Little Corner Restaurant Cake – Dolce Del Cantoncino Recipe

1 c Unsalted butter
1 c Whipping cream
2 oz Semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 c Rum
1 1/2 c Chopped walnuts
9 Blanched almonds

-SPONGE CAKE-
1/4 c Butter
6 Eggs, room temperature
1/2 c Sugar
1/2 ts Vanilla extract
1 c All-purpose flour

CUSTARD CREAM
3 c Milk
8 Egg yolks, room temperature
1 c Sugar
1/2 ts Vanilla extract
3/4 c All-purpose flour

COFFEE ZABAGLIONE
5 Egg yolks, room temperature
1 c Sugar
1/4 c Espresso coffe, room temp.

A rich, luscious dessert from the famous Il Cantoncino Restaurante in
Bologona.

Prepare Sponge Cake. Prepare Custard Cream. Prepare Coffee
Zabaglione. Cream butter in a large bowl until pale and fluffy.
Gradually add cooled zabaglione to butter, beating vigorously after
each addition. Refrigerate mixture 2 to 3 minutes to stiffen
slightly. Whip cream and refrigerate. Preheat oven to 200F (95C).
Put chocolate into a small ovenproof bowl and place in oven until
chocolate has melted, 4 to 5 minutes. Cut cake into 2 layers.
Sprinkle rum over 2 cut surfaces of cake. Spread 1 layer with
Custard Cream. Top with second layer. Spread zabaglione mixture
evenly over top of cake. Hold cake in 1 hand and spread zabaglione
mixture around sides of cake. Gently press walnuts onto sides of
cake. Put whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a medium star
tube. Pipe a cream border around edge of cake. Decorate center of
cake with 9 cream rosettes. Dip almonds into melted chocolate and
place on top of rosettes. Refrigerate cake until serving. Cake can
be prepared up to 24 hours ahead. Let cake stand 30 minutes at room
temperature before serving. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

SPONGE CAKE: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Butter and flour a 10-inch
cake pan with a removable bottom; shake off excess flour. Melt butter
in a small saucepan; cool slightly. Put eggs, sugar and vanilla in a
large bowl. Set bowl in a larger one containing hot water or use a
double boiler off the heat. Beat at high speed 10 to 12 minutes or
until mixture is pale and thick and has tripled in volume. Sift
flour over batter in several batches, gently folding in with a
spatula after each addition. Gradually add cooled butter, folding
gently until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Cook 20
to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes
out dry. Cool cake in pan 20 to 30 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Cake can be prepared 1 or 2 days ahead, covered with plastic wrap and
stored at room temperature.

CUSTARD CREAM: In a medium saucepan, bring milk just to a boil. Put
egg yolks, sugar and vanilla into a medium bowl. Beat 2 to 3 minutes
until mixture is pale and thick. Gradually beat in flour. Very slowly
stir half the hot milk into yolk mixture. Pour mixture into pan
containing remaining hot milk. Whisk over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes
or until custard has a medium-thick consistency. Do not let mixture
boil. Place custard in bowl. Cover and refrigerate.

COFFEE ZABAGLIONE: In a large bowl or the top part of a double
boiler, beat egg yolk and sugar until pale and thick. Set bowl or top
part of double boiler over simmering water; do not let water boil.
Gradually add coffee, beating constantly. Continue beating until
zabaglione has doubled in volume and is soft and fluffy, 4 to 6
minutes. Remove from heat and set pan or bowl over a bowl full of ice
water. Stir with a whisk until mixture has cooled.

Yields
8 servings