If there was a certain “type” of cake that is popular in our household, then I would say it’s polenta cake. No cheesecake, no cupcakes – nope – it’s polenta cake! If you ever made a cake like that, you probably understand why ;))
Cakes made with polenta are extremely delicious in my opinion. Some of you might think “Polenta in a cake? Are you kidding me? That is normally a porridge like blob on my plate when somebody serves that to me” well… you can do bit more with polenta than that. The first time I made a cake with it I was skeptical too, cause I had a typical American cornbread in mind – forget that. Compared with the classical cornbread a polenta cake is moist and delicious. Best example is this bundt cake with orange and lemon flavor I made some time ago. Awesome
This cake here is just as awesome. Together with the mascarpone cream and fresh figs it’s a dream come true :D Grab some nice figs as long as they are available and make this cake – soon the will be gone or very hard to get.
Note: The cake itself can be made some time in advance – if you need to do it the night before, it’s fine. The mascarpone cream also can stay on the cake for quite some time… the figs should not. You should decorate the cake with the figs and port wine sauce just before serving. Like most fruits figs starting to look bit sad after a while ;) So you have a good reason to eat all of the cake…
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
5.3 oz. (150g) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (100g) sugar, divided
4 medium eggs, divided
1 1/4 cup (160g) all-purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2.5 oz. (70g) polenta
1/2 tsp. zest of organic orange
1/2 tsp. zest of organic lemon
salt
1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice
For the topping:
7 oz. (200g) heavy cream
2 tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
7 oz.(200g) mascarpone cheese
For the decoration:
2 tbsp. port wine
3.5 oz. (100g) raspberry-black currant jelly or similar
5-6 fresh figs
150g weiche Butter
100g Zucker
4 Eier (M), getrennt
160g Mehl (Type 405)
3 TL Backpulver
70g Polenta
1/2 TL Abrieb von Bio-Orange
1/2 TL Abrieb von Bio-Zitrone
Salz
60ml Orangensaft
Für das Topping:
200g Sahne
2 El Puderzucker
1 TL Vanille Extrakt
200g Mascarpone
Für die Dekoration:
2 EL Portwein
100g Himbeer-Johannisbeergelee (o.ä.)
5-6 frische Feigen
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
2. Add the butter with half of the sugar (1/4 cup) to a large bowl and beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Divide the eggs, keep the egg whites on the side for later, then add one egg yolk after another to the bowl and mix in well inbetween. Mix the flour with baking powder, polenta, the zest of the orange and lemon as well as a pinch of salt and add together with the orange juice to the bowl and mix until just combined. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt in a tall bowl until stiff peaks form, slowly add the remaining sugar and mix couple minutes more. Gradually add the egg whites to the batter and fold in very gently – you want to keep as much volume as possible. Transfer the batter to the prepared tart tin and smooth out the top. Bake for 14-15 minutes, take out of the oven and let cool down a bit in the tin, then remove carefully and let cool down completely on a wire rack.
3. Add the heavy cream and convectioner’s sugar for the topping to a tall bowl and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and mascarpone and mix until all is well combined and smooth. Place the cooled cake on a serving plate and spread the cream on top. Place in the fridge until needed again.
4. Add the port wine and jelly to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Let cook for some time until reduced to a thick sauce. Take off the heat and let cool down. Wash and dry the figs. Before serving cut the figs into slices, place on top of the cream and drizzle the sauce on top.
2. Die Butter mit der Hälfte des Zuckers (50g) hell und luftig aufschlagen. Die Eier trennen, das Eiweß zur Seite stellen und die Eigelbe einzeln zur Schüssel zugeben und jeweils gut unterrühren. Das Mehl mit dem Backpulver, Polenta, Abrieb der Orange und Zitrone und einer Prise Salz vermischen und dann zusammen mit dem Orangensaft zur Schüssel zugeben und kurz verrühren. Das Eiweiß mit einer Prise Salz steif schlagen und dann den restlichen Zucker langsam einrieseln lassen und weiter aufschlagen. Den Eischnee nach und nach sehr vorsichtig unter den Teig unterheben. Den Teig in die Form geben, glattstreichen und dann für 14-15 Minuten backen. Aus dem Ofen nehmen und erst in der Form etwas abkühlen lassen, dann vorsichtig herausnehmen und auf einem Kuchengitter komplett auskühlen lassen.
3. Für das Topping die Sahne mit dem Puderzucker in einem hohen Gefäß steif schlagen. Den Vanille Extrakt und Mascarpone zugeben und alles zu einer glatten Creme verrühren. Den abgekühlten Kuchen auf eine Servierplatte legen und mit der Mascarponecreme bestreichen. Bis zur weiteren Verwendung in den Kühlschrank stellen.
4. Den Portwein mit dem Gelee in einem kleinen Topf aufkochen und zu einer dickflüssigen Soße einkochen. Vom Herd nehmen und abkkühlen lassen. Vor dem Servieren die Feigen waschen, abtrocknen und in Spalten schneiden, auf der Mascarponecreme verteilen, die Soße darüberträufeln und dann servieren.
Craving more? Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for new post updates and more. You can also contact me with any questions or inquiries!
Here is a version of the recipe you can print easily.
PrintPolenta Cake with Mascarpone Cream and Fresh Figs
- Prep Time: 45
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 90
Ingredients
- 5.3 oz. (150g) butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) sugar, divided
- 4 medium eggs, divided
- 1 1/4 cup (160g) all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- 2.5 oz. (70g) polenta
- 1/2 tsp. zest of organic orange
- 1/2 tsp. zest of organic lemon
- salt
- 1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice
For the topping
- 7 oz. (200g) heavy cream
- 2 tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 7 oz.(200g) mascarpone cheese
For the decoration
- 2 tbsp. port wine
- 3.5 oz. (100g) raspberry-black currant jelly or similar
- 5–6 fresh figs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375˚F (190°C). Grease and dust a 10 inch (25cm) tart tin with loose bottom and set aside.
- Add the butter with half of the sugar (1/4 cup) to a large bowl and beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Divide the eggs, keep the egg whites on the side for later, then add one egg yolk after another to the bowl and mix in well inbetween. Mix the flour with baking powder, polenta, the zest of the orange and lemon as well as a pinch of salt and add together with the orange juice to the bowl and mix until just combined. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt in a tall bowl until stiff peaks form, slowly add the remaining sugar and mix couple minutes more. Gradually add the egg whites to the batter and fold in very gently – you want to keep as much volume as possible. Transfer the batter to the prepared tart tin and smooth out the top. Bake for 14-15 minutes, take out of the oven and let cool down a bit in the tin, then remove carefully and let cool down completely on a wire rack.
- Add the heavy cream and convectioner’s sugar for the topping to a tall bowl and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and mascarpone and mix until all is well combined and smooth. Place the cooled cake on a serving plate and spread the cream on top. Place in the fridge until needed again.
- Add the port wine and jelly to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Let cook for some time until reduced to a thick sauce. Take off the heat and let cool down. Wash and dry the figs. Before serving cut the figs into slices, place on top of the cream and drizzle the sauce on top.
Notes
- Enjoy baking!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
Hi Marc!
Greeting from Tokyo!
Just saw the photo of your polenta cake with figs on Instagram and got to this site!
Your baking is very sophisticated and everything look so yummy!!
I may be a bit stereotypical, but never thought a guy is baking all theses great stuffs!! And your recipes are very universal and easy to follow! I’ll definitely try some of your recipe! I got really obsessed with this cake with figs now!
Keep up the great work, Marc!
Hi Yoshie,
thxs a lot for the kind words – yeah guys also bake ;)) not many though, thats right.
Hope you like the cake if you make it some day :)
Cheers,
Marc