Cake:
8 oz White chocolate;
- finely chopped
3 c Cake flour; sifted
2 ts Baking powder
1/2 ts Salt
1/2 c Unsalted butter
1 1/4 c Granulated sugar
3 lg Eggs
2 ts Vanilla extract
1 c Milk; plus
1 tb Milk
Filling And Frosting:
1 1/2 lb White chocolate;
- finely chopped
2 1/2 c Heavy cream
6 tb Unsalted butter
1/2 c Macadamia nuts;
- coarsely chopped
1 Macadamia nuts; for garnish
Fresh strawberries;
- for garnish
Preheat the oven to 350°F; butter and flour two 9" cake pans. In a
double boiler, melt the white chocolate over hot water (not simmer
in); set aside to cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and
salt.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
On low speed, beat in the melted chocolate and vanilla extract. In
three additions, on low speed, alternately beat in the flour
mixture and the milk; beat for about 20 seconds until just smooth.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 25 to
30 minutes, or until the top is golden and a cake tester inserted
in the center comes out clean. Set the cake pans on a wire rack to
cool for 20 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto the racks to cool
completely.
To prepare the filling an frosting, place the white chocolate in a
medium bowl. In a small heavy saucepan, bring 1-1/2 cups of the
cream and the butter to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate. Cover
and let stand for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Refrigerate
for about 1 hour until firm enough to spread.
Spread the bottom cake layer with 1 cup of the chilled white
chocolate mixture. Arrange the chopped macadamia nuts over the
filling. Top with the second cake layer.
In a medium bowl, beat the remaining 1 cup cream until firm peaks
form. Fold the whipped cream into the remaining white chocolate
mixture. Spread this over the top and sides of the cake. Arrange
whole macadamia nuts around the rim and base of the cake. Chill
until ready to serve. Garnish each slice with a fanned whole
strawberry.
