Armagnac prune cake

16 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
12ouncesPitted prunes
2cupsWater
¼cupArmagnac or Cognac
cupVegetable oil
cupSugar
5largesEggs
2tablespoonsVanilla extract
3cupsAll-purpose flour
1tablespoonBaking soda
teaspoonGround cinnamon
1teaspoonGround nutmeg
1teaspoonGround allspice
½teaspoonGround cardamom
½teaspoonGround cloves
1teaspoonSalt
cupButtermilk
cupSugar
¼cupUnsalted butter
½cupArmagnac or Cognac
2tablespoonsLight corn syrup
2tablespoonsFresh lemon juice
1teaspoonBaking soda
Vanilla ice cream
2 minutes.

Directions

GLAZE

OPTIONAL

FOR CAKE: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 F.

Butter and flour 12-cup bundt pan. Combine prunes, water and Armagnac in heavy medium saucepan. Simmer until prunes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain prunes, reserving ¼ cup cooking liquid for glaze. Coarsely chop prunes.

Beat oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, spices and salt to blend. Mix dry ingredients into dry mixture. Add buttermilk, beating until batter is smooth. Fold in chopped prunes. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake cake until tester comes out clean, about 1 hour 5 minutes.

Transfer to rack in pan.

FOR GLAZE: Combine reserved ¼ cup prune cooking liquid, sugar, butter, Armagnac, corn syrup, lemon juice and baking soda in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Boil

Pierce cake in several places with long toothpick or wooden skewer.

Slowly pour 1-¼ cups glaze over hot cake. Reserve extra glaze. Let glazed cake cool in pan 30 minutes. Turn cake out onto platter. Cool completely.

Cut cake into wedges. Serve with vanilla ice cream, passing additional glaze separately as sauce.

Bon Appetit - April 1991 Typed for you by Karen Mintzias