Recipe: Pom Velvet Cake

Step 1

Cake:

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Step 3

Prepare fresh pomegranate juice.*

Step 4

Line the bases of two round 9” x 2” baking pans with either parchment or wax paper. Grease paper but do not line or grease sides of pans.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in mixing bowl and set aside.

Step 6

In a separate mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes at medium speed.

Step 7

To the bowl with the butter mixture, add eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Add vanilla extract.

Step 8

Pour half-and-half into a large measuring cup and add in vinegar and pomegranate juice; stir.

Step 9

Add half the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low speed, alternating with the half-and-half and ending with flour. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed.

Step 10

Divide batter into cake pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until cakes test done using a toothpick inserted near the center. The toothpick should be free of wet batter when withdrawn.

Step 11

Allow cakes to rest in cake pan for 15 minutes or until pans are cold to the touch.

Step 12

Invert cakes onto a cooling rack.

Step 13

Icing:

Step 14

Score 1–2 fresh pomegranates and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranates under water to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)

Step 15

Blend cream cheese and butter in mixing bowl.

Step 16

Add vanilla. Beat at medium speed.

Step 17

Add confectioner’s sugar and salt. Beat until fluffy.

Step 18

Place one layer of cake on a cake plate and spread with one third of the icing.

Step 19

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of arils.

Step 20

Cover with second layer of cake and ice with remaining icing.

Step 21

Garnish with remaining arils

Step 22

For 1 cup of juice, cut 2–3 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates in half and juice them with a citrus reamer or juicer. Pour the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve. Set the juice aside.