We’re celebrating Cupcake Day this week, so our food writer Libby Kimber is sharing some sweet treats that you can bake for a crowd.
Layered walnut cake with raspberries and cream cheese vanilla frosting
Serves 12
- 500g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 200g caster sugar
- 200g dark brown sugar
- 6 eggs
- 4 egg yolks
- 300g Greek yoghurt
- 150ml dark rum
- 4 tsp vanilla extract
- 450g rye flour
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- 400g walnuts
- 500g cream cheese, at room temperature
- 750g icing sugar, sifted
- 4 punnets raspberries
Preheat oven to 180°C. Combine 375g butter, caster sugar and dark brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat with the paddle attachment on medium speed for 10 minutes, until very light.
Whisk the eggs, yolks, yoghurt, rum and half the vanilla, then add to the butter mixture while beating on low speed. Sift the flour, spices, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar together twice, then fold in gently.
Place the walnuts in a food processor and grind until very fine, then fold into the batter. Spoon into three lined 20cm cake tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer can be inserted ad removed cleanly. Cool on a wire rack.
Combine the cream cheese remaining butter, icing sugar and remaining vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer then beat with the paddle attachment on medium speed for 10 minutes, until very light.
Spread one-third of the icing on one cake, spread flat, then top with a punnet of raspberries. Stack a second cake on top and repeat. Place the final cake on top, then use the remaining icing to cover the cake. Serve with the remaining raspberries.
Sifting the flour mixture is essential for this cake, as it helps to ensure that the payers will rise flat, making it easier to assemble. If your cakes do get peaks, simply trim with a serrated bread knife.
Recipe and image courtesy of Villeroy & Boch; villeroyboch.com
Orange and poppy seed friands
Makes 12
- 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
- 1 cup McKenzie’s almond flour
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 6 egg whites
- 180g butter, melted
Finely grated rind of 1 orange (use lemon rind in place of orange if preferred)
Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease 12 1/3-cup capacity friand moulds with butter.
Combine icing sugar, flours, and poppy seeds in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Mix in the melted butter and orange rind. Add to dry ingredients and mix well.
Pour mixture between prepared moulds and bake for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Recipe and image courtesy of McKenzie’s; mckenziesfoods.com.au
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