MiniVanilla and Berry Gateaux

For the sponge:

½ cup unsalted butter (softened)

1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs

2 cups cake flour

3 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt

1¼ cups buttermilk 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 cups mixed berries

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla essence.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet while alternately adding buttermilk.

Place the mixture onto a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

For frosting:

1½ cups unsalted butter – softened

6 cups icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 tsp buttermilk

Whisk the butter for about a minute. Add the icing sugar, one cup at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl in between each addition. Mix for 30 seconds between each sugar addition.

Add the vanilla and buttermilk.

Assembling the Gateaux:

Using a large scone cutter, cut the sponge into circles. Pipe the frosting on to a circle of sponge, place the berries on the frosting and cover with another layer.

Pipe a rose on the top layer, garnish with a few berries and a light dusting of icing sugar.