The Best Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake Recipe
Among the many delicious things you can make with the flavorful Texas Rio red grapefruit, you have to try this Brown Derby grapefruit cake recipe! This delicious grapefruit cake blends the sweet taste of cream cheese with the zesty flavor of Texas Rio red grapefruits. This blend of flavor makes the Brown Derby perfect for a Valentine's Day treat with someone special.
Read on to learn how to bake a beautiful Brown Derby grapefruit cake and whip up a delicious treat to have your day bursting with love.
What Is the Brown Derby?
If you know classic Hollywood, then you know the Brown Derby. The Brown Derby was a renowned restaurant that opened in the early 1920s. In the Golden Age of Hollywood, everyone wanted to be there. When it first opened, the Brown Derby was a huge success with Hollywood royalty– its location at Hollywood and Vine made it a celebrity favorite.
Because it was located near movie and radio studios, movie stars flocked over to relax at the upscale restaurant after filming. It even appeared in an episode of 'I Love Lucy,' featuring A-Lister, Lucille Ball, which helped to boost its popularity.
Although the Brown Derby is no longer in business today, Disneyland keeps the spirit alive with a Brown Derby replica in its Hollywood Studios section. Even better, there are still some original delicacies on the menu, like the grapefruit cake and the Cobb salad.
Another fun fact is that the second Brown Derby building opened on Valentine's Day in 1929! This highlights the restaurant’s long tradition of catering to lovers, and their dishes are perfect for romantic celebrations.
The History of the Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake
Legend has it that the inspiration for the Brown Derby grapefruit cake recipe came from Louella Parsons, an influential Hollywood gossip columnist. One day, Louella complained to Robert H. Cobb, one of the restaurant's co-founders, that all the desserts on the menu were too fattening.
That's exactly what gave Cobb the genius idea of baking a grapefruit cake! At the time, there was a general belief that grapefruits made you slimmer (it is a healthy treat!). The cream cheese frosting was still filled with all the sweet stuff, though, but shh!
The Best Brown Derby Grapefruit Cake Recipe
The Brown Derby grapefruit cake is a layered cake that’s garnished with cream cheese frosting, and bits of fresh and candied grapefruit. The original recipe has been changed over time, and different people have added their touch to improve its taste, even Disney.
So, Winter Sweetz has studied all these changes and, with our own additions, provided the best Brown Derby Grapefruit cake recipe for you and yours to enjoy this Valentine's season.
Prep Time– 30 Minutes
Cook Time– 30 Minutes
Total Time– 1 Hour
Servings– 8
Ingredients for the Grapefruit Cake:
- 2 fresh Texas Rio red grapefruits
- 1½ cups of cake flour
- 1½ teaspoons of baking powder
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar
- 1½ teaspoons of salt
- 3 tablespoons of fresh grapefruit juice
- ½ teaspoon of finely grated lemon juice
- ¼ cup of vegetable oil
- ¼ cup of water
Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Icing:
- 6-8 ounces of packaged cream cheese
- ¾ cup of powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 6-8 drops of yellow food coloring
Prepping the Grapefruits:
- Zest one large Texas Rio red grapefruit in a small bowl and cover the zest with a damp paper towel.
- Place the other grapefruit in an upright position (stem-up) on a cutting board and use a knife to cut it into thin slices from top to bottom.
Baking Your Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Spread some oil in a 9x2-inch round baking dish to make it lightly greased. Then, line the dish with parchment paper and butter the sides and bottom.
- Mix the cake flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- In another mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, oil, grapefruit zest, and water together until it's smooth. Then, add these wet ingredients to the flour mixture and mix it all together.
- Whisk the cream of tartar and egg whites together until it has a firm texture. It's better to do this with an electric mixer.
- Use a spatula to gently pour the whisked egg mix into the large bowl and blend everything together.
- Pour the batter into your baking dish.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the cake is firm and the center rises a bit when touched lightly.
- Let the cake cool for a bit, then use a spatula or knife to scrape around the edges of the dish and take the cake out carefully.
Making the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- While making the batter, let the cream cheese soften at room temperature.
- While the cake bakes, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese in a bowl at high speed until it is light and fluffy.
- Add lemon juice, lemon zest, powdered sugar, and food coloring into the mix and blend it well.
- Spread the frosting on your cake from the top to the sides and garnish with grapefruit slices and candy bits. You can also enjoy your cake with some grapefruit syrup!
Enjoy a Delicious Valentine’s Dessert With the Texas Rio Red Grapefruit
The Brown Derby grapefruit cake has been well-loved for years, and its sweet and citrusy taste is sure to make you fall in love. For that, we thank Louella and Cobb every day!
If you want to put a smile on your special someone’s face this Valentine's, baking a Brown Derby grapefruit cake is the perfect treat for the occasion. So, order your own fresh Texas Rio Red grapefruits today and let Winter Sweetz show you how to bake the best grapefruit cakes you’ve ever tasted!
Ready to spread the love? Delight your sweetheart with the best Brown Derby grapefruit cake recipe this Valentine's Day!
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