The Cake with a Thousand Faces
Fruit and more can star in this quick dessert
At the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco a few months ago, I trudged through the North and South halls of the huge Moscone Convention Center until I was exhausted and almost stupefied by the endless conveniences offered. There must be a baking mix for every occasion.
So why bother to bake from scratch? Believe it or not, sometimes it’s easier. Certainly, this versatile, tender, one-layer cake is for me―I always have the basics: butter, flour, sugar, baking powder, and a couple of eggs. And it’s oven-ready in 10 minutes or less.
If I bake the cake plain, I can finish it with frosting, ice cream, or sauce.
Or, for additional nuances, I can flavor the batter with vanilla, a liqueur, orange or lemon peel, or a spice.
But the best part is that I can top the batter with fruit. The fruit makes a beautiful pattern as it sinks in during baking, and the cake is never soggy.
With each variation, I have a brand-new dessert. Now that’s convenience.
