Apple-Rum Spice Cake

A tender chiffon cake pairs well with the light and billowy frosting, seasoned with spicy-fresh ginger juice. Warm spices and a shot of rum add a kick to the apple compote that makes this a centerpiece dessert for the adult table.

Joanne Chang's Apple-Rum Spice Cake
Photo: Tara Donne
Active Time:
1 hrs
Total Time:
5 hrs 40 mins
Yield:
10 to 12

Ingredients

CAKE LAYERS

  • Vegetable shortening

  • 2 1/4 cups sifted bleached cake flour (such as Swans Down) (about 7 1/2 ounces), plus more for dusting pans

  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 5 large eggs, separated

  • 2/3 cup water

  • 1/2 cup canola oil

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

GINGER–CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • 1 (4-inch) piece fresh ginger, unpeeled and grated on a Microplane (about 3 tablespoons)

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 cups heavy cream

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT

Directions

Make the cake layers

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening; dust with flour. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together egg yolks, 2/3 cup water, oil, lemon juice, and vanilla in a separate bowl until smooth. Whisk egg yolk mixture into flour mixture until batter is just combined.

  2. Beat egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold one-third of egg white mixture into batter. Add remaining egg white mixture; gently fold until just combined. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans.

  3. Bake in preheated oven until cakes are light golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in cake centers comes out clean, 16 to 20 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove cakes from cake pans; transfer to wire racks, and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

  4. When ready to assemble cakes, make the ginger–cream cheese frosting: Place grated ginger in center of a square of folded cheesecloth; gather edges of cheesecloth, and squeeze ginger over a small bowl to equal 2 tablespoons juice. Discard solids; set aside ginger juice.

  5. Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl with an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.

  6. Stir together ginger juice and heavy cream in a small bowl. With mixer running on medium-high speed, gradually drizzle ginger juice mixture into cream cheese mixture; beat until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Use immediately.

Assemble the cake

  1. Place 1 cake layer on a serving platter. Spread top with about 1/3 cup frosting. Spoon 3/4 cup frosting into a ziplock plastic bag; cut a 1/3-inch hole in one corner. Pipe a 1/3-inch-tall ring of frosting just inside the top edge of frosted cake layer (to create a barrier). Spread half of the cooled compote (about 2/3 cup) in an even layer inside piped ring. Top with second cake layer; repeat process with frosting, frosting ring, and remaining compote. Top with third cake layer; spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate assembled cake at least 4 hours or up to 1 day. Serve chilled.

Make Ahead

Cake layers can be made a day ahead, wrapped in plastic wrap, and stored at room temperature. Cake may be assembled and kept chilled up to 1 day.

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