This recipe combines the flavors of orange and blackberry intensifying both through the use of wine and bitters. Cooking the blackberries with blackberry merlot for the sauce provides a deeper flavor. For the filling, using orange zest and orange bitters provides intense flavor while still maintaining a firm filling. Chilling the filling in the freezer for 10 minutes prior to assembling the sandwich and again after assembly ensures the Mascarpone cheese does not melt completely. Adding blackberry merlot to the whipped cream in Flavor Tier 6 provides a surprising flavor boost.
1 c blackberries
1 c + 1 T blackberry merlot
3 1/2 T sugar
1/8 t nutmeg
8 oz Mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1 ½ t orange zest
4 dashes orange bitters
1 Loaf Arcadia Orange Pound Cake
Unsalted butter, room temperature
½ c heavy whip cream
1 T powdered sugar