Courting Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 190°C/375°F.
• Grease and line the bases of three 7-inch round cake tins.
• Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.
• Gradually add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Fold in the flour, and then add enough milk to give a soft dropping consistency.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, until well risen and firm to the touch, swapping the position of the top and bottom cakes halfway through the cooking.
• Turn out and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Whip the cream until it just holds its shape.
• Sandwich the cakes together with the cream and the strawberries, reserving a few for decoration.
• Dredge the top with icing sugar and decorate with the reserved strawberries.

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 180C/350F/gas 4.
• Grease and line with baking parchment, three 7" or 8" round Victoria sandwich tins.
• Cream the butter, vanilla extract and sugar together until pale and fluffy - this is very important, it captures air and keeps the cake light and moist!
• Add the beaten eggs gradually, mixing well each time. Lightly sieve in the flour - again gradually - and then add enough milk to make the cake mixture a dropping consistency.
• Divide the mixture between the three cake tins - giving them a gentle shake to level them, and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 25 - 30 minutes, or until well risen and a pale golden brown. Turn the cakes out and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Whip the cream until thick and holding soft peaks and add the vanilla extract if using.
• Sandwich the cakes together with the cream and sliced strawberries - reserving at least 8 for the top of the cake.
• Place the cake on an atractive cake or gateau serving platter/stand and sprinkle the icing sugar over the top of the cake.
• Decorate with the reserved whole strawberries.
• N.B. you can also decorate the top of the cake with the whipped cream - but this is not traditional!

Steps:

• To Make Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with parchment. Using electric mixer, beat butter until light. Add 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon nutmeg and salt into medium bowl. Fold into butter mixture. Gently mix in milk.
• Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until firm to touch about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks and cool completely.
• Split each cake into 2 layers, using serrated knife. Combine cream, 6 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon nutmeg in bowl. Beat to stiff peaks. Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on platter. Spread with 3/4 cup compote, then 1 cup cream. Repeat layering with 2 more cake layers, compote and cream. Top with last cake layer, cut side down. Cover cake and chill 1 hour. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Dust with powdered sugar. Arrange berries atop cake. Serve, spooning some of remaining compote over each slice.
• To Make Compote:
• Combine rhubarb, sugar and water in heavy medium saucepan. Bring just to boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook just until rhubarb is tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in berries, vanilla and nutmeg. Chill until cold. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)