Cake, Guava

                                       Cuisine: Hawaiian

Yields: 16 servings

Prep time: 30 min

Cook time: 40 min

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups cake flour

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup frozen guava juice concentrate, thawed and undiluted

5 egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 to 3 drops red food coloring (optional)

8 egg whites, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Guava Frosting (see recipe below)

Guava Topping (see recipe below)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Position oven rack in center of oven. Cover wire cooling racks with plast wrap.

In an extra-large bowl of your electric mixer, sift together the cake flour, 3/4 sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add vegetable oil, guava juice concentrate, beaten egg yolks, and food coloring (if desired). Beat at medium speed approximately 1 to 2 minutes or just until smooth; remove bowl and set aside.

NOTE: Wash and dry your beaters before proceeding below with the egg whites.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form; add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form.

Using a rubber spatula, gently fold 1/3 of the prepared cake mixture into the egg white mixture until just barely mixed. Gently fold in the remaining cake mixture just until incorporated. Do not over mix.

Pour the cake batter into two (2) round, un-greased cake pans (filled to the top); smooth top with a rubber spatula. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. NOTE: To prevent the cake from falling, do not open the oven door until near the end of the minimum baking time. Remove from oven when done and immediately invert the cakes onto the prepared wire racks to cool completely (cool with pan in place - do not remove cake from cake pans). When the cakes are cool, gently remove from the pans. Place cakes in the refrigerator until well chilled.

Prepare Guava Frosting. Prepare Guava Topping just below you are ready to complete the cake.

When the cake is well chilled, remove from the refrigerator. Place one (1) cake layer onto a cake plate and spread top with 1/2 of the lukewarm Guava Topping. Top with the remaining cake layer. NOTE: To keep cake from sliding to one side, insert a long wooden skewer into the middle and all the way to the bottom. Spread Guava Frosting on sides and top of the cake. Spread the remaining Guava Topping on top of the cake.

Store cake in the refrigerator until serving time.

Makes 1 large cake, approximately 16 servings.

Guava Frosting:

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/3 cup powdered (confectioners') sugar

1/2 cup frozen guava juice concentrate, thawed and undiluted

In a large bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in guava juice concentrate, blending well. Store in refrigerator until read to spread on the cake.

Guava Topping:

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoon water

1 1/4 cups frozen guava juice concentrate, thawed and undiluted

In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until cornstarch is dissolved.

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring place guava juice concentrate just to a boil; reduce heat to low. Add cornstarch mixture and stir until mixture thickens to a sauce-like consistency. Remove from heat and let cool to lukeware before spreading on the cake.