Recipe contributed by Duanne.
The basis of the cake was originally taken from Planet Cake cookbook but was adapted to suit UK ingredients and the flavour was changed quite a bit. I also changed the cooking method to get a better bake’
Adapted from Paris Cutlers’ Planet Cake Book
For the White Chocolate and Champagne Cheesecake Frosting
340gramsBright White Candy Melts
300gramsCream Cheese
0.5teaspoonChampagne Concentrate
Instructions
Method for the Cake
Preheat Oven to 180C/350F/Gas4
Grease a 9? round tin and line the base and sides with a collar of baking paper that extends 2cm above the top of the tin.
Place the Butter and 270ml water and caster sugar into a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolved.
Turn off the heat and add the broken Chocolate and stir until well combined.
Sift the flours together in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and stir together and make a well in the centre.
Pour the mixture into the tin and place in the oven. After 10 minutes reduce the temperature to 160C (325F/Gas 3)
After a further 20 minutes reduce the temperature to about Gas 2 ½ (155C/315F)
Bake for another 1h10min or until a skewer comes out clean although it may be sticky.
Leave the cake in the tin until completely cold. While the cake is cooling you can make the ‘Jam’ and frosting.
Method for the Rhubarb Jam
Put a small plate in the freezer.
Put the rhubarb in a large saucepan with the rest of the ingredients and stir gently until the sugar is dissolved.
Bring to the boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Remove the Rhubarb once it is just tender and set aside.
Bring the syrup to the boil and boil for another 5 minutes or until thick.
Test for setting point by spooning a little onto your chilled plate. After 1-2 mins, push your finger through the jam – if the surface wrinkles it is ready, if not, keep cooking for 2-min intervals, testing in between. (Or if you have a sugar thermometer it should reach 105C)
Set aside to cool completely.
Method for the White Chocolate and Champagne Cheesecake Frosting
Melt the Candy Melts in a double boiler until just melted, remove from heat and allow to cool to room
temperature. Or melt in the microwave in 10 second bursts on high power, stirring after each burst.
Beat the cream cheese and champagne concentrate in a standing beater on high for 3 minutes.
Turn the speed down to low and slowly add the cooled white chocolate and incorporate well.
Scrape down well
Turn the speed up to high and beat for 3 minutes.
Scrape the sides down well and beat for a further 2 minutes on high.
It is now ready to use.
Assemble the Cake
Slice the cake into three layers.
Brush 2 layers with a little Rhubarb syrup and a little Cream cheese mixture and place small pieces of rhubarb over the surface.
Place these 2 layers on top of each other and then place the third layer on top and coat the entire surface with the remaining cream cheese mix.
Place in the refrigerator to set.
The cake can be decorated with sticks of the remaining rhubarb with a little syrup drizzled on top.
I sprinkled over some cornflower petals as I had grown some but any organic edible flowers can be used as well although that is entirely optional.