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Breakfast

Strawberry Balsamic and Olive Oil Breakfast Cake

Balsamic vinegar and strawberries are a classic pairing. Balsamic vinegar and olive oil are a classic vinaigrette. Surely, I thought to myself, all three must come to sweet-and-sour harmony in a cake.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup golden balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup golden balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups cake flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup olive oil

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray an 8-inch cake pan with olive oil spray. Line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper (this is an important step -- it will help your cake release from the pan after baking without disturbing the arrangement of your strawberries). Spray again with olive oil.
  • Remove stems and slice strawberries vertically. Arrange them in a spiral, starting with the outside layer and overlapping slightly at the bottom of the cake pan.
  • Combine the brown sugar, golden balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and honey in a stainless steel pan and whisk to emulsify. Bring to a boil and stir frequently until thickened enough that it drips more slowly from your stirring spoon. Remove from heat and pour carefully over the arranged strawberries.
  • To make the cake batter, start by whisking together in one bowl the sugar, buttermilk, vinegar, and eggs.
  • In another bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients in three stages, stirring to incorporate each time.
  • Add your olive oil in 3 stages, folding and stirring to incorporate each time.
  • Slowly and carefully pour the batter over the strawberries. Don't pour too rapidly, or you'll displace your carefully-arranged spiral.
  • Bake for approximately an hour. The cake is done when the top is golden and it has pulled away slightly from the edges of the pan.
  • Cool for 10 minutes, and then run a knife between the cake and the pan to make sure it is completely loosened.
  • Put a flat plate atop the pan, and then, using potholders to protect your hands, quickly flip the cake while holding the plate tightly to the pan.
  • Slowly lift the pan, and the cake will be sitting, covered in parchment paper, on the plate. Peel off the parchment paper and be greeted by a beautiful spiral of sweet-tart fruit atop a golden cake.