I wish I could say I’ve never met a cake I didn’t like, but I have. I don’t like anything too rich {black forest cake, I’m looking at you} or too dry, and sometimes cakes that fall somewhere in between. But this cake, this cake I LOVED. I had a little nibble of the mix before baking and I knew it was a winner.
I love baking. I find it really therapeutic, but it’s the eating that worries me. I’ll indulge in a slice, or maybe two, but that’s my limit. When we were living back in busy Bondi, I wondered what my neighbours would think if I’d dropped off baked goods to their door. I’m sure I would have received weird looks and a polite, “No thanks.” I guess I’ll never know.
Here it’s different though. I love my neighbours. If we’re away for a few days and our bins are out, they’ll magically be put back in. Those things didn’t happen back in Bondi. We did have one sweet neighbour who would remember Lacey’s birthday and leave gifts at the door for her, as well at Easter and Christmas. And if he saw us out the front he’d often throw treats down from his very high balcony.
I cut a generous slice of this cake and delivered it my neighbour, and she was so grateful. And then the kids down the road came up to play, so I gave them a slice too. The plates came back clean. I love living in the country.
Ingredients
2 cups plain flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup caster sugar
125g butter, chilled & chopped
1 egg
2/3 cup pure cream
3/4 cup double cream
250g strawberries, halved {with green bits cut off}
Icing sugar, for dusting
Method
♥ Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius. Grease and line a round tin {with a 20cm base}.
♥ In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder and sugar. Stir to combine.
♥ Add butter and rub together with fingertips until it resembles bread crumbs.
♥ In a separate bowl combine the egg and pure cream. Add to mix. With a metal spoon, gently combine the mix. Be careful not to over-mix. You want to just combine it all together.
♥ Place into the tin, and use your fingertips to evenly spread it out.
♥ Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool in tin for 10 minutes and then gently place on a wire rack to cool.
♥ Once cool, cut cake in half crossways and fill with double cream and strawberries. Place the other half on top and dust with icing sugar.
Note: This cake is very delicate, so when you’re cutting – do it slowly and gently. And when placing the top on, make sure you support it with an egg flip or big knife. Or just cover up the breakage {like I did!} with a bucketload of icing sugar.
Lacey, who is obsessed with blogging at the moment, wanted you all to see her plate. We HAD to put it in the shot. All princess plate comments and words of appreciation will be passed on to the little wannabe blogger. She was not impressed that I got her arm in the shot though. Fussy pants.
Hi Chantelle, do you think I could make this sponge a day ahead?
As long as you put it in an air-tight container, I think it would be fine. I would probably leave it one piece, and then halve & decorate it the day of serving {if possible}. x
i am always always delivering baked goodies to my neighbours its a great feeling to share and it also stops me from eating them all which i totally would if left alone with them !!
Lacey, thats a very pretty plate little miss x
Ha, she’s going to love you. x
Oh she is too cute!!! And tell Lacey I think her plate is perfect for this cake. Very princessy indeed.
what is caster sugar
It’s like a really fine sugar, but not as fine as icing/confectioner’s sugar. I’m not sure what other countries call it.
Superfine sugar, I believe it’s called in the US?
Love the princess plate! It totally makes the cake look even more delicious <3
I also am from the city (a suburb of New Orleans) and 5 years ago moved to a small country town. I absolutely love and and will never go back to the hustle & bustle of city living!
Lacey, your plate is GORGEOUS, Darling! I’ll be sure to show Abi your sweet photo. 😉
We live in the most lovely suburb where the neighbours are always willing to lend us eggs, sugar, or flour, because we always reward them with a plate of what we made! Nothing like having lovely neighbours really 🙂
And Lacey, your plate is adorable 🙂 x
oooh I think I might have a go at this
I have the loveliest of neighbours, so happy about it, we drop stuff off all the time – baked goods, magazines, children 😉
Gorgeous Lacey, give your mum’s belly a pat and eat some cake while watching Beauty and the Beast. Those last two things would be up there as two of my favourite things in the world.
Oh how I love all your recipe posts Chantelle – I am 23 weeks pregnant and have some pretty serious cake cravings right now, this one looks delicious! We live in the city in Perth, but are very lucky to have neighbours who drop off biscuits and magically put our bins away. I’ve even borrowed a cup of sugar on the odd occasion! Just depends on your neighbours I guess 🙂 A x x Ps. Lacey, your princess plate is GORGEOUS! My little girl Ava would love it! x x
I love baking too not so much eating it all the time but I just enjoy baking for my husband and friends definitely therapeutic! I love my neighbours too they are super sweet and always water my plants when we go away and bring my mail inside we always give them a spare key they were a blessing when we went on our honeymoon last year!
I didn’t know my neighbors until I got my dog. Now we know just about everyone and I do send dinners and baked goods down the street (usually to prevent me from eating it all)! In return, people show up at my door with treats regularly – but usually its dog treats for the spoiled pooch! 🙂 No one has been silly enough to bring them over on a pretty princess plate though because they know I wouldn’t want to give it back!
Dear Lacey,
this most delicious cake is one for princesses like you: special with a sweet heart on the inside! Give your mom a biiiiig smile and kiss for making you that lovely cake. Oh, and don’t you ever eat any cake or cookie from another plate than this one!
Love from me to you <3
My little girl is two and she absolutely loves our neighbour, whenever we walk down the back stairs she calls out to she if she’s there. She just come back from her granddaughters wedding and bought both my kids shirts (that glow in the dark-how cool??) Over easter we shared chocolate and my newest banana muffin recipe, so glad she isn’t diabetic…
I’ve been trying different sponge cake recipies for a few weeks now and will be giving this one a go.
Thanks
Lacey! Is that a disney princess plate?! I LOVE it! Cinderella is my favourite princess, which is yours?
And Chantelle, that cake looks heavenly. I might make it for my mum and grandma on Sunday.
http://www.clairehelens.blogspot.com.au
I had to move a few months ago. At the old house I had the best neighbours ever. And yes, there was occasionally an exchange of baked goods. I miss them.