Strawberry Sponge triple layer with lemon filling
NO ORDINARY VICTORIA SPONGE… OUR VERSION HAS A WONDERFUL LEMONY TOUCH AND LOOKS SIMPLY SPECTACULAR!
PREPARE AHEAD/FREEZE • READY IN 1 HR • SERVES 10-12
250G UNSALTED BUTTER, AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
250G CASTER SUGAR
5 LARGE FREE-RANGE EGGS
½TSP VANILLA EXTRACT
250G SELF-RAISING FLOUR
1 ROUNDED TSP BAKING POWDER
FINELY GRATED ZEST OF 2 LEMONS
FOR THE FILLING
320G JAR WAITROSE DUCHY
LEMON CURD
400ML NATURAL GREEK YOGURT
500G STRAWBERRIES, THINLY SLICED SIFTED ICING SUGAR, TO DECORATE
YOU WILL NEED
3 X 20CM, 4CM-DEEP CAKE TINS, LIGHTLY GREASED AND THE BASES LINED WITH BAKING PARCHMENT
1 HEAT THE OVEN TO 170C, GAS 3. FOR THE SPONGES, PUT THE BUTTER AND SUGAR IN A BOWL AND BEAT WITH AN ELECTRIC MIXER UNTIL PALE AND CREAMY. BEAT THE EGGS WITH THE VANILLA EXTRACT AND POUR SLOWLY ONTO THE BUTTER MIXTURE WITH THE MACHINE RUNNING AT LOW SPEED UNTIL BLENDED.
2 SIFT THE FLOUR AND BAKING POWDER INTO THE MIXTURE AND ADD THE LEMON ZEST. FOLD THE FLOUR GENTLY INTO THE BUTTER MIXTURE UNTIL INCORPORATED. THE MIXTURE SHOULD BE OF A SOFT, DROPPING CONSISTENCY. IF IT SEEMS TOO THICK, MIX IN 2TBSP MILK. 3 DIVIDE THE MIXTURE EVENLY AMONG THE TINS AND BAKE IN THE OVEN FOR 25-30 MINS. THE CAKES SHOULD BE GOLDEN AND SPRING BACK WHEN TOUCHED IN THE CENTRE WITH YOUR FINGER.
4 ALLOW THE CAKES TO COOL FOR 5 MINS BEFORE TURNING OUT ONTO A WIRE RACK. PEEL OFF THE BASE PAPER AND LEAVE
THE SPONGES UNTIL COMPLETELY COLD.
5 FOR THE FILLING, DIVIDE THE LEMON CURD EQUALLY BETWEEN 2 OF THE SPONGES AND SPREAD OUT. TOP WITH
ALL BUT 2TBSP OF GREEK YOGURT. DIVIDE THE STRAWBERRIES OVER THE YOGURT, RESERVING A FEW FOR THE TOP SPONGE. PUT ONE LAYER ON TOP OF THE OTHER
AND PRESS DOWN LIGHTLY. PUT THE FINAL UNFILLED LAYER ON TOP, THEN SPOON THE REMAINING YOGURT IN THE CENTRE OF THE TOP SPONGE AND DECORATE WITH A FEW OF THE REMAINING STRAWBERRIES. DUST WITH ICING SUGAR AND SERVE.
The cake will keep decorated for 1 hr before serving, though you can freeze the sponges and keep them, wrapped in foil, for up to 3 weeks. >>