Brown Butter-Polenta Cake with Maple Caramel

By á-49298

For a moist cake, be sure to use finely ground polenta labeled "quick-cooking" or "instant"; cooking rimes listed on the package will be fine minutes or less.
Gluten Free

BONAPPETIT JANUARY 2014

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 cups almond flour or meal
• 1 cup quick-cooking polenta
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Special Equipment: A candy thermometer

Details

Servings 10

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 9" diameter cake pan and line bottom with a round of parchment paper; butter parchment. Melt 3/4 cup butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then cook, stirring often, until butter foams, then browns (do not let burn), 5-8 minutes. Pour into a medium bowl, let cool. Chill butter until cold. Fit a clean medium saucepan with thermometer and bring maple syrup to a boil over medium-high heat; cook until thermometer registers 265 (syrup will be thicker and a shade darker). Pour into prepared pan and spread with an offset spatula or a spoon to cover bottom; let cool (syrup will harden as it sits).
Whisk almond flour, polenta, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat chilled brown butter and 3/4 cup sugar until very pale and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low, gradually add dry ingredients, and mix just to combine. Scrape batter into pan; smooth top.
Bake until cake is golden brown and pulls away from sides of pan, 50-55 minutes. Transger pan to a wire rack; let cake cool in pan 20 minutes. Turn out onto rack and let cool completely.
Using an electric mixer, beat heavy cream, sour cream and remaining 1 tbsp sugar in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Serve cake with whipped cream mixture.

DO Ahead: Cake can be baked 1 day ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.