Mitzie Wilson, Matthew Drennan and Kate Belcher kindly tested hundreds of cakes to bring you these truly sensational recipes
Lemon and coconut cake
Serves 10, takes 25 minutes to make, 25-30 minutes to bake, plus cooling.
125g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing225g golden caster sugarFinely grated zest of 1 lemon100ml coconut cream4 medium eggs, beaten225g self-raising flour, sifted1 tsp baking powderFor the filling and decoration:
150g good-quality lemon curd142ml carton double cream100ml coconut creamIcing sugar, to dustYellow primroses1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/ fan160°C/gas 4. Grease and base line 2 x 18cm round sandwich cake tins with baking paper.
2. Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest together with an electric hand whisk. Gradually whisk in the coconut cream and eggs, adding 1 tablespoon flour to prevent it curdling. Sift in the remaining flour and the baking powder. Fold in until just combined.
3. Divide the mixture equally between the tins, levelling the surfaces. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden. Cool in the tins for 15 minutes, before turning out onto a wire rack. Cool completely.
4. Spread the lemon curd over the flat side of 1 cake, almost to the edge. Whisk the cream to soft peaks. Add the coconut cream and whisk again to soft peaks. Spoon on top of the curd and sandwich with the other cake. Chill to firm up the filling. Dust with icing sugar and decorate with primroses to serve.
Per serving 455kcals, 26.4g fat (12.7g saturated), 5.8g protein,
52.2g carbs, 31.3g sugar, 0.5g salt
Lemon and rosemary cakes
Makes 10, takes 20 minutes to make, 15-20 minutes to bake, plus cooling and decorating
100g spreadable butter
100g golden caster sugar
2 medium eggs
100g self-raising flour
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves
To decorate:
Rosemary blossom
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 tbsp milk
100g icing sugar
Pink, blue and yellow food colourings
50g coloured sugar eggs 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/ fan160°C/gas 4. Line a bun tin with 10 paper cake cases.
2. Put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, chopped rosemary, zest and milk in
a large bowl and beat with a wooden spoon or electric whisk until smooth. Divide between the paper cake cases, until about three-quarters full.
Add the coconut cream, whisk to soft peaks and sandwich with the other cake. Dust with icing sugar and decorate with primroses
3. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until risen, golden and just firm to the touch. Allow to cool.
4. Mix the icing sugar with about 1 tablespoon cold water until smooth. Divide the icing between 3 bowls and add a drop of food colouring to each. Drizzle a teaspoonful of the coloured icings onto the cakes – one colour per cake. Put a sprig of rosemary blossom and a sugar egg onto each. Keep in a cake tin for up to 3 days.
Per cake 225kcals, 9.8g fat
(5.6g saturated), 2.5g protein, 34.1g carbs, 26.4g sugar, 0.3g salt
Photographs by Peter Cassidy and Steve Baxter.
Food styling, Lorna Brash and styling by Morag Farquhar.
Recipe supplied by delicious. magazine. delicious. magazine is the ideal choice for busy mums on the go: on sale monthly and packed full of great recipe ideas, top food features and expert advice.
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