Dutch Cream Cake

DUTCH CREAM CAKE

Total: 90 mins  Prep: 60 mins  Cook: 30 mins Waiting Time: 60 mins Yield: Serves 6-12.

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar 
• 1 1/2 tsp (5 g) lemon zest 
• 1 cup (90 g) flour 
• 3 tsp (10 g) cornstarch (corn flour/maizena)
• For the Whipped Cream:
• 2 cups (1 pint/500 g) heavy cream 
• 1/4 cup (50 g) superfine (caster) sugar
• Garnish: fresh fruit of your choice
• Chocolate sprinkles (optional)

Method:

Sponge Cake: 

1. Preheat the oven to 356 F (180 degrees C). 
2. Whisk the eggs, salt, sugar and lemon zest in a double boiler until light and fluffy. 
3. Sieve the flour and cornstarch and fold into the mixture. 
4. Grease a cake tin measuring 10 x 2-inches (25 x 5cm) with butter and pour the batter into it.
5. Bake the cake for 25 minutes (or until an inserted skewer comes out clean). 
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cake rack. 
7. Once cooled, cut the sponge cake (horizontally) into three even layers.

Whipped Cream: 

In a clean bowl, whip the cream and sugar until it forms stiff peaks.

1. Slather the bottom layer of the cake with a thick covering of freshly whipped cream. 
2. Cover with a layer of fresh fruit. 
3. Now place the second layer of cake on top.
4. Brush this cake layer with about 2/3 cup (150 g) of the apricot purée. 
5. Place the final cake layer on top. 
6. Cover the top and sides of the cake with whipped cream. Using a pastry bag with a large star nozzle, decorate the top of the cake with piped rosettes of the remaining cream and fresh fruit, and the sides of the cake with chocolate sprinkles.

Tips

1. Jelly sugar (also called jellifying sugar, jam sugar or gelling sugar, preserving sugar or geleisuiker in Dutch), is granulated sugar that contains (fruit) pectin and citric or tartaric acid. It is often used for making jellies/ jams. If you can't find it, make your own jelly sugar by adding powdered pectin to regular granulated sugar, or order geleisuiker from websites that sell Dutch groceries.
2. A serrated bread knife comes in handy when cutting the cake into even layers.
3. Decorate the cake with fresh fruit, nuts or store-bought chocolate decorations