Cassata with Walnuts

Cassata is a traditional sweet treat from a town in Italy. Sometime it may also refer to a Neapolitan ice cream top with candied or dried fruit and nuts. This dessert is made using sponge cake moistened with fruit juice or liqueur then layered with candied peel, chocolate or vanilla ice cream together with chopped nuts.

Continue from last week Philips, MyKitchen (www.philips.com.sg/kitchen) recipe post on the "Baked Sweet Chili Chicken", this week let's look at some sweet dessert which you can prepare ahead and served after meal to impress your guest.

Cassata with Walnuts

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes                        Baking Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients For Batter:

250g Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vinegar
375g All-purpose Flour
50g Cocoa Powder
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
10 Tablespoons Olive Oil
200ml Boiling Water
A Pinch of Salt

For the Filling:
1 Litre Vanilla Ice Cream
4 Tablespoons Walnuts, chopped

For the Chocolate Fudge:
200g Milk Chocolate
125ml Cream
2 Tablespoons Cognac
500ml Sour Cream
6 Tablespoons Sugar

Method:

1. In the mixer, beat the sugar, eggs, olive oil and vinegar.

2. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate, salt and then the boiling water.

3. Place on a greased tray. Bake at medium heat (180°C) for approximately 30 minutes. Set aside and let it cool completely.

4. To make the fudge, melt the chocolate and add the cream and the cognac. To make the frosting, beat the cream and sugar in the mixer until you have whipped cream.

5. To assemble, line a rectangular baking dish with baking paper. Add alternate layers of ice cream, chocolate cake, chopped walnuts and chocolate fudge.

6. Decorate with green and red M and Ms and mint leaves.

Tips:

If you don’t want to use spirits, use milk instead of cognac. Or for variation, try using chocolate chip ice cream instead of vanilla ice cream.

Although I have not I have not tested this recipe yet but it look rather easy to prepare from the list of ingredients and instructions shown. Perhaps I would get a ready-baked sponge cake from bakery (to shorten the preparation time or those without oven can also use this shortcut) to try assemble this traditional Italian dessert.

For more quick and easy recipes you can refer to Philips MyKitchen at www.philips.com.sg/kitchen or stay tune for next week post on Chinese New Year - 5 Treasure Soup.