A Bowl-of-Fruit Cake

Celebrate summer's bounty with a simple cake ring overflowing with seasonal fruits. The fruits listed here are suggestions; use what looks best at the market.

10 servings

Active Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Nutrition Profile

Low cholesterol | Low saturated fat | Low sodium | Heart healthy | View Complete Nutrition Guidelines»

Ingredients

Sponge Cake Ring

1 cup less 2 tablespoons unsifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup nonfat milk, heated to about 150°F

Fruit Filling & Glaze

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/4 cup apricot brandy, or orange juice
2 teaspoons unsalted butter
4 cups pitted and sliced fresh nectarines, (about 1 1/2 pounds)
3 cups seedless green grapes, (about 1 pound)
2 cups sweet cherries, pitted and halved (about 1 pound)

Preparation

To make sponge cake ring: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an ovenproof ring mold with a 6- to 7-cup capacity with cooking spray. Dust the mold with flour, shaking out the excess.
Sift cake flour and baking soda into a bowl. Beat eggs and egg whites together in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer. Add 1 cup sugar and beat on medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in lemon juice, vanilla and the flour mixture with the mixer on low speed just until the flour is incorporated. Beat in the hot milk.
Transfer the batter to the prepared mold. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the cake comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan sides to loosen the cake. Invert onto a wire rack to cool while you prepare the filling and glaze.
To prepare fruit filling and glaze: Stir 1/2 cup sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and stir in apricot brandy (or orange juice). Pour half of the syrup into a small bowl, cover and set aside to cool.
Add butter to the syrup remaining in the saucepan, stirring until the butter has melted. Brush some of this glaze over the bottom and sides of the cake. Invert the cake onto a serving platter and brush the top of the cake with the remaining glaze. Cover and leave at room temperature until serving time.
Combine fruit and the reserved cooled syrup in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours. Just before serving, fill the center of the cake with the fruit filling. Spoon any syrup remaining in the bowl over the fruit.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Equipment: 6- to 7-cup ring mold or 9-inch tube pan

Nutrition

Per serving: 282 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 0 g mono); 44 mg cholesterol; 63 g carbohydrates; 5 g protein; 3 g fiber; 157 mg sodium; 390 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (25% daily value).

4 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 1/2 fruit, 2 1/2 other carbohydrate