Ring-shaped foods are symbolic of good luck at New Year’s (the rings symbolize the year’s coming full circle, and eternity), and so this year, in addition to making the black-eyed peas I make every year, I baked. I pulled out my Bundt pan for cakes and, being me, decided to see what I could come up with using all or mostly whole wheat flour.
Recently, I’ve been working with Peter Reinhart’s impressive new cookbook, “Bread Revolution,” which is focused mainly on sprouted wheat flours, with lots of good information about using whole grain flour in baking. By adapting his formulas for 100 percent sprouted whole wheat quick breads and muffins, I was able to make some wonderfully moist, dense but not heavy cakes, substituting whole wheat flour for the sprouted wheat flour.
This honey-sweetened cake, with dried apricots, walnuts and a hint of orange, is just sweet enough to serve for dessert. But my favorite place for it is at the breakfast or brunch table, or with afternoon tea. You can be generous with the slices, as we are here, or you can slice the cake quite thin, which makes it a great way to serve up good luck to a crowd on New Year’s Day.
Ingredients
- 100 grams / 1/2 cup dried apricots
- Boiling water
- 383 grams / about 3 cups whole wheat flour
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups / 355 milliliters buttermilk
- ½ cup / 118 milliliters soaking water from apricots
- 145 grams / 5 ounces / 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup / 118 milliliters mild honey, such as clove
- 1 ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons orange flower water (optional)
- 75 grams / 2/3 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)
401 calories; 19 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 51 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 22 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 88 milligrams cholesterol; 536 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
1 generous ring, 16 generous slices, up to 24 thin slices (I like thin slices but you can be more generous)
Preparation
- Place apricots in a bowl and pour on boiling water to cover. Let steep 10 to 15 minutes. Place a strainer over a bowl and drain apricots. Measure out 1/2 cup of the soaking water and set aside (discard the rest). Cut apricots into 1/4-inch pieces.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a Bundt pan and lightly dust with flour. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. In another large bowl beat together eggs, buttermilk, soaking water from the apricots, melted butter, honey, vanilla and optional orange flower water.
- If using a stand mixer, fit with the paddle and beat at low speed for about 30 seconds, then add liquids and beat for about 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Stop machine, scrape bottom of bowl with a spatula to bring up any unmixed flour, and beat for another minute on low speed. If using a bowl and whisk, whisk together dry ingredients, then whisk in wet ingredients until smooth. The mixture should be thick and, in the perfect words of Peter Reinhart, “soupy.” Stir in apricots and walnuts.
- Scrape batter into prepared Bundt pan and place in oven. Set timer for 45 minutes. Rotate pan 180 degrees and bake for another 25 to 35 minutes, until cake is nicely browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. Remove from oven and allow to rest in pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then invert onto a rack and allow to cool completely.
- For accuracy I recommend weighing the flour.
- Wrapped well in plastic, the cake keeps for 2 to 3 days. It also freezes well for 6 weeks.
About 2 hours
Dining and Cooking