Orange Cointreau Cake - GENOISE

Method

• For genoise: Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Lightly butter and flour a 9 inch cake pan.
• Beat eggs and sugar in large, heatproof bowl until well-blended.
• Place bowl over low heat and whisk mixture by hand 40 times (about 1 minute).
• Return bowl to mixer and beat until cool and quadrupled in volume.
• Gently fold in flour, then butter, do not overmix.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake until cake begins to pull away from side of pan and top feels springy to the touch, 20-25 minutes.
• Invert onto rack and let cool.
• For custard: Finely grate zest off the 2 oranges; reserve oranges.
• Blend yolks, sugar, cornstarch and flour in medium bowl of mixer until smooth and lemon-coloured.
• Scald milk.
• Whisk thin stream of hot milk into yolk mixture and pour custard back into saucepan.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth, about 10 minutes.
• Add peel.
• Place plastic wrap directly onto surface and cool completely.
• To assemble: Cut cake into 3 even layers using a long, serrated knife.
• Brush each layer with some of the Cointreau.
• Set 1 layer on a cake plate and spread with half of custard.
• Repeat with second layer.
• Add third layer.
• Frost top and sides with whipped cream.
• Thinly slice and remove membranes from sections of reserved oranges.
• Try to make attractive pieces.
• Decorate top of cake with these if desired.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.