Waitrose and Partners
Blackberry and bramley layer cake

Blackberry and bramley layer cake

Warming winter flavours packed into a light and fluffy layered sponge cake. A beautiful cake which is ideal for celebrating or simply enjoying at home. 

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  • Serves18
  • CourseDessert
  • Prepare1 hr 10 mins
  • Cook30 mins
  • Total time1 hr 40 mins
  • Pluscooling

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Ingredients

FOR THE SPONGE

  • 340g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
  • 340g caster sugar
  • 8 British Blacktail Free Range Eggs, at room temperature
  • 300g self-raising flour
  • tsp baking powder
  • 150g ground almonds
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste
  • ¼ tsp fine sea salt
  • 6 tbsp milk, plus extra if needed

FOR THE FILLING

  • 225g Waitrose & Partners Blackberries
  • 4 tbsp caster sugar
  • 4 tsp lemon juice
  • 200g Bramley apples, peeled

FOR THE FROSTING

  • 3 British Blacktail egg
  • 200g icing sugar
  • 225g unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 pinch ground cinnamon

FOR THE DECORATION

  • 1 handful Waitrose & Partners Blackberries
  • ½ lemon, zest and strands

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C, gas mark 4. Grease and line the bases of 3 x 20cm round sandwich tins. Put all the sponge ingredients into a large bowl and use electric beaters to mix until smooth. Add more milk if needed to reach a soft dropping consistency. Spoon into the tins, spread evenly then bake for 28-30 minutes, until risen and golden. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then turn out, top-sides down, to cool completely on a wire rack (this will help keep the cakes flat).

  2. Meanwhile, make the filling. Put the blackberries into a medium pan with 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp lemon juice. Bring to a simmer; cover and cook over a low-medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the fruit has collapsed into its juices. Mash well, then set aside.

  3. Chop the apple and put in another pan with the remaining 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp lemon juice, plus 1 tbsp water. Cover and cook over a medium heat for 5-7 minutes until soft. Mash into a purée, then stir in the blackberry coulis; set aside to cool.

  4. For the frosting, put the egg whites, icing sugar and a pinch of salt in a large bowl over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the water does not touch the base. Use electric beaters to whisk until thick and stiff (5-7 minutes). Spoon into a cold bowl and continue to whisk until the mixture is cool (about 5 minutes). Whisk in the butter, 1 tbsp at a time, until all incorporated and silky. Beat in the cinnamon, then chill for 30 minutes.

  5. Put 1 sponge onto a serving plate or cake stand and spread with one third of the buttercream, then spread over ½ the apple and blackberry mixture; repeat. Top with the final sponge and spread ¾ of the remaining buttercream on top. Use the final ¼ of buttercream to thinly coat the sides, allowing the berry filling to catch in it, creating a ripple effect. Top with the remaining blackberries and the lemon zest strands.

Nutritional

Typical values per serving when made using specific products in recipe

Energy

1,966kJ/ 478kcals

Fat

30g

Saturated Fat

15.8g

Carbohydrates

43.8g

Sugars

32.1g

Fibre

1.3g

Protein

7.5g

Salt

0.45g

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