Showstopping strawberry sponge cake recipe laced with Pimms syrup
Get into the Wimbledon spirit by whipping up the classic combo of strawberries and cream with a generous serving of Pimms to create the ultimate showstopper cake.
Image: Bonne Maman UK
If you’re a fan of spectator sports, you’ll enjoy nothing more than gathering your friends round to watch the biggest games with a mighty feast. With the 2018 World Cup mania in full force, deals on fast-food are plentiful, but if the thought of watching the England squad with warm beers and a greasy pizza doesn’t tickle your fancy, how about giving tennis and a slice of fruity, creamy and boozy cake a try?
This recipe cleverly combines the seasonal flavours synonymous with the world’s favourite tennis tournament – strawberries, cream and Pimms – in a beautifully decorated, showstopping cake. Treat your friends and family to a slice of this delightful summer bake, perfect to enjoy whilst watching Wimbledon.
Serves: 10-12
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 6 medium eggs
- 180g golden caster sugar
- 60ml light olive oil
- 180g plain flour
For the Pimms Syrup
- 100ml Pimms
- 300ml lemonade
- 3 tbsp
- Bonne Maman Strawberry Conserve
For the White Chocolate Cream
- 300ml carton double cream
- 100g white chocolate, roughly chopped To fill and decorate
- 6 tbsp Bonne Maman Strawberry Conserve
- 225g fresh strawberries, few fresh raspberries
- Caster sugar Freeze dried strawberries, chopped pistachio nuts
Method
- Heat the oven to 160c, fan oven 140c, gas mark 3. Grease and line a deep, 20cm cake tin with non-stick baking parchment.
- Use an electric mixer to whisk the eggs for about 5 minutes until pale and thick. Add the caster sugar and continue whisking until the mixture doubles in size, is very foamy and leaves a trail when you lift out the beaters.
- Continue to whisk on high while you add the olive oil drop by drop.
- 4. Sift the flour into the mixture and fold in very gently with a large metal spoon.
- Pour into the tin and bake for 40-45 minutes until the cake is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Meanwhile make the syrup. Put the Pimms, lemonade and conserve into a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Bubble for 10-15 minutes until reduced and syrupy.
- Cool the cooked cake in the tin then turn out onto a wire rack. Cut the cake into three layers. Spoon the cooled syrup over each layer.
- To make the white chocolate cream, put the white chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of warm water and leave until melted. Dip three whole strawberries in the chocolate and chill. Whip the cream until it just begins to hold its shape and fold in the remaining melted chocolate with a balloon whisk. Keep whisking gently until the mixture is thick and spreadable.
- To fill and decorate, spread the conserve over the sponge layers and top with the remaining strawberries, thinly sliced. Layer up the cake onto a board or a plate.
- Cover the cake with the white chocolate cream and refrigerate overnight.
- To make the caramel shards for decoration, line a baking sheet with foil and sprinkle over a layer of caster sugar. Pop under a hot grill for 4-5 minutes or until the sugar melts and turns golden brown. Immediately sprinkle over the freeze-dried strawberries and the pistachios. Leave to cool then break into shards. Store in an airtight container.
- When ready to serve, pop the chocolate dipped strawberries on top of the cake with the raspberries and caramel shards. Serve immediately.
Cook’s tips: The cake is also delicious with a Prosecco syrup. Put 400ml Prosecco in a small saucepan with the strawberry conserve and bubble till syrupy as above.
This recipe is from www.bonnemaman.co.uk. Recipe development by Moyra Fraser.
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