Lemon White Chocolate Strawberry Layer Cake Recipe 455

Steps:

• CAKE: Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a 5-inch round baking pan with parchment. Whisk together milk, egg whites and extracts. Mix cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in the bowl of an electric mixer on low speed. Add butter and continue beating on low speed until the mixture resembles moist crumbs. Add all but about 3 tablespoons of milk mixture to the crumbs and beat on medium speed for 1 1/2 minutes. Add the remaining milk mixture and beat for 30 seconds more. Scrape down the sides and mix on medium speed for another 20 seconds. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out mostly clean, with moist crumbs attached. WHITE CHOCOLATE FILLING: Melt the white chocolate and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream together. Set aside to cool completely. Whip the remaining heavy cream until the beater forms streaks in the cream. Pour in the melted white chocolate mixture and beat until stiff peaks. LEMON CREAM: Place the sugar and zest in a large heatproof bowl and rub the two together until the sugar is moist, grainy and aromatic. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring with a whisk constantly until the cream thickens and reaches 180°F. Immediately remove from heat and strain into a blender or food processor. Let the cream cool to 140°F, stirring occasionally. Beat the cream on high speed in the blender of food processor while adding the pieces of butter about 5 at a time. When all the butter has been incorporated, beat the cream for another 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape the cream into a bowl and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours. ASSEMBLY: White cake, cooled White chocolate filling Lemon cream Strawberries, halved or quartered Slice the cake into 3 layers. Take one layer and spread half the white chocolate filling on it. Arrange the chopped strawberries on top, making sure that they are as close to the surface as possible. Top with the second layer of cake and spread the remaining white chocolate filling on top. Again, arrange the strawberries on top of the white chocolate filling. Finish with the last layer of cake and refrigerate it until the white chocolate filling is firm, about 2 hours. Frost with the lemon cream.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter three 18cm sandwich cake tins and line with baking parchment. Beat together the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking powder and flour using a stand mixer or electric hand whisk until you have a fluffy mixture, about 5 mins. Fold in the white chocolate until it's well distributed throughout.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the tins and level out using a palette knife or the back of a spoon until smooth. Bake for 25-30 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave the sponges to cool in the tins for 10 mins, then remove from the tins and transfer to a cooling rack, top side down, and leave to cool completely. If the sponges are not level use a serrated knife to cut away the peaks.
• While the sponges are cooling, make the ganache. Put the white chocolate in a large bowl. Pour the cream into a saucepan over a medium heat and bring to a simmer. Immediately pour the cream over the chocolate and leave to stand for 4-5 mins until the chocolate has melted. Mix together to form a smooth ganache, ensuring all the chocolate has fully melted, then mix in the vanilla. Chill in the fridge for 30 mins, stirring occasionally so it doesn't completely harden, until spreadable and thick enough to coat the cake.
• Once the sponges are cool and the ganache has set to a spreadable consistency, you can construct the cake. Place one sponge on a serving plate, spread over a thin layer of the chocolate ganache, then fill the middle with a third of the raspberries. Place another sponge on top and repeat with a layer of ganache and another third of raspberries. Put the final sponge on top and gently coat the whole cake with a thin layer of ganache. Leave in the fridge to set for at least 20 mins. To finish, spread over any remaining ganache and top with the remaining raspberries. Will keep chilled for up to three days in an airtight container.

Steps:

• For the cake:.
• Melt 6 oz of white chocolate chips in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring half way through.
• Depending on the power of your microwave you may need more or less time.
• Be sure to watch carefully so that the white chocolate doesn't burn.
• Cool the white chocolate slightly.
• Add to the remainder of the cake ingredients and mix well.
• Pour into two 8-inch round cake pans which have been lined with greased aluminum foil.
• Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely.
• For the frosting:.
• Melt the 6 oz white chocolate chips in the microwave using the same procedure as before.
• Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile combine the rest of the ingredients.
• Add the melted white chocolate.
• Beat with a mixer until fluffy.
• For the assembly:.
• Spread one of the cooled cakes with lemon curd.
• Place the second cake on top.
• Frost the top and the sides of the cake.
• I prefer to keep this cake refrigerated due to the cream cheese frosting.