Poached peach and mascarpone fridge cake
Forget the oven and try our peach and mascarpone fridge cake. Thanks to poached in-season peaches and creamy mascarpone, it’s a winner.
Serves
12
Prep
20m
Note: + 1 hour chilling & overnight setting time
Cooking
15m
Ingredients
- 7 peaches, halved, stoned
- 1 cup (250ml) dark rum
- 3 cups (660g) caster sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick or quill
- 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
- 500g mascarpone
- 3/4 cup (185ml) thickened cream
- 1 tbs icing sugar mixture
- 16 savoiardi (sponge finger biscuits)
Method
STEP 1
Place peach, rum, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla seeds and pod and 2 cups (500ml) water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce heat to low. Partially cover and cook for 10 mins or until peach is just tender. Transfer the mixture to a heatproof bowl. Place in fridge for 1 hour to chill.
STEP 2
Use an electric mixer to whisk the mascarpone, cream and icing sugar in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Cover and place in the fridge to chill.
STEP 3
Line an 11cm x 24cm (base measurement) loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing the sides to overhang.
STEP 4
Drain the peach mixture, reserving the poaching liquid. Place 8 peach halves on a clean work surface and use a small sharp knife to cut each half into 1cm-thick slices.
STEP 5
Place 2 cups (500ml) poaching liquid in a large bowl. Dip 1 biscuit into the poaching liquid and turn to coat. Repeat with 4 more biscuits. Arrange the biscuits crossways over the base of the prepared pan, trimming to fit. Spread 1¼ cups of the mascarpone mixture over the biscuits. Top with half the peach slices, overlapping slightly. Spread a thin layer of remaining mascarpone mixture over peach slices. Continue layering with the remaining biscuits, reserved poaching liquid, mascarpone mixture and peach slices, finishing with biscuits. Lightly tap pan on work surface to settle the mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight to set.
STEP 6
Meanwhile, place 1 cup (250ml) remaining poaching liquid in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 5 mins or until syrup thickens. Transfer to a heatproof bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill.
STEP 7
Turn the cake onto a serving platter. Remove plastic wrap. Cut remaining peach halves into wedges. Arrange over the cake and drizzle with syrup.
Serve with thyme sprigs.
Get ahead: Make the cake up to 2 days ahead and store in the loaf pan in the fridge.
The peach stone is stuck – what can I do? To stone a peach, cut it around the seam then twist each half in opposite directions. If it doesn’t separate easily, try this trick: use a small sharp knife to slice wedges from the peach, carefully cutting around the stone to remove.
Dietary information
Check ingredient labels to make sure they meet your specific dietary requirements and always consult a health professional before changing your diet. View dietary information here.
