Something for THE WEEKEND

Nothing says summer like strawberries and cream, especially when combined in a delicious fruity bake

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM LOAF CAKE TAKES 50 MINS, PLUS COOLING SERVES 8

FOR THE ALMOND CAKE 175g unsalted butter, softened 175g golden caster sugar 3 eggs 75g ground almonds 100g self-raising flour ½tsp baking powder 16g freeze-dried strawberry pieces 1tsp almond extract FOR THE TOPPING

180g cream cheese 1tsp vanilla bean paste 40g icing sugar, plus extra to dust 200g strawberries, halved YOU WILL NEED 20x10cm loaf tin, lined with baking parchment 1 Heat oven to 180C/gas 4. For the cake, beat the butter and sugar until pale. Mix in the eggs and ground almonds. 2 Fold in the flour and baking powder, then the strawberry pieces and extract. 3 Spoon into the tin and bake for 40 mins or until cooked. Leave to cool in tin for 5 mins, then transfer to a wire rack. 4 For the topping beat together the cream cheese, vanilla paste and icing sugar. Spread over the cooled cake. Top with strawberries. Dust with icing sugar.