Name: Cassata
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 5 eggs; 100 gm caster sugar; ½ tsp vanilla extract; 100 gm (2/3 cup) plain flour, sifted; For brushing: limoncello; 1-2 drops green food colouring; 750 gm fondant icing (see note); For dusting: icing sugar; To serve: shaved cedro and orange, and glacé fruit (see note); Ricotta filling; 450 gm ricotta, drained (see note); 120 gm caster sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 orange, finely grated rind only; 2 tsp limoncello; 150 gm finely chopped glacé fruit, such as orange, cedro and clementine; 50 gm good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

Cassata

Australian Gourmet Traveller Italian cake recipe for cassata

Serves 8

Prep

30M

Cook

25M

Total

55M

You will need to begin this recipe a day ahead.

Ingredients

5 eggs

100 gm caster sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

100 gm (2/3 cup) plain flour, sifted

For brushing: limoncello

1-2 drops green food colouring

750 gm fondant icing (see note)

For dusting: icing sugar

To serve: shaved cedro and orange, and glacé fruit (see note)

Ricotta filling

450 gm ricotta, drained (see note)

120 gm caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 orange, finely grated rind only

2 tsp limoncello

150 gm finely chopped glacé fruit, such as orange, cedro and clementine

50 gm good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

Method

Main

1.Preheat oven to 180C. Whisk eggs in an electric mixer for 2 minutes, add sugar and whisk until pale and thick enough to hold a ribbon of mixture (8-10 minutes). Stir in vanilla, then gently fold through sifted flour. Divide among eight 1 cup-capacity buttered and floured metal moulds and bake until golden and centre springs back when lightly pressed (20-25 minutes). Cool on a wire rack.

2.For ricotta filling, process ricotta, sugar, vanilla, orange rind and limoncello in a food processor until smooth. Stir through candied fruit and chocolate. Refrigerate until required.

3.Halve cakes horizontally and brush cut sides with limoncello. Divide ricotta mixture over sponge bases and cover with tops. Refrigerate until required.

4.Knead 1-2 drops of food colouring into fondant icing until combined. Divide into 8 pieces and roll each out on an icing sugar-dusted surface to 4mm-thick. Place over sponges to cover and trim excess, refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. Decorate with cedro and serve with candied oranges.

To drain, place ricotta in a muslin-lined sieve over a bowl in the refrigerator. Fondant icing is available from supermarkets. Cedro and glacé citrus fruit are available from
and David Jones Food Hall.
Notes

By Gourmet Food Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking and dining. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

Styling by Megan Morton