LEMON & ELDERFLOWER CAKE WITH CHAI SPICE BISCUITS

Two tier lemon and elderflower sponge with semi naked lemon frosting, topped with adorable chai spiced animal biscuits. The perfect cake for a special occasion to impress your friends and family.

This is a sponsored post and I have partnered with Pyrex to bring you this recipe, all views are my own. Chances are you’re probably well aware who Pyrex are but if not, they are most known for their recognisable super strong, heat resistant glassware. That glass measuring jug you have in your cupboard? It’s most likely Pyrex!

INGREDIENTS
20CM/8" - MAKES 3 SPONGES

1. • 960g self-raising flour
2. • 3 tsp baking powder
3. • 540g caster sugar
4. • 790ml unsweetened almond milk
5. • Juice of 3 lemons
6. • Zest of 2 lemons
7. • 7 tbsp elderflower cordial
8. • 340 ml rapeseed oil

26CM/10" SPONGE - MAKES 3 SPONGES

1. • 1.25 kg self-raising flour
2. • 5 1/4 tsp baking powder
3. • 700g caster sugar
4. • 1030 ml almond milk
5. • 440 ml rapeseed oil
6. • Juice of 4 lemons
7. • Zest of 3 lemons
8. • 9 tbsp elderflower cordial

BUTTERCREAM

1. • 1kg vegan butter
2. • 1.6 kg icing sugar
3. • Juice and zest of 1 lemon

CHAI SPICED BISCUITS

1. • 130g vegan butter
2. • 100g light brown sugar
3. • 100g golden syrup
4. • 100g black treacle
5. • 425g plain flour
6. • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
7. • 2 tsp ground ginger
8. • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
9. • 1/2 tsp ground all spice
10. • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
11. • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
12. • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
13. • 4 tbsp icing sugar
14. • Splash of water

INSTRUCTIONS

• Start with the 20cm/8-inch sponges. Preheat the oven to 160Cfan/180C/300F.
• Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the sugar and gently mix together with a wooden spoon.
• In a separate bowl, pour in the milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, oil and elderflower cordial.
• Pour this slowly into the bowl with the flour and sugar and mix until combined, but do not over mix.
• Grease and line three 20cm/-inch tins, such as the Pyrex Magic spring form options. To make sure the mixture is evenly distributed you can weigh each tin. Tap the pans gently on the work surface to release air bubbles.
• Place in the oven for 40 minutes. To check the cakes are done, place a skewer in the middle and if it comes out clean, it’s done. The sponges will be lightly browned and beginning to pull away from the sides.
• Leave to cool on the cooling rack for 10 minutes before taking out the tins.
• Repeat for the 26cm/10inch sponges and bake for 50 minutes.
• If you want to do this in advance you can freeze the sponges. Once they are completely cool, leave the baking parchment on the bottom and wrap tightly in cling film. Place in the freezer on a flat surface and take them out to defrost the night before you need them.
• Make the buttercream frosting by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl, if it is quite soft leave it in the fridge for an hour before using.
• Make the biscuits. Preheat the oven to 160C fan/180C/300F. Place the vegan butter at room temperature into a bowl with the sugar and beat until fluffy. Add the golden syrup and treacle and mix. Then add the spices, flour and baking powder and mix until it forms a ball, you may need to use your hands.
• Roll into a ball then place in some cling film and place in the fridge to firm up. When its firmer, cover a chopping board with cling film, place the dough on top and then place the cling film it was wrapped in on top. This will make it easier to roll out the dough.
• Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out animal shapes and place on a lined or greased baking sheet – I used the Pyrex Bake & Enjoy glass baking sheet.
• Place in the oven and cook for 10-12 minutes. They are cooked when they are beginning to brown on the edges. Leave to cool and then transfer to a cooling rack. To ice, mix 4 tbsp icing with a splash of water. Use a spoon or small piping bag to ice the biscuits.
• Once all your sponges are ready, you will need to cut the tops off. They should have cooked with a fairly flat top but they will need levelling. It's best to do this with a cake leveller to make sure it is even, but you can use a serrated knife. Make sure you have the cakes on a flat surface and then cut the sponges to the same height.
• Place one of the larger sponges on a cake board with a little buttercream underneath to help it stick. Generously spoon some buttercream on top and smooth out right to the edges using a palette knife. Repeat with next two sponges, making sure they are stacked on top carefully (use the cake lifter you if have one).
• Read more please visit :cupfulofkale.com

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