SUGAR AND SPICE CAKE WITH CARAMEL AND ORANGE CREAM

Prep and Cook time: 2 hrs

(plus cooling)

Serves 24

12 eggs, at room temperature

160 g each brown and caster sugar 300 g (1 cup) plain flour, double sifted

2 tablespoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground cardamom ¼ teaspoon baking powder

150 g butter, melted and cooled

1 x 380g jar caramel (Bonne Maman), blended in a Vitamix until smooth

220 g (1 cup) caster sugar and edible gold leaf for decorating ORANGE LIQUEUR CREAM 600 ml thickened cream

300 ml sour cream

2 tablespoons orange liqueur or brandy, optional 1 tablespoon icing sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Grease and line two 20cm round cake pans.

2 Make cakes in two batches, two cakes at a time. Whisk half the eggs and half the sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer until mixture is tripled in volume and holds a trail (10-12 minutes). Transfer to a large bowl, sift over half the flour, half spice and half baking powder in two batches, gently fold to combine, then fold in half the butter. Divide among lined cake tins and bake until cakes are dark golden and centres spring back when gently pressed (20-25 minutes). Cool slightly in tins for 5 minutes, then turn out top down and cool completely on a baking paper lined wire rack. Repeat with clean lined tins and remaining ingredients. 3 ORANGE LIQUEUR CREAM Beat all ingredients with an electric mixer until medium peaks form.

4 Place one cake layer on a serving platter. Spread with 1 cup of the cream mixture, drizzle with 2 tbsp caramel. Repeat layers, ending with cake and cream mixture.

5 Make toffee shards with 220g caster sugar and 60ml water, boiled, stirred over high heat until dissolved, cooled on oven tray and broken to pieces. Decorate with shards and gold leaf as desired. Cake suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave.