Red Wine Chocolate Cake with Fig Mascarpone Cream (adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

This is something I saw on SmittenKitchen, and I decided I had to try it out right away! I made a couple changes to the recipe, namely replacing the butter with oil and creating a slightly different mascarpone cream with fresh figs (an idea stolen from my Mom!) for an interesting flavor.  The turn out was pretty delicious I've got to say- already a household favorite!!

 

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons sunflower oil
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
3/4 cup red wine, any kind you like
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Cocoa powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

for Mascarpone-Fig Cream:

3/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 fresh figs, peeled and the flesh scooped out
1 tbsp white granulated sugar

Method:

for the cake:
Preheat the oven to 325°F/180°C. Line the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment, then butter/oil and lightly flour the parchment and exposed sides of the pan.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the oil and sugars until fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Add the egg and yolk and beat well, then the red wine and vanilla.

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together, right over your wet ingredients. Mix until 3/4 combined, then fold the rest together with a rubber spatula.

Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a rack for about 10 minutes, then flip out of pan and cool the rest of the way on a cooling rack. This cake keeps well at room temperature. (though this cake disappeared pretty quick, due to the influx of house-guests!)

for the topping:
Whip together all ingredients until smooth!

Serve the cake in slices with a generous dollop of the mascarpone cream, and enjoy!