A moist vanilla scented mascarpone cake served room temperature with a creamy Orange Mascarpone Gelato and a fresh strawberry compote. Very refreshing with creaminess of the Mascarpone and the tanginess of fresh oranges; accompany with the sweetness of fresh strawberries.

Serves: 4-6

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Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Cake

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces all-purpose flour

• 7 ounces sugar

• 1½ teaspoons baking powder

• 6 ounces Crave Brothers Mascarpone cheese

• 4 eggs

• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 6 ounces butter, melted

• Vanilla Bean Syrup, recipe below

• Warm Strawberry Compote, recipe below

• Orange Mascarpone Gelato, recipe below – prepared 24 hours in advance

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Instructions:

In a mixer, slowly mix dry ingredients with mascarpone cheese and eggs.  Add vanilla bean seeds and vanilla extract, mix. Mix in the melted butter.

Bake in desired flexi pans or mini pans about 4″ round in a 325° oven for about 18 minutes or until done.  Allow to cool slightly for about 30 minutes and soak with Vanilla Bean Syrup by poking small holes in the cake with a toothpick or kabob skewer and drizzling the syrup over the top.

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Vanilla Bean Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded

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Instructions:

Bring everything to a boil in a medium saucepan until mixture coats the back of a spoon. Allow to cool.

 

Warm Strawberry Compote

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup water

• 5 fresh strawberries, quartered

• 20 fresh strawberries (medium size), tops removed

• Juice from 1 lemon

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Instructions:

Bring sugar, water and quartered strawberries to a boil in a medium saucepan for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and cover for 30 minutes.

Strain mixture and return back to the saucepan.   Add the fresh strawberries and lemon juice to the mixture and bring to a boil.  Cook for about 1 minute; just to warm the berries.

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Orange Mascarpone Gelato

Ingredients:

• 4 cups milk

• 1 cup sugar

• 1.75 ounces glucose powder

• 2 ounces powdered skim milk

• 6 ounces Crave Brothers Mascarpone cheese

• Zest and juice from 3 fresh oranges

• ¾ cup cream

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Instructions:

Place milk into a non-stick pot and bring to a boil.

Combine sugar, glucose powder, powdered skim milk and ice cream stabilizer and mix together. Add dry ingredients to boiling milk and mix until everything dissolves. Add cream and mascarpone and mix; chill over ice bath.

Add orange zest and juice and mix with a hand mixer until smooth. Pour into ice cream machine to make gelato. *If you do not have an ice cream machine, pour mixture into a large, freezer-safe container and stir three times every 2-3 hours; returning container to freezer between each stir.

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Assembly:

Slice a piece of vanilla bean cake and top with a spoonful of warm strawberry compote. Finish off with a dollop of gelato and a mint leaf for garnish.