Eton Mess Cake

Week 31, Bake 31.

Summer has finally come to England, and it has hit us hard. After weeks of rain we are 'enjoying' 30 degree heat, lovely! And so to celebrate the sun (and I guess the Olympics) I decided to bake an Eton Mess cake. I had thought about doing it for Wimbledon, but I realised if I did it then, I would be eating it by myself... and with the amount of cream and sugar in it I would be feeling guilty for the rest of the year!

Ingredients:

• 200g of softened unsalted butter
• 200g of caster sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
• 250g of self-raising flour
• 6 tablespoons of milk
• 2 large egg whites
• 100g of caster sugar
• 1 punnet of strawberries
• 250ml of double cream
• 1 passion fruit

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 160c.
2. Beat the softened butter in a large bowl and add the caster sugar then beat until light and fluffy.
3. In a jug, beat the eggs together, then slowly add them into the butter sugar mixture whilst beating.
4. Make sure it doesn't curdle, if it does add in a tablespoon of the flour.
5. Once all the egg is incorporated, add the vanilla essence and mix.
6. Sift your flour and using a metal spoon fold it into the cake mixture.
7. Mix in the milk.
8. Line two sandwich cake tins and greece them. Divide the mixture between the two and put to one side.
9. Now in a separate clean bowl, beat the two egg whites together until stiff peeks are formed.
10. Pour in the caster sugar and then whisk once again until soft peeks are formed and the eggs are glossy.
11. Now divide the meringue between the two cake tins, leaving 2cm rim round the side.
12. Cook for 35-4o minutes.
13. Carefully turn them out to cool whilst you take the hulls out of the strawberries and slice them.
14. Whip your cream.
15. Now assemble the cake: Place one of the sponges on a plate, spread the whipped cream over the meringue, place your strawberries on top of this and then put the other sponge onto of it.
16. Now do a big dollop of the cream on top then place any remaining strawberries onto this to hide the cream.
17. Slice a passion fruit and spoon out its insides. Gently spoon them over the cake and that's it your done!
18. Remember all the cream, so keep it refrigerated. And enjoy!!!