cake

• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. In a mixer, beat together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add molasses and vanilla, scraping bowl as needed.
• In a separate large bowl, stir together flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, cloves, allspice, and baking powder.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mix alternatively with the milk. Batter may look broken at some points, but keep mixing things in and it’ll come together again.
• Generously apply nonstick spray with flour to the interior of the bundt pan. Pour batter inside and even it out. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to knock bubbles out.
• Bake until golden brown on top, about 1 hour. A digital thermometer plunged into the middle should read over 200-degrees. Let cake cool in pan for about 20 minutes, then invert it onto a rack to cool completely.
• Trim the bottom of the cake, if desired, to make it flat and even (saving those remnants to nibble on, of course). Put cake on serving platter. Combine glaze ingredients. Slowly spoon over the cake to totally cover the surface. If desired, spoon up what drips off and reapply to cake a few more times, coating surface generously.
• Let glaze set at room temperature or in the fridge. Slice and enjoy!

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• In small bowl, combine the walnuts, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, tossing to coat well. Set aside.
• Separate eggs, placing the whites in a large bowl. Let them come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Use nonstick spray with flour on a large bundt pan.
• In a big mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together, making them light and fluffy. Add egg yolks one at a time. Add vanilla.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mix alternatively with the sour cream, scraping the bowl on occasion, until just combined.
• Using clean beaters, beat the egg whites on medium until stiff peaks form. Fold the whites into the batter, making sure not to overmix and deflate.
• Pour half the batter into the bundt pan. Sprinkle the walnut mixture fully around the ring. Pour the rest of the batter on top and smooth out.
• Bake cake for 45 to 55 minutes, plunging a toothpick in the middle of the cake to test for doneness. Cake is done when the toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes, then invert onto a rack to completely cool.
• If desired, sprinkle confectioners’ sugar over the top prior to serving. Cake is best eaten within two days, but can also be individually sliced, wrapped, and frozen to enjoy later.

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• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Use a baking spray with flour (or alternatively, some extra vegetable oil and flour) to coat the interior of the bundt pan. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, 2 Tablespoons of orange zest (the rest reserved for the glaze), and baking powder. Set aside.
• In a big mixing bowl, beat together sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs on high speed until it becomes quite pale, about a minute and a half. Add 1 1/4 cups orange juice, beating until combined. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, scraping bottom of bowl as needed.
• Pour batter into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes, until the middle passes the toothpick test. Cool for about 20 minutes, then invert it onto a rack to completely cool, speeding the process in the fridge if desired.
• Make the glaze. Measure out the sugar. Add orange juice and any remaining zest. If mixture is thick, add a touch more juice; if runny, add more sugar. It should be a thick texture as it is drizzled on the cake. Let glazed cake set at least 30 minutes at room temperature or in fridge before slicing in.
• Cake is great kept sealed at room temperature for up to 3 days. It can also be sliced and frozen, glaze and all, and makes for a delicious treat even weeks later.

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• Preheat oven at 325-degrees. Line a 9×13 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low, pour in milk, butter, and vanilla, stopping a few times to scrape the bottom of the bowl. Add eggs one at a time. Batter should be smooth.
• Measure out about 3 cups of the vanilla batter and pour it into the pan. Add the remaining three ingredients to the bowl, mixing until smooth. Dollop heaping spoonfuls of the cocoa batter onto the vanilla. Use a butter knife to swirl the colors to create a marbled effect. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to knock air bubbles free.
• Bake for about 35 minutes. The middle should pass the toothpick test. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Use foil to lift the cake onto a cutting board for easy slicing. Sprinkle on confectioners’ sugar just before serving. Store in a sealed container.

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• First of all, make the frangipane. In a medium bowl, stir together all ingredients until a smooth paste forms. This can be made a day or hours ahead of the cake assembly; if it is made ahead, press plastic wrap to directly cover the frangipane and refrigerate until it is used.
• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Generously grease interior surface of a 10-cup bundt pan with butter, then sift extra cocoa powder to coat it as much as possible. Rotate pan to distribute cocoa powder, tapping out excess if necessary.
• Melt butter in microwave or on stovetop and let it cool a few minutes. Pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Add the buttermilk, eggs, espresso powder, almond extract, and vanilla, beating until smooth.
• In a separate large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Switch from the whisk to the paddle attachment. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just smooth.
• Pour half the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Dollop the frangipane over the batter and smooth out, if possible. Top with remaining cake batter and smooth it again.
• Bake until the middle passes the toothpick test, about 55 to 60 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Let pan cool for about 20 minutes and then carefully invert it onto a rack to completely cool. Bits might stick to the pan; if so, pry them out and try to patch the cake. Remember that frosting will help mask any damage.
• Once the cake is room temperature, make the frosting. Beat the confectioners' sugar, almond extract, and half & half together to together to form a thick consistency, then drizzle over the cake. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top.
• Cake will be moister on the first day but keeps fairly well for a few days. Slices can also be individually wrapped and frozen for later.

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• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line 9-inch pan with foil extended up all four sides. Apply nonstick spray.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs and almond extract.
• To the mixing bowl, alternatively add the flour mixture and the ricotta. Batter will be thick.
• Pour it into the prepared pan. Level off with an uneven spatula. Sprinkle sliced almonds to cover the top.
• Bake for 33 to 38 minutes, until the middle passes the toothpick test.
• Cool in pan for at least 45 minutes, then use foil to lift it onto a rack to completely cool at room temperature.
• Make glaze and drizzle across the top. Let set for 30 minutes before cutting. Cake will keep at least two days at room temperature, or pieces can be individually wrapped and frozen for later.

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