Passion Fruit Cake / Pastel de Maracuya - Fluffy and flavorful!

 

Passion Fruit Cake - You know one of those days were things just work out? Today was one of those days for me, such a nice morning, productive and the results excellent.

Here is a cake that's super soft and fluffy, moist and super flavorful and if you like Passion Fruits than you will be a fan. I love it! Simple recipe, just follow the steps. Short bake time so you'll have dessert for lunch or dinner.

You'll need the following ingredients:

For Cake:

3 eggs - separate yolks from whites

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light unflavored oil

1/2 cup milk

3 Tbsp Passion Fruit Juice (do not add water!)

1 cup AP Flour

1/2 cup Cornstarch

1/2 Tbsp Baking Powder

Passion Fruit Sauce:

1/2 cup Passion Fruit Juice (don't add water!)

1 Tbsp Milk

3/4 cup sugar (white)

NOTE: I got 6 large Maracuya fruits (large, hard, yellow) this gave me exactly the amount I needed. Cut them in half and scooped out the seeds and jelly to a small dish. Once you've opened all of them you need to run through a sieve or similar, to press the juice out of this gelatinous ingredient. Remember, the recipe calls for 3 Tbsp + 1/2 cup of juice, ok? You can use natural juice if you can find it (no water added), canned or ?

Preparation.-

To Make the Passion Fruit Sauce:

1.    In a saucepan, place the Passion Fruit juice, milk and sugar. I added a few black seeds (1 Tbsp or so) for looks.

2.    Over medium heat until the sauce begins to boil. Turn off the heat and let it fully cool.

For the Cake: 

1. Preheat oven at 350 F (177 C)
2. Line 8X8 Baking pan with parchment paper, leaving 1 inch extra all around
3. In a bowl of mixer or hand-held whisk, beat the 3 egg whites to stiff peaks. Set aside for a moment while the batter is mixed. Remove from mixer bowl. (you can even use the same bowl once you place the beaten white elsewhere with care)
4. In another bowl, beat sugar, 3 yolks and neutral oil until thick and pale yellow, about 2-5 minutes.
5. Add milk and Passion Fruit Juice and beat until well incorporated.
6. Sift flour, cornstarch and baking powder over this mixture, in 2 parts, and mix well with a  rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
7. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites you were reserving, also in 2 additions taking care of the batter and an even combination.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread evenly and smooth out the top.
9. Bake 25 - 35 minutes or until a toothpick or tester comes out clean.
10.  As soon as you take the cake out of the oven, while it's hot, make several holes or slits across the cake about 1 inch from each other. This will allow the sauce to soak into the cake.
11. Spread half of the Passion Fruit Sauce you cooled over the cake, the other half you can leave so anyone can drizzle a little more sauce onto their slice.
12. Once cooled, you can remove the parchment paper and place on a serving dish or just make squares from the cake and serve from there. Enjoy!!