veg from Auntie's garden. I have decided to do a lavender corn cake for 2 reasons. Firstly, Amy often wears lavender oil and the scent of it will remind me of her for evermore. Secondly, lavender seems like it should be part of every wedding. The recipe is as follows....
Sweet Corn Cake with Blueberry Lavender Compote
For the cake
6 oz (12 TBSP) unsalted butter, softened
4 1/2 oz. (1cup) unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/4 oz (1/2 cup) cornmeal
1 cup cooked fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature and lightly beaten
For the Compote
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp lavender
1 1/4 cup cooked fresh corn kernals
1 cup fresh blueberries
The cake
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9X2" round cake pan. Fit a circle of parchment in the bottom of the pan and butter that as well.
Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk in the cornmeal; set aside.
Puree the corn kernels in a food processor until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine sieve, pressing with a rubber spatula to extract the liquid; scrape any puree off the bottom of the sieve into the liquid and then discard the remaining solids. Measure 1/4 cup of the strained corn liquid and transfer to a small bowl (discard any excess liquid). Stir in the sour cream.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl. On low speed, slowly pour in the beaten eggs, mixing until incorporated and stopping midway to scrape down the sides. The mixture will be loose and curdled-looking.)
On low speed, add one-third of the flour mixture and mix until just blended. Add one-third of the sour cream-corn mixture and mix until just blended. Alternate adding the remaining flour and sour cream mixtures in two additions each. Do not over mix.
Scrape the batter into the cake pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. Bake until the cake is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed in the center, 30-35 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for 10-15 minutes. Run a knife areoun the edge of the pan and then gently invert the cake onto the rack, removing the pan. Remove the parchment, turn the cake right side up onto the rack , and let cool completely.
Make the compote:
Combine the sugar and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved completely. Remove from the heat. Add the lavender and stir to combine. let infuse for 10 minutes, then strain the syrup into a small bowl and let cool.
When ready to serve the cake, stir the corn and blueberries into the syrup. Cut the cake into wedges, and top each serving with about 3 TBSP of the mixture, letting most of the syrup drain off the spoon before sprinkling the blueberries and corn over the cake.
To Amy and Jean... we wish you both the happiest of ever afters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sweet Corn Cake with Blueberry Lavender Compote
For the cake
6 oz (12 TBSP) unsalted butter, softened
4 1/2 oz. (1cup) unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/4 oz (1/2 cup) cornmeal
1 cup cooked fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature and lightly beaten
For the Compote
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp lavender
1 1/4 cup cooked fresh corn kernals
1 cup fresh blueberries
The cake
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9X2" round cake pan. Fit a circle of parchment in the bottom of the pan and butter that as well.
Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk in the cornmeal; set aside.
Puree the corn kernels in a food processor until smooth. Strain the puree through a fine sieve, pressing with a rubber spatula to extract the liquid; scrape any puree off the bottom of the sieve into the liquid and then discard the remaining solids. Measure 1/4 cup of the strained corn liquid and transfer to a small bowl (discard any excess liquid). Stir in the sour cream.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stop and scrape the sides of the bowl. On low speed, slowly pour in the beaten eggs, mixing until incorporated and stopping midway to scrape down the sides. The mixture will be loose and curdled-looking.)
On low speed, add one-third of the flour mixture and mix until just blended. Add one-third of the sour cream-corn mixture and mix until just blended. Alternate adding the remaining flour and sour cream mixtures in two additions each. Do not over mix.
Scrape the batter into the cake pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. Bake until the cake is golden brown and springs back when lightly pressed in the center, 30-35 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for 10-15 minutes. Run a knife areoun the edge of the pan and then gently invert the cake onto the rack, removing the pan. Remove the parchment, turn the cake right side up onto the rack , and let cool completely.
Make the compote:
Combine the sugar and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until the sugar has dissolved completely. Remove from the heat. Add the lavender and stir to combine. let infuse for 10 minutes, then strain the syrup into a small bowl and let cool.
When ready to serve the cake, stir the corn and blueberries into the syrup. Cut the cake into wedges, and top each serving with about 3 TBSP of the mixture, letting most of the syrup drain off the spoon before sprinkling the blueberries and corn over the cake.
To Amy and Jean... we wish you both the happiest of ever afters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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