Recipe: Brown Derby Cake with Strawberries, Bananas, and Peaches (2 Recipes - NOT Publix)

Fruit-Filled Brown Derby Cake -- menu description
Source: Publix

Delicious chocolate cake filled with fresh strawberries, bananas and succulent peach slices. It's adorned with vanilla whipped topping, chocolate cake crumbs, and a dusting of powdered sugar for a dramatic finish.

Fresh strawberries and bananas, and succulent peach slices fill this delicious two-layer chocolate cake. Adorned with vanilla whipped topping, chocolate cake crumbs, and powdered sugar.

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Recipe(tried): Brown Derby Cake
Board: Copycat Recipe Requests at Recipelink.com
From: Craig Stevens/Covington Ga. 4-11-2004
MSG ID: 1413931

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LAURENZO'S BROWN DERBY CAKE
Washington Chef Lends Old Italian Recipe
Source: Newspaper Clipping

Q: Would like to have the recipe for Brown Derby Cake from Laurenzo's in North Miami Beach. When we lived in North Miami my husband would get one every other week. We've moved to the Keys and I would love to make this scrumptious cake for him.

A: David Laurenzo graciously coaxed the recipe from Laurenzo's "pasticcere," Ralph Perrotta, an old-school pastry chef born in Naples, Italy, who "believes that special recipes are shared with only the very few who earn them with hard work, respect and experience." Mr. Perrotta came up in the day when apprentice bakers washed pots and pans for years before winning the trust of the master, Mr. Laurenzo explained. Named for its resemblance to a derby hat, the combination of rich chocolate cake, not-too-sweet whipped cream and fruit makes a light dessert and beautiful presentation. A standard cake mix alone will not give the height you need for this cake, so we baked a doctored cake mix in an 8-inch springy-form pan.

2 fresh bananas, sliced thin
12 fresh strawberries, sliced thin
4 to 5 ounces fresh or canned peaches, chopped fine (see note)
4 to 5 ounces fresh ripe or canned pears chopped fine (see note)
1 pint whipping cream cup sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (8-inch) round chocolate cake, 3 to 4 inches tall
Combine the bananas, strawberries, peaches and pears.

Whip the cream until soft peaks form; beat in the sugar and vanilla.

Cut a thin slice from bottom of cake and reserve to make crumbs. (Nylon thread, fishing line or dental floss works well for cutting.) Cut remaining cake horizontally into 3 equal sections.

Drain the fruit mixture.

Place bottom cake layer on a plate. Spread with -inch whipped cream and top with a little less than half the fruit.

Top with the middle slice of cake and layer with -inch whipped cream and remaining fruit. Gently mold the remaining large slice of cake into a dome
shape and place on top. Cover with a thin layer of whipped cream, building up the top to complete the dome shape.

Crumble reserved cake into crumbs and sprinkle on top. Refrigerate 1 hour before cutting. Makes 10 generous servings.

NOTE: At least one of the fruits should be canned. One large fresh peach or pear plus a drained 8- to 8-ounce can of the other fruit will give you the right amount.