Torta di Fragola -- Strawberry Cake

Time

Ingredients

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 pkg. savoiardi (lady fingers)
3 lbs. strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced
1/4 cup strawberry jam
1 container (8-1/2 oz.) mascarpone cheese
1 pint heavy cream, chilled
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. sugar
1 sprig fresh mint for a garnish

Instructions

Make one cup of simple syrup by combining the sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat, boiling briefly until clear. Remove from the heat and let cool thoroughly. Line the bottom of a 13x9-inch pan with two rows of Savoiardi. It will take about 20 of the “fingers” and you may have to snip off the ends of one of the rows to make the lady fingers lay flat.

Slice up about 2/3 of the strawberries and cover the Savoiardi layer well. Drizzle about half of the cooled simple syrup over the bottom berry-Savoiardi layer.

In a small bowl mix the strawberry jam and all of the Mascarpone cheese by hand, creaming the two together well.

In a separate, larger bowl, beat just 1 cup of the chilled heavy cream into whipped cream, stirring in a teaspoon of vanilla and a tablespoon of sugar at the end. Lighten the Mascarpone mix by stirring in a spoonful of the whipped cream, before folding the rest of it back into the larger bowl of whipped cream.

Spoon the Mascarpone mix onto the berry layer, spreading it out to the edges. Press another 22 “fingers” into the that creamy layer. Slice the remaining berries and layer them over the lady fingers. Drizzle the torte with the remaining sugar syrup. Allow to settle, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for no more than 6 hours. It will get soggy if you do.

Just before serving, whip more cream and decorate the top. This is a large torte, serving at least a dozen people. Halve it if you would like a smaller rendition. Use a small pan to build it in also.

Author's Comments

I remember this torte as a kid. The Mascarpone cheese is what does it for me! That is a sweet cheese and used in many Italian dessert recipes. It can be found at most good Italian Deli’s or specialty stores. It runs on the expensive side, but worth the money. If you drizzle the syrup on and hold the cake more than 6 hours, the bottom of the cake will be quite soggy. Don’t make final prep until no more than 4-6 hours before serving.

From my cookbook: The "Old Country" Italian Cookbook, by Donald J.P. La Marca

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1 Recipe Reviews

cakengiftsdelhi

cakengiftsdelhi reviewed Torta di Fragola -- Strawberry Cake on September 19, 2017

After seeing your this recipe I could not stop myself without Making this cake. I made it, it was really fantastic!!!!
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