Cake:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sifted cake flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pastry Cream Filling:
2 cups whole milk
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped out
6 egg yolks
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Ganache:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream, boiling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour,
sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour
mixture. Add milk, oil, egg yolks, and vanilla. Beat with an electric
mixer on low- medium speed until combined. Beat an additional 3 minutes
on high speed and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium
to high speed until soft peaks form. Pour the egg yolk mixture over
the egg white mixture and gently fold in. Gently pour the batter into
two 9-inch greased pie pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the top
springs back when lightly touched. Invert the pans onto a wire rack.
Cool completely.
Pastry Cream Filling: In a medium saucepan, heat the
milk and vanilla bean to a boil over medium heat. Immediately turn off
the heat and set aside to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. In a bowl, whisk
the egg yolks and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the cornstarch
and whisk vigorously until no lumps remain. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the
hot milk mixture until incorporated. Whisk in the remaining hot milk
mixture, reserving the empty saucepan.
Pour the mixture through a strainer back into the saucepan. Cook over
low-medium heat, (thickens very fast) whisking constantly, until thickened
and slowly boiling. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter. Let
cool slightly. Cover with plastic wrap, lightly pressing the plastic
against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Chill at least 2
hours or until ready to serve. (The custard can be made up to 24 hours
in advance. Refrigerate until 1 hour before using.)
Ganache: In a medium bowl, pour the boiling cream
over the chopped chocolate and stir until melted.
To assemble pie, remove the cakes from the pan. Place one layer on a
serving plate and spread with the pastry cream. Top with second cake
layer. Pour chocolate ganache over and down the sides of the cake. Store
in refrigerator.