PIONEER WOMAN FRUIT CAKE RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325ºF. Do NOT grease angel food cake pan. Put sugar in a food processor and pulse about 15 times until the sugar granules are finer. Sift flour with 3/4 cup of the sugar. Set aside. In a large bowl, use whisk attachment to whip egg whites, extracts, and salt until it becomes a bit frothy. Add cream of tartar and whip until mixture forms soft peaks. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, while mixer is running. Continue beating until mixture is glossy, smooth, and holds a stiff peak. In three additions, sift flour/sugar mixture over the top of the beaten egg whites and carefully fold. Once incorporated, spoon batter into the pan. Run a knife or a thin spatula through the batter to break up any air pockets. Smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until top is lightly golden and cracked, and cake bounces bake when lightly touched. Cool cake upside-down in pan, using a bottle in the center, the attached feet that are part of some pans, or handles balanced on something sturdy. Let cake cool completely, about 2 hours. Just before serving, place strawberries in a bowl with brown sugar. Stir and let sit for about 5–10 minutes to become syrupy. Run a knife along the edge and center tube of cake. Invert onto a cake plate and give the cake a few good shakes. If the cake does not release, repeat the steps. Cut with a serrated knife and serve with whipped topping and strawberries.

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 325°. Wrap heavy-duty foil around the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Spray the inside of the pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 14 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
• For the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until no lumps remain, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, gradually add the sour cream, sugar, flour and salt, beating until the batter is smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, until just combined after each addition. Continue scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Stir in the vanilla bean paste.
• Pour the filling into the pan and place it into a large roasting pan. Place the pan into the oven and quickly pour hot water into the roasting pan so that it comes up about halfway up the foil-wrapped springform pan.
• Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes or until the cheesecake is set on the sides and just barely jiggles in the center when the pan is shaken. Turn the oven off and crack the oven door. Leave the cheesecake in the oven for 15 minutes.
• Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and transfer to a wire rack. Let the cheesecake continue cooling to room temperature, about 2 hours. Place in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours to chill completely.
• For the topping: In a medium saucepan, combine 1 pound of the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and salt over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until strawberries break down and the sauce is thickened, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the remaining 1/2 lb. strawberries and cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• To serve: Run a thin knife along the edge of the pan before removing the sides from the pan. Top the cheesecake with strawberry mixture just before serving.