2019-06-01_Food_Heaven

By Jane's Patisserie (www.janespatisserie.com)

12 baking heaven JUNE WWW.FOODHEAVENMAG.COM

Gin & tonic cake

MAKES A 20CM (8IN) CAKE

For the cake

400g (14oz) unsalted butter/Stork

400g (14oz) caster sugar

400g (14oz) self-raising flour

8 medium free-range eggs

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp G&T flavouring (optional)

grated zest of 1 lime

For the drizzle

100g (3½oz) caster sugar

6 tbsp gin

6 tbsp tonic water

For the buttercream

300g (10½oz) unsalted butter, at

room temperature

750g (1lb 7oz) icing sugar

4 tbsp gin

For the icing

250g (9oz) icing sugar

3 tbsp gin

For the decoration

grated zest of 1 lime

lime slices

For the cake

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark

4 and line three 20cm (8in) sandwich

cake tins with baking parchment.

2 In a stand mixer, beat together the

butter and caster sugar for a few

minutes until light and fluffy.

3 Add the flour, eggs, baking powder,

flavouring (if using) and lime, then beat

again briefly until combined – try not

to over-beat!

4 Divide the mixture between the three

tins and smooth it over, then bake for

25-30 minutes until the cakes are

golden and when the cake springs back

• a skewer inserted into the centre
  should also come out clean.
  5 Once baked, leave the cakes in their
  tins for 10 minutes or so, then remove
  and leave to cool fully on a wire rack.
  6 While the cakes are cooling, make the
  drizzle. Add the caster sugar, gin and
  tonic to a small pan. Heat on a low-
  medium heat while stirring, then wait for
  the sugar to dissolve. Once dissolved,
  turn off the heat.
  7 Poke your cake lightly with a
  cake skewer/fork, then drizzle over
  the drizzle.

For the buttercream

1 Beat the butter with an electric mixer

for a couple of minutes to loosen it –

gradually beat in the icing sugar until well

combined (this can take up to 5 minutes).

2 Add in the gin and tonic, 1 tbsp of

each at a time, then beat fully each time.

The mixture will be slightly slacker than

usual, but you want the flavour so

be aware! Alternatively, you can use the

gin and tonic flavouring with the butter

and sugar instead.

To de c orate

1 Add a layer of the cake to your

plate/board and pipe on some of

the buttercream.

2 Add on the second layer and pipe on

buttercream again, then add the third

layer. If you just want to use

buttercream, then decorate the top,

but I used buttercream and icing so

I piped the leftover buttercream around

the edges.

3 Mix the icing with the gin and fill in the

top with it, then sprinkle over the lime

zest. Add lime slices if you wish. Enjoy!