Brazo Gitano Spongecake “Cien Años”

By jennKI

Ingredients

• Filling:
• 5 egg yolks (reserve whites for meringue)
• 2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch salt
• ---------------
• Cake:
• 7 eggs, separated
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup cake flour, sifted
• ---------------
• Syrup:
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup dry sherry
• 1 strip of lemon peel
• ---------------
• Meringue:
• 5 egg whites
• ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 cup sugar
• ---------------
• Strawberry Topping:
• 2 pints fresh strawberries
• 6 ounces strawberry glaze
• 1 ounce water
• 1 ½ ounces Kirschwasser (cherry brandy)

Details

Servings 12
Adapted from tasteofcuba.com

Preparation

Step 1

*Filling:*
In heavy saucepan, beat egg yolks with wooden spoon until lemon-colored. Add sugar and salt; beat well. Dissolve cornstarch in a little of the milk; add with rest of milk to egg mixture. Add cinnamon stick. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, till mixture thickens to a heavy custard. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract, and remove cinnamon stick. Set aside to cool.

*Cake:*
Beat egg whites in electric mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Add yolks, one at a time. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Lower speed of mixer to folding speed and add flour gradually. Bake in wax-paper-lined jelly roll pan (11 x 16 x 1 inch size) at 400° for 12 minutes. Sprinkle cloth kitchen towel with sugar. When cake is done, immediately invert on towel. Remove waxed paper. Spread cake with filling and roll up length-wise like a jelly roll. Place on an ovenproof serving tray. Soak cake slowly with syrup (see below). Cover completely with meringue (see below), and bake at 425° for 6-8 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned. Top cake with glazed strawberries (see below). Flambé strawberries with Kirschwasser.


*Syrup:*
Boil sugar, water, and lemon peel for about 10 minutes. Add sherry. Remove lemon peel.

*Meringue:*
Combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Beat with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Start adding sugar very gradually and beat until stiff.

*Strawberry Topping:*
Remove hulls and quarter strawberries. Mix glaze and water. Add strawberries to glaze.