Rustic Canyon's Cranberry Orange Cornmeal Cake

Name: Rustic Canyon's Cranberry Orange Cornmeal Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 20 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 cups flour; 1 cup cornmeal; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 3 eggs; 1/4 cup maple syrup; 1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla; 3/4 cup butter, plus; 2 tablespoons butter (1 3/4 sticks); 1 1/2 cups sugar, plus; 2 tablespoons sugar, divided; 2 1/4 teaspoons salt; 1 orange, zest of; 2 cups ricotta cheese; 2 1/2 cups cranberries, divided

Submitted by blucoat

"This beautifully rustic cornmeal cake has light notes of vanilla and maple, with ricotta folded into the batter just before baking for extra-moist texture. The cake is on the dessert menu at the wonderful Santa Monica restaurant, Rustic Canyon. It was created by their pastry chef Zoe Nathan and was printed in the LA Times (Oct. 29, 2008 ). It's a great do-ahead cake, as it tastes even better the next day. Recipe can be halved- it will take about half the time to bake."

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Ready In:: 1hr 35mins
Ingredients:: 17
Serves:: 20

ingredients

2 cups flour
1 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
¹⁄₂ teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
¹⁄₄ cup maple syrup
¹⁄₄ cup vegetable oil, plus
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ¹⁄₂ tablespoons vanilla
³⁄₄ cup butter, plus
2 tablespoons butter (1 3/4 sticks)
1 ¹⁄₂ cups sugar, plus
2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 ¹⁄₄ teaspoons salt
1 orange, zest of
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 ¹⁄₂ cups cranberries, divided

directions

Heat the oven to 375°F Grease a 9-inch round by 3-inch tall cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and baking soda. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, maple syrup, oil and vanilla. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together the butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, salt and zest. Mix just until thoroughly combined; do not overmix.
With the mixer running, slowly incorporate the egg mixture into the butter just until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add one-half of the flour mixture to the batter and quickly mix for 5 seconds. Turn off the mixer and add the rest of the flour, the ricotta and one-half of the cranberries. Mix the remaining ingredients into the batter over low speed just until combined, being careful not to overmix.
Gently pour the batter into the cake pan and smooth the top. Scatter the remaining cranberries over the top of the cake, and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Place a loose piece of foil over the top of the cake if it starts to darken. Cool the cake on a wire rack before removing it from the pan.