Ice Cider and Chestnut Cake

Megan's Chestnut Cake

If you want to channel passion, bake this cake. Our neighbors, Megan and Akiva, live on a vibrant homestead raising children, chickens and trees. Akiva is known as THE tree guy around these parts, and if you have a hankering to get inspired about the great Chestnut Revival, watch his Chestnut videos here. Megan, is known as THE baker around these parts and here she makes the case for replacing wheat flour with a sustainable perennial forest crop...chestnuts! The silky nuttiness of the chestnut flour makes this cake an obvious pairing with our Essence Ice Cider.

CHESTNUT CAKE

Grease & flour 2 9-inch cake pans

1 large and 2 small to medium sized mixing bowls

Ingredients:

2 cups finely ground chestnut flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 tsp baking soda

1 cup sugar

6 eggs, separated

pinch cream of tartar (optional)

just under 1 cup of butter, melted

1/3 cup milk, cream, or milk substitute

1-2 tsp vanilla

Sift dry ingredients into large bowl

In a separate bowl, mix egg yolks, melted butter, milk, and vanilla

Beat egg whites until fairly stiff, but not too shiny

Add yolk mixture to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly, then add egg whites, mixing gently with a wooden spoon until incorporated (the idea is to keep some of the air from the fluffed up egg whites in the batter)

Pour into greased and floured cake pans and bake at 320F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Over-baking will make for a dry and crumbly cake, so stay close!

Icing

2 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp milk or cream

9 oz solid chocolate

(I mix dark chocolate chips with unsweetened dark chocolate, to taste)

Heat a small pot with an inch or two of water and place a small bowl on top of the pot. Add all ingredients and heat gently, stirring frequently, until melted and completely smooth. While still warm, drizzle, paint, smear, or slather over cake in any way that brings you joy. Chill to harden chocolate before serving.

LOVE LETTER

Here is a love letter my friend Ben wrote about the marriage of apples and chestnuts found in this cider and dessert pairing. This is why we eat and drink...a sensory experience that allows a profound connection to the rich narrative of our lives and irrepressible hope for the future. We hope you can share that pleasure with someone you love. Love makes the world a better place.

- Autumn Stoscheck

Order Online