Pineapple-Polenta Cake
Pineapple has a balance of sugar and acid that I really like. I wanted to capture that sweet-tart flavor in an upside-down cake, but in a refined one. So I’ve made a batter with cornmeal that gives the cake a great foundation and a terrific crumb.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4 on it¿s own or 10 as part of fourplay
Ingredients
For the Pineapple
For the Cake
To Serve
Preparation
For the Pineapple
Step 1
Wrap four 3 1/4-inch or ten 2 1/4-inch tart rings with aluminum foil to cover the bottoms, bringing the foil up around the outside of each ring, and place the rings on a baking sheet.
Step 2
Put the sugar in a heavy skillet. Sprinkle with a tablespoon or two of cool water and a pinch of salt. Turn the heat to high. Leave the pan alone until the sugar starts to color, then pick up the pan and roll the sugar in it so it colors evenly. Cook until the caramel is dark amber. Immediately pour into the tart rings, carefully tilting them (hold on to the outer foil layer) to make an even layer on the bottom.
Step 3
Cut the top and bottom off the pineapple. Cut off the peel and the eyes. Slice into vertical quarters and cut out the core. Cut one of the quarters into 1/2-inch-wide slices, then into pieces that will fit into the tart rings. Use one piece of pineapple for each of the smaller rings and two for the larger.
For the Cake
Step 4
Heat the oven to 375°F or 350°F on convection.
Step 5
Cut the butter into a few pieces and put it with the sugar into the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle. Beat at medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and then the yolks, one at a time, scraping the bowl often.
Step 6
Whisk the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt together. Add to the wet ingredients and mix at low speed until you have a smooth batter, scraping the bowl as needed.
Step 7
Fill a pastry bag with the batter and pipe over the pineapple, filling the rings three-quarters full. If you are making the larger tarts, pipe in some batter, add another layer of pineapple, then finish filling with batter. Bake until a tester comes out clean, about 8 minutes for the small cakes and 10 for the large, rotating the pan halfway through baking. Let cool briefly.
Step 8
Run a knife around the cakes, then turn them over and peel off the aluminum and take off the rings.
To Serve
Step 9
Put a cake upside down on a dessert plate and garnish with some candied ginger, if desired, and sauce. Repeat for each serving.
