Gogi Berry Sponge Cake

Gogi Berry Torte with Green Tea Sauce


1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
5 large eggs
3/4 cup sifted flour (preferably cake flour, but all purpose works too)
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup gogi berries (if dried, soak in water for 10 minutes, then drain and dry thoroughly before use)

Preheat oven to 400˚F. Grease and flour a piece of parchment paper to line a 13x9x2 inch glass pan.
Heat butter and milk until butter is completely melted. Beat eggs and sugar in heavy-duty mixer until light and tripled in volume (about 5 minutes). Beat in baking powder. Sift 1/3 cup flour over egg mixture and fold in. Repeat 2 more times with remaining flour. Fold in warm milk mixture all at once until no streaks remain. Pour into prepared cake pan.
Bake for 5 minutes. Sprinkle gogi berries over the top, and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until top is lightly browned and firm to touch. Let cool in pan.

Green Tea Sauce:

1/2 cup water
4 green tea bags (or about 4 tsp loose green tea leaves)
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup sugar
3 egg yolks, well beaten
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla

Bring water to a boil. Add green tea bags and simmer for 2 minutes. Add milk.
Combine sugar, egg yolks, and salt in medium bowl. Gradually stir in about a 1/4 cup of the tea to combine, without curdling. Slowly whisk in remainder of tea. Return to saucepan, and bring to a simmer again. Stir in vanilla. If necessary, strain through sieve to remove any extra bits of egg or tea leaves. Refrigerate for at least two hours.

Assembly:
Gogi berry sponge cake
Green tea sauce
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp confectioners sugar
1/4 cup toasted shredded coconut

Whip the cream, vanilla, and confectioners sugar until soft peaks form.
Cut the sponge cake exactly in half, and place one half on a plate or platter. Smooth 1/2 cup of whipped cream over it. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining whipped cream over top and sides. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Drizzle with a bit of the green tea sauce, and serve additional sauce with individual slices of cake.