The torta paradiso (Paradise cake) is a dessert from the Pavia and Mantua tradition — a batter similar to sponge cake, made with butter or oil, baking powder and lemon zest. Soft, fragrant, great for breakfast or an afternoon snack. In this version I used fresh cherries pitted by hand, collecting also the juice that then goes into the batter. The result is a cake moist just right, with the fruit noticeable in every bite.
I leave you the recipe for the classic Paradise cake
PARADISE CAKE
PARADISE CAKE FILLED WITH MILK
PARADISE CAKE WITH ROSE
PARADISE CAKE WITH CHERRIES
ASI’s Kitchen
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Cooking time: 40 Minutes
- Portions: pan 8 in
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
Ingredients
Cherry stems are useful for diuretic and anti-inflammatory infusions.
The cherry flesh, when reduced to a purée, is a valuable ingredient for making beauty masks!
I leave you 
the recipe for the draining tea made with cherry stems
- 2 eggs (medium)
- 6 1/4 tbsp potato starch
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus 2 tbsp (about 120 g))
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used corn oil)
- 2 1/4 cups cherries (pitted)
- 1 packet baking powder
- 1 lemon (grated zest)
- 1/3 cup milk
- as needed powdered sugar
Tools
pan 8 in
- Stampi
Preparation
Beat the eggs with the sugar until pale and fluffy.
Then add the vegetable oil in a thin stream.
Now add the sifted flour with the baking powder and the potato starch, alternating them with the milk.
Also add the grated lemon zest, mixing the batter well.
Lightly coat the pitted cherries (halved) with flour (optional) and add half of them to the Paradise cake batter.
Pour the batter into a pan with high sides 8 in in diameter lined with parchment paper.
Add the remaining pitted cherries and bake at 338°F for about 35–40 minutes or according to your oven.
Once baked, remove and unmold the Paradise cake with cherries.
Dust the cake with powdered sugar, top with fresh cherries and serve.
Enjoy!
Annalisa
