Bizcocho Dominicano (Dominican Cake)

Ingredients

FILLING

• 1 (18 ounce) container fresh pineapple rings, drained and sliced into 1-inch pieces

• 3/4 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

CAKE

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 eggs, at room temp (see note below)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 cup heavy cream
• powdered sugar, for dusting
• pineapple ring or chopped pineapple (optional, for garnish)

Directions

1. 1

   FILLING:.

2. 2

   Combine all the filling ingredients in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until pineapple is tender and mixture becomes thick and jammy (this will take about 1 hour). Drain off any excess liquid and set mixture aside to cool to room temperature This part can be done up to 3 days ahead, just store filling in fridge until ready to use.

3. 3

   CAKE:.

4. 4

   Spray a 9 or 10" Bundt pan with Baker's Joy (or any cooking spray with flour in it).

5. 5

   Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Add the room temp eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat in vanilla, orange juice and orange zest.

6. 6

   Reduce mixer speed to low. Add the salt and half the flour and mix well. Scrape the sides of the bowl, add the cream, and mix well again. Add the rest of the flour and mix well. Beat this mixture for 5 minutes on medium-high speed.

7. 7

   Spread 2/3 of the cake batter evenly in the prepared pan. Spoon the cooled pineapple filling on top of the batter, making sure that no fruit touches either the outer or inner edges of the pan (you want the filling to be totally enclosed within the cake and not visible from the outside once the cake is baked). Spread the remaining cake batter over the fruit layer, taking care not to disturb the ring of filling as much as possible.

8. 8

   Place pan on the middle rack of a cold oven, then turn oven on to 350 deg. F. Bake for about 1 hour, or until cake is golden brown and a tester comes out with only a few dry crumbs.

9. 9

   Cool cake in the pan for about 30 minutes. Gently loosen cake from sides of pan with a thin knife, then invert it onto a wire rack to cool. If any of the filling has sunk and fallen out of the top of the cake, arrange this over the top of the cake.

10. 10

    Allow cake to cool completely (approx. 2 hours). Dust with powdered sugar immediately before serving. Slice and serve with the chopped pineapple or pineapple rings, if desired.

11. 11

    Note about eggs: if you don't have time to wait for the eggs to come to room temp on their own, place them in a medium bowl and cover with very warm water. Allow them to sit in the water for about 5 to 10 minutes before using.