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Spirited: St. Andre Cake

Source of Recipe

Julia Child


List of Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
1/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring pan
4 ounces (about 1 cup) walnuts
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons kirsch
1 cup apricot jam
1 tablespoon cognac
Freshly whipped cream, for serving



Recipe

1. Heat oven to 350°. Butter a 9-inch round pan, and line with parchment paper. Butter paper, and lightly dust with flour. Place 1 cup walnuts and 3 tablespoons sugar in a food processor, and finely grind. Transfer to a bowl. Sift flour over nut mixture. Mix well to combine.

2. In a medium bowl, beat butter with a wooden spoon until soft and creamy; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine 1/2 cup sugar, the eggs, and kirsch on medium speed until light, fluffy, and doubled in volume, 7 to 8 minutes. Place 1 tablespoon egg mixture into the beaten butter, and mix with a rubber spatula.

3. Sprinkle one-third of the ground-nut mixture over the beaten eggs, and gently fold in. Repeat process, folding in remaining nuts in two batches. Add reserved butter mixture, and fold in evenly.

4. Bang prepared pan lightly on work surface to remove trapped air bubbles, then pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until cake pulls away from sides of pan, about 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.

5. Heat jam and cognac in a small saucepan over medium heat to liquefy. Strain through a fine sieve, and cool slightly.

6. Transfer cake, right side up, to a serving plate or pedestal. Tuck paper under edges of cake. Pour glaze onto cake. Using an offset spatula, spread glaze over top and sides of cake. Remove paper. Serve with whipped cream.


YIELD: One 9" Cake