Torta al Vino with Grapes or Berries

Name: Torta al Vino with Grapes or Berries
Yield: a 9-inch cake, serving 8 or more
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra to flour the cake pan and to coat the grapes; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 6 tablespoons soft butter, plus 1 tablespoon for the cake pan; 3/4 cup sugar; 2 eggs; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon lemon or orange zest, or a combination; 3/4 cup dry white wine; 2 cups small red seedless grapes, stemmed, rinsed, and patted dry, or 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries or raspberries; 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small bits; 1 tablespoon zucchero di canna or white sugar; Powdered sugar; Whipped cream (optional); A 9-inch springform cake pan; An electric hand or standing mixer, with beaters or paddle attachment

December 14, 2011

Torta al vino is a traditional wine-country cake with white wine in the batter and seedless grapes (or any kind of berry) folded in. The acidity of the wine and the whole juicy fruits—baked grapes are luscious!—give this easy cake a delightful complexity of flavors and textures in each bite.

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