GLAZED POPPYSEED AND WALNUT CAKE

This Mother’s Day, make your mum a gift she’ll really love. This is the kind of cake I used to make for my mum. It’s a variation on the traditional Hungarian dishes we grew up on and I’m certain your family will love it as much as I do.

Preparation time 20 mins plus 15 mins cooling Cooking time 45 mins Serves 12

Cooking oil spray, to grease 200g poppy seeds

100g walnuts, plus extra to decorate 150g store-bought sponge

cake, crumbled

2 Tbsp instant coffee powder 200g unsalted butter, softened

A simple apricot jam glaze enhances the coffee and walnut flavours in this cake 80g icing sugar mixture

1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

1 lemon, zested and juiced 5 free-range eggs, separated

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

140g caster sugar, plus 85g extra 100g apricot jam STEP 1 Preheat oven to 180°C fan-forced (200°C conventional). Grease a 20cm round cake tin with oil spray, and line with baking paper. Put poppy seeds and walnuts in a blender and pulse until thick and sticking together. Put in a large bowl with cake crumbs and coffee powder. Set aside.

STEP 2 Put butter, icing sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest in bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high speed for 3 minutes until light and creamy. Beat in egg yolks one at a time, until well combined and smooth.

STEP 3 Put egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl and use an electric hand mixer to beat to soft peaks. Add caster sugar in four stages, beating well after each addition, until thick and glossy. Fold half meringue into butter mixture, then alternate the remaining meringue with the poppy seed and walnut mixture. Finally, fold in lemon juice. Spoon mixture into prepared tin, then bake for 40 minutes, until firm to touch.

STEP 4 Allow cake to cool in tin for 15 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool. Put extra sugar and jam in a saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring, until sugar has melted and mixture thickens. Brush over cake, then cool until set. Decorate with chopped walnuts to serve.