Strawberry Cake In Luxembourg
On our visit to Luxembourg, we were charmed by its historic old town, built around deep valleys, dramatic cliffs and impressive fortifications. Luxembourg, we discovered, is different from other European countries because it is a Grand-Duchy - the last one left in the world. It is ruled by a Grand Duke who lives in a palace in the centre of the city. Luxembourg’s survival as an independent country is testimony to its peoples’ centuries-long struggle to maintain their cultural identity.
Located at the junction of France, Germany and Belgium, Luxembourg has spent its entire existence trying to resist invasion from all sides. To defend themselves the rulers transformed the city into a gigantic fortress in the 17th-century, that was one of the most formidable in Europe. The fortress was dismantled in the 19th-century and the old ramparts converted into a road, the Chemin de la Corniche, from which we had spectacular views of the city. We looked down at the Alzette river that runs through the medieval heart of Luxembourg city, a district known as Grund, and could see the spire of the 17th-century Neimënster Abbey that is now a cultural centre hosting public art exhibitions and concerts. We wandered through the maze of tunnels that run under the old fortress, a major tourist attraction known as the Casemates du Bock.
Luxembourg’s location gives it a truly multi-cultural feel. In conversations people switch effortlessly between Luxembourgish, French, German and for good measure, English. This has helped it become an international centre for banking and finance, and one of the richest countries in the world. All public transport is free, and we hopped on and off excellent buses and trams without having to pay anything. If only other cities would do this!
Luxembourg is a wonderful city to wander through, with a mix of modern and ancient buildings. We strolled along the banks of the Alzette, exploring the cobbled streets of Grund, before taking an elevator to the more modern upper city. The stunning 16th-century town residence of the Grand Duke has an intricate Renaissance facade and a daily change of the guard. The Notre-Dame Cathedral has beautiful stained-glass windows and houses the crypt of the royal family. The Luxembourg city museum is located inside a row of meticulously restored old homes and charts the urban evolution of Luxembourg. The National Art & History Museum displays archaeological finds, massive Roman mosaics, historical coins, and fine art collections.
The Place d'Armes is a vibrant, pedestrian-only square in the heart of the upper town, widely known as the city's lively "central living room." Originally laid out in the 17th century as a parade ground for troops defending the fortress, it has transformed into a bustling social hub where locals and tourists gather under a canopy of leafy lime trees. The entire square is ringed with outdoor terraces, pubs, and restaurants that spill out into the open air, making it a prime spot for people-watching.
We enjoyed several meals at restaurants in this cheerful, lively square, enjoying the sights and smells and the food! Despite the slight chill in the air, it was nice to sit in the sunshine, eat a leisurely meal and watch the world go by.
Luxembourg cuisine has it all, blending French, German and Belgian cooking style with ease and finesse, all paired with the wonderful wines of the Moselle valley. One of my favourite things to eat in Luxembourg was the iconic Judd mat Gaardebounen, a delicious dish of creamy fava beans, smoked sliced ham and potatoes. I just couldn’t get enough of its smoky, hearty, earthy flavours and ate it at every meal, each restaurant adding their own special flair to it! The desserts were just as good, especially the fruity pastries and tarts.
This simple strawberry cake is an ode to summer, but the best part is that you can make it year around as it uses strawberry preserves instead of fresh seasonal strawberries. I often make freezer jam when strawberries are plentiful in the summer and use it in recipes such as this cake or this Strawberry Ice Cream or this Strawberry Tiramisu.
Strawberry Cake
For The Cake:
1 cup all purpose flour
½ tsp each: baking soda, ground cardamom
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup each: strawberry jam or preserves, melted butter, milk
For The Sauce:
1/4 cup each: strawberry jam or preserves, whipping cream, melted butter
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly butter an 8 inch X 8 inch baking pan.
Combine flour with baking soda, baking powder, salt and cardamom. Set aside.
Place sugar and eggs in deep mixing bowl. Using an electric hand blender, beat until smooth and light, about 1 - 2 min.
Add strawberry jam or preserves and beat until blended, about 30 sec.
Add melted butter and beat for about 30 sec.
Add milk, beat 30 sec.
Add flour mixture, beat lightly until smooth, about 1 min.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25 - 30 min or until cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean.
While cake is baking, prepare sauce: combine all sauce ingredients in glass measuring cup and microwave for 1 min, stirring until smooth.
When cake comes out of the oven, immediately poke deep holes evenly over the top with rounded end of a skewer or chopstick.
Pour the sauce mixture all over top of cake, making sure to cover the edges too. If some of the sauce pools around the cake, that is fine, it will get absorbed later.
Let cake rest 15 min, then cut into squares and serve.
(Note: you can also upturn the cake onto a platter before cutting)
Serves Four - Six
