Tuesdays with Dorie BWD: Curd, Cream and Berry Cake

May 9, 2023 at 1:37 pm | Posted in BWD, cakes & tortes, groups, layer cakes, sweet things, tuesdays with dorie | 3 Comments
Tags: baking, brekkie, cake

This Curd, Cream and Berry Cake is a showstopper…something to impress mom, and make tons of washing up! It’s kind of an update on the Victoria Sponge, and its many components include: a hot milk sponge cake split into two layers, mounds of mascarpone whipped cream, lemon curd, lemon soaking syrup and lots of fresh berries.

I don’t have much experience with making hot milk sponge, but it’s super light and nice and it cut in half beautifully, so I’m into it. The cream filling was supposed to be a mascarpone-meringue-whipped cream concoction, but I decided to skip the egg white meringue step, figuring it would hold up better without (and hadn’t I dirtied enough bowls already?). Mascarpone-whipped cream is my fave way enjoy whipped cream anyway and it stays pretty stable for a few days, too.

I really debated what to do about the lemon curd component for this. I made just a half size (6-inch) cake and, adjusting the recipe, would need just 2 tablespoons of curd for dotting around the berries. It didn’t seem like enough to really justify making or buying it. I thought about just using jam instead. Then I found a recipe for whole-egg lemon curd that looked quick and easy and wouldn’t leave me stuck with a bunch of whites. I made 1/3 of that to use one egg (and I strained it before I chilled it). I wound up with at least twice what I needed but decided to fold the excess into the middle layer of cream for an extra-lemony filling.

If you don’t have the book Baking with Dorie: Sweet, Salty & Simple by Dorie Greenspan yet, get it and join us as we bake through it every second and fourth Tuesdays! Don’t forget to check out the rest of the TWD Blogroll and all the other participation deets over on Tuesdays with Dorie!

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Your cake does look like a showstopper. I am hoping I have success as I am making it for Mother’s Day.

Comment by Diane Zwang— May 12, 2023 #

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Just WOW…your cake is stunning and you are right, quite the showstopper! I am looking forward to making this, well maybe not all the dishes everyone keeps talking about but at least I know it will be worth it. I like your tip on adding the lemon curd in the middle layer! I just might follow your lead 😍. Beautiful job!

Comment by isthisakeeper— May 12, 2023 #

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- thanks! if you have enough curd, i recommend it, because the amount is so small otherwise (although i skipped the meringue entirely so maybe if you do tharp art as well, it’s too much stuff to fold into the cream)
  
  Comment by steph (whisk/spoon)— May 13, 2023 #
  
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a whisk and a spoon