GRAPE HARVEST CAKE

Serves 12

This very tender, flavorful cake features juicy baked grapes and a splash of olive oil. Serve it as a breakfast, brunch or tea cake, or top it with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream for a sophisticated dessert.

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for buttering the pan
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon cane sugar
2 large eggs and 1 large egg yolk
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring the pan
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
2 1/4 cups (3/4 pound) red seedless grapes

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch metal cake pan and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Butter the paper and then coat the pan with flour.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and 2/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl frequently. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in yolk, followed by olive oil. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in separate bowl. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with additions of buttermilk and scraping down the sides of the bowl frequently. Stir in half the grapes and pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with remaining grapes and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake until the cake is browned on top and springs back when pressed lightly with your finger, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan 15 minutes.

Run a knife around the edges of the pan, then invert, peel off the paper and cool the cake upright on a rack. Serve warm or room temperature.

Nutritional Info:
PER SERVING:230 calories (90 from fat), 10g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 65mg cholesterol, 120mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 17g sugar), 4g protein