April 02, 2011

CaffeIna (late) birthday and the most amazing cake I've ever had!




The tenth of March was CaffeIna first birthday! Such an important event went unnoticed, or better said completely neglected (sigh), because of life events. Finally, I am in quieter waters and I find the time to post about a wonderful cake I made for that event. Honestly, I don’t want to waste too much time rambling around. I just would like to give you the recipe of this cake because it is just one of THE MOST AMAZING cakes I’ve ever had! If you look at the pictures you can see that the crust is a chocolate crust and as you all know I am not a big fan of chocolate (ps for Christiane: trust me on this one! You would love it too!). So for me to say that even with a chocolate component this cake was amazing it truly says it all. I guess the ricotta filling, which I loved, overcompensated. And don’t let the length of the method fool you: it’s super easy to make.



I found this recipe at Pasticci e Pastrocchi, one of my favorite Italian blogs. I was looking forward to translate it for you because this dessert brings the idea of cake to a whole new level.



This cake is for your, dear friends, constant or occasional readers, because this year of blogging has been such a surreal experience for me and you all made it so so so special! Thank you all!




Petersburger Streuselkuchen
Ingredients
Yields a 9” cake

For the crust
150 g (5.3 oz) butter, at room temperature
125 g (4.4 oz) sugar
1 egg
250 g (9 oz or 2 cups) all-purpose flour
5 g (1 tsp) baking powder
1 pinch of salt
15 g (1 tbsp) cocoa powder

For the filling
100 g (3.5 oz) butter
150 g (5.3 oz or ¾ cup) sugar,
5 eggs at room temperature
500 g (17.6 oz) ricotta

For the streusel
75 g (2.6 oz) sugar
75 g (2.6 oz) butter
150 g (5.3 oz) all-purpose flour
15 g (1 tbsp) cocoa powder



Method

For the crust (chocolate pasta frolla)

Cut the butter into cubes and put it in a medium bowl. Add the sugar and the egg and mix quickly with a whisk.

Add the flour, the baking powder, the salt, and the cocoa powder and quickly mix, first with a fork and then with the finger tips until all the ingredients are just combined. Remember to be very quick to mix in all the ingredients. This is a pasta frolla type of dough and, like shortbread and similar dough, it is very important not to over-mix it or it will burn (i.e. once you bake it, it would become very hard!)

Quickly shape the dough into a ball, wrap it into plastic wrap and put it in a cold place (but not the fridge this time) while you prepare the filling.


For the filling

In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter and the sugar until you obtain a cream. Then add the eggs, one at a time. It is very important that the eggs are at room temperature or the cream will become all lumpy.

When the eggs are all well incorporated, add the ricotta and beat until you obtain a smooth cream.


For the Streusel

Melt the butter and let it cool down.

Add the flour and the sugar and quickly mix with a fork or your hands until you obtain a crumby mixture.


To assemble the cake

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and prepare a 9” springform pan (I buttered it and covered the bottom with parchment paper).

Roll out the dough on the bottom and the sides of the pan (make sure to make very high sides). Pour the filling on the crust and the sprinkle the streusel on top.

Bake for about an hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean of crust crumbs.

Let the cake cool down completely before opening the sides of the pan. Mine took a long time to be ready to get unmold! (The center of the cake will be pretty liquid until the cake gets completely cooled. If you try to unmold it too soon you will risk a disaster, with the filling flowing all out.)

Have a sweet day!

54 comments:

  1. Congrats on a year of blogging! I absolutely adore your blog. :)
    This cake looks incredible! The ricotta filling sounds sooo good and I love anything with streusel. I can't wait to try this out. It's definitely my kind of cake!

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  2. Looks amazing!
    Any recommendations for a cold place to put the crust that's not the refrigerator?

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  3. Sara, if you say its that amazing then I am absolutely going to have to try it.. it looks absolutely heavenly! Happy Late blog birthday :) Isn't it amazing how far we've all come?? I hope you have a relaxing weekend!

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  4. Happy belated bloggy birthday!! I recently missed my #2 for the same reason - life!!

    I'm going to copy this recipe - I ask you, how can I resist worlds like "the most amazing cake I've ever had!" ??

    :)
    ButterYum

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  5. Hi Sara

    wow, now that is one incredible cake! I have to make this it looks amazingly delicious!!
    Congrats on your first blogoversary, I am so sorry I missed the actual day. Here is wishing you many many more!

    Dennis

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  6. Oh WOW! Now I want cake!! This sounds incredible.

    Happy Blogoversary!

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  7. My friend. Happy anniversary on this blog. To have met you was one of the highlights of my joining the blogging community. I wish so badly that we lived closer together. I would foresee many dinner parties, with me making dinner and you bringing desserts, much like this one.

    Wow, what a fantastic cake. If you say the chocolate works, then I'm willing to try it.

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  8. It's like a really fabulous cheesecake and a streusel coffeecake all rolled into one. Perfect for a blogiversary.

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  9. Thanks all for the nice comments :)
    @Libby: I put it next to a window facing north, i.e. no direct sun, fresh air coming from the outside, far from stoves and ovens....but still not the cold of the refrigerator that would make the dough too hard. I hope this helps.
    @Angela: it really is a great mix of a cheesecake and a streusel coffeecake. That's probably why I loved it!
    @Christiane: I know....every time I make something like this I think "I wish Christiane could take a bite and enjoy it with me!" still waiting for you to move to the west coast :)

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  10. Hey, your blog and I have the same birthday!!! This cake does indeed look amazing and I am glad you translated it for us because I am saving to make. Don't know if it will be a low carb version or a regular one, but I do want to make this!

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  11. This cake rocks! So does your blog, congrats :)

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  12. Happy blogaversary!!! What an amazing looking cake! YUM!

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  13. First, this cake looks absolutely DELICIOUS.

    I can't even believe how eager I am to get into the kitchen and make this.

    Second, CONGRATULATIONS on your anniversary - that is quite an accomplishment. Keep up the fantastic work!!

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  14. This cake looks marvelous! Congratulations on a year of blogging! :)

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  15. That looks lovely. Happy belated birthday.

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  16. happy birthday delicious cake to celebrate

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  17. Happy Blog Birthday! Mine just passed too. I'm definitely saving this cake recipe. YUM!

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  18. Happy Blog Birthday! Your cake is a wonderful cake for the occasion! I love to read your blog, and baking with Carla.

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  19. Hooray for life calming down a bit and this cake! I'm a huge fan of anything dubbed "best ever" and I think I can tell why you gave it this title just from the pictures alone. I'm pretty sure I need this in my life right about...now. :) Thank you for sharing and happy one year (plus) of blogging! I love visiting your blog :)

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  20. Feliz cumpleaños bonita! Que torta hermosa. :)

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  21. Congratulations on your first blog anniversary! I hope there will be many more :o)
    The cake looks incredible and I love the chocolate crust along with the chocolate streusel. Adding a ricotta filling makes it just that much better for me. I will definitely have to add this to my "must-make" list :o)

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  22. This looks AWESOME! Will have to try it!!

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  23. Wow - this looks amazing!! Congrats on your first year!

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  24. Happy Blog Anniversary Caffeina
    You know I love your blog Sara and looking forward to more wonderful recipes.
    The cake looks AMAZING. thanks for translating it for us. can't wait to give it a try.

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  25. This cake is so tempting! Happy blog anniversary! Hope I can read your delicious recipes for many more years to come!
    Cheers!

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  26. Happy anniversary to your beautiful blog! Wow, this looks like one incredible cake...oh, boy, I'd love a slice!!!

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  27. This looks fabulous. Can't wait to try it!

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  28. YUMMMMMMMMMM
    ---
    Daniela
    http://isreview1.blogspot.com

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  29. How can we not love all things Italian. Thanks for the awesome recipe - can't wait to try it. Think I can cut the sugar a tiny bit?

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  30. I'm so pleased to have found your blog (and this incredible cake). Congratulations on your blogoversary.

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  31. Happy Blogiversary to CaffeIna!!! And what a wonderful way to celebrate! Beautiful, cake, and I'm loving the ricotta filling. Printed and saved for summer!
    Glad life is slowing down a bit... we are on spring break this week and I loved waking to the sun on my own without an alarm. What a treat!!

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  32. Happy late birthday!

    Incredible cake...I clicked and my eyes went all big....the I must have it now desire kicked in instantly. ;) Definitely on my list to bake.

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  33. This looks like the kinda cake that can have a celebration all on its own! Happy blog-birthday!!

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  34. Happy blog anniversary! This is my first time on your site and most certainly not the last... this cake looks amazing. It makes me want to drop everything I'm doing so that I can run home and make it immediately. :)

    Alison

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  35. Congrats! That cake looks perfect for such an occasion. Love the streusel on top with the ricotta in the middle, mmmm heaven!

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  36. Congratulations on your first year of blogging!

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  37. This looks BEYOND delicious, Sara! And CONGRATULATIONS on your first year of blogging! You're great, miss!

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  38. Happy (late) blogiversary Sara and congrats on Top 9 and your first year of blogging. can't believe it's only been a year!!

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  39. Happy blog birthday, friend! This cake looks like a great way to celebrate. Glad things are quieter for you now. Maybe we can have that brunch soon? :)

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  40. Happy 1st anniversary to your blog, Sara. I always look forward to your posts--your personality always shines through. That said, I'm so glad to have had the chance to meet you. I'm with Azmina, maybe we can have that brunch soon. :-)

    As for this cake, this gets bumped up to the top of my must-try list. Thanks for sharing it with us! :-)

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  41. Azmina and Jean: I promise that if we are able to meet up for brunch I will make this cake...it's not a brunch cake but you can just save it for the afternoon :)

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  42. I can see why it is you favorite..I am totally drooling! Wonderful and delicious..Happy 1st Anniversary and I wish you many more to share with us your creations!!!

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  43. Happy Anniversary! Glad that I found your blog! This cake does sounds like one of the best cakes on earth. I just wish I had a slice right now to enjoy. Have a great week ahead!

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  44. Happy happy birthday! Cake looks YUM! Pls. send us some :)

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  45. Congratulations and best wishes for many more to come.
    This is the perfect (cake) way to celebrate.
    Thanks for sharing the recipe

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  46. Wow 1 already. I ask myself everyday, where is time going. I adore this cake, I'm making this soon, and I won't even wait until my birthday. He He So glad your schedule is easing up, I'm so glad you were able to find me, what a pain. Have a great week.
    -Gina-

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  47. Happy belated first blogoversary! What a wonderful looking cake. Definitely a worthy way to celebrate.

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  48. Hi, I love your blog, I left an award for you at mine, I hope you can stop by and take it, thanks for sharing your recipes :)
    Magali
    http://magalimarch.blogspot.com

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  49. it's come out of the oven now....my three kids will be delighted!!!!
    thanx for sharing

    Enza C.

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  50. Hi Sara thanks for visiting my blog :)

    A Very Happy Belated Blogbirthday to you! I've always loved cheesecake and this one is just stellar!! I really love chocolate, so for me, this would be an easy sell :D

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  51. I came back to drool again over this cake...and realized I wasn't a follower. Well, that has been remedied, and I am printing off this recipe!

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  52. First, this cake looks absolutely DELICIOUS.
    Incredible cake...I clicked and my eyes went all big

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  53. Happy belated blog birthday!! I absolutely agree with you!! Your cake looks particularly amazing to me!! I LOVE ricotta cakes, and a slight hint of chocolate!

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  54. Congrats!
    And this looks so amazing, I want to go make it right now!

    It's gorgeous, and looks oh so delicious.

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