Grapefruit Harvest . . .

Bruce returned to the house with a bucketful of grapefruit. Like our other citrus trees, the grapefruit are ripening all at once. Due to my heart medication, I can't eat grapefruit as it affects my pills. As I had made several bottles of orange juice for us, Bruce decided that he would leave that for me and make some grapefruit juice for himself. Most chefs are seen in Chef Whites but for Bruce it is a farmer's black woollen singlet lol. Rather than add sugar, he also juiced some oranges for sweetness. However, he put aside some grapefruit juice so I could do some baking for him.

I started by making a grapefruit slice. I made the base and popped it into the oven. While it cooked and cooled, I prepared a batter for a grapefruit cake. While the cake cooked, I made the topping for the slice. I whisked the eggs together until they were light and fluffy, then added the sugar and whisked again. Then added the zest and flour, finally pouring in the juice and whisking again. This I poured over the cooled topping and popped it back into the oven. Once it cooked, I had to keep Bruce away from it till it cooled and the topping had set. However, while I wasn't looking, he picked the corner off for a taste test.

While the base for the slice cooked and cooled, I made the grapefruit cake. I creamed the butter and sugar till it was light and fluffy. Added the eggs one at a time, then mixed in the vanilla and zest. Finally adding the baking powder to the flour and sifted it into the bowl alternately with the juice. Then poured the batter into the pans. I use silicone pans, but if you use metal pans, line with baking paper first. I cooked and cooled the cakes, spread one with a little marmalade, then put them together with whipped cream. I put a little cream into a Ziplock bag and piped cream around the top and decorated it with a little more marmalade and a little sprinkled icing sugar. This is quite a dense cake, not light like a sponge. When Bruce ate a slice, he suggested I make it again with a lemon and orange combination so I can eat it too. So thoughtful, must be why I love him lol.

 Grapefruit Slice Recipe . . .

 

Base

150g softened butter

1 cup four

½ cup icing sugar

Topping

4 eggs

2 tsp grated zest

⅓ cup flour

1 ⅓ cups caster sugar

⅔ cup grapefruit juice

Method

Preheat oven 180° 

Grease a slice pan, line base and sides with baking paper.

Prepare the base by beating ingredients together until a soft dough forms. 

Press into the tin and bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden. Allow to cool.

Make topping by whisking first four ingredients together. Add juice, whisk to combine.

Pour over base and bake for 20 minutes or until set.

Cool completely in the tin, then dust with icing sugar and slice.

Fresh Grapefruit Cake Recipe . . .

 

Ingredients

3 cups flour

2½ tsp baking powder

1¾ cups sugar

150g softened butter

2 eggs

1½ tsp vanilla extract

2½ tsp grated zest

1¼ cups grapefruit juice

1 cup grapefruit pieces - cut small

Method

Preheat oven 180° 

Grease and line with paper, 2 sponge tins (If silicone, don't need this step)

Sift together flour and baking powder and set aside.

Cream together sugar and butter with an electric mixture until light and fluffy.

Beat in eggs one at a time.

Stir in vanilla and zest.

Add flour mixture alternately with juice.

Fold in grapefruit pieces.

Pour batter into two pans and cook for 25 - 30 minutes. Cooked when a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Let cakes cool for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Join together with icing or cream.

Dust top with icing sugar or decorate as desired.

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2nd July 2024