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Brown Butter Cake and Black Currant Jam

Fred Chang and I collaborated to create this MilkBar inspired cake. He and I both worked at MilkBar after competing on MasterChef. See his page for the remaining elements of the cake.
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Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Black Currant Jam

  • 350 g black currant concentrate (I used Ribena)
  • 100 g water
  • 50 g sugar
  • 15 g sure-jell for recipes with low/no sugar
  • 26 g freeze dried black currant powder
  • 22 g lemon juice

For the Brown Butter Cake

  • 55 g unsalted butter softened
  • 40 g brown butter softened, see note
  • 250 g sugar
  • 60 g light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 110 g half and half
  • 65 g neutral oil
  • 2 g vanilla extract
  • 185 g cake flour
  • 4 g baking powder
  • 4 g salt

Instructions
 

For the Black Currant Jam

  • In a medium sauce-pot combine concentrate and water.
    350 g black currant concentrate, 100 g water
  • In a separate small bowl, combine sugar, pectin, and freeze dried currant powder. Stir out the lumps.
    50 g sugar, 15 g sure-jell for recipes with low/no sugar, 26 g freeze dried black currant powder
  • Add dry mix into the liquids and add lemon juice. Heat on medium heat until mixture is boiling. Allow to boil for at least 2 minutes to activate pectin.
    22 g lemon juice
  • To test for doneness, scoop a thin amount onto a spoon and allow mixture to set, push with finger and test. The mixture should wrinkle under your finger.

For the Cake

  • Heat the oven to 350F. Spray a ΒΌ sheet pan with non-stick spray and line it with parchment.
  • Cream butters and sugars on medium high speed until light and fluffy. The mixture should be a pale cream color. Trust me, go further than you think.
    55 g unsalted butter, 40 g brown butter, 250 g sugar, 60 g light brown sugar
  • Scrape the sides of the bowl and then add your eggs one at a time. Let each egg get fully mixed in before adding the next one. After the last egg is fully mixed in, scrape the sides of the bowl.
    3 eggs
  • Wisk together the dry ingredients and add a third of that mixture into your mixer.
    185 g cake flour, 4 g baking powder, 4 g salt
  • Combine your wet ingredients and add half of that mixture into your mixer.
    110 g half and half, 65 g neutral oil, 2 g vanilla extract
  • Add another third of the dry ingredients.
  • Add your last half of wet ingredients.
  • Add the remaining dry ingredients.
  • Once fully mixed, pour batter onto prepared sheet pan and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Focus on the corners first and then even out the center.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through. Allow to cool completely before cutting and assembling.

For assembly:

  • Cut cake into 6 inch rounds using the MilkBar method: Cut 2 perfect circles and 2 halves to make 3 layers
  • Using a 6 inch cake ring lined with acetate, layer cake, cheesecake, jam, and crumbs. Decorate however you like!

Notes

For the Brown Butter: heat a stick of butter over medium-high heat. It will start to bubble and fizz. Stir regularly so the milk solids brown evenly. Take the butter as dark as you feel comfortable. At MilkBar, we would take the butter super dark and nearing burnt. Once the butter is where you like it, pour into a heat safe container and allow to cool at room temperature, stirring every half hour or so to evenly distribute milk solids.
Keyword Cake, Dessert