Rhubarb & Custard Cake by Liam Charles

Method

1. Sponge Time

   Preheat oven to 160.C/Fan 140.C/Gas 3 and grease and line the cake tins.

   Top Tip: How to Grease & Line a Circular Cake Tin

   How to Grease & Line a Circular Cake Tin

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   Cut a strip of baking parchment slightly longer than the circumference of the tin and a few inches higher. Fold it back about 1 inch along its length, then snip it at an angle at intervals up to the fold, making a fringe effect.

   To attached the baking paper around the side of the tin press the paper and it will stick to the butter/oil, the snipped edge should overlap on the base of the tin.

   To cut the circle out use the tin as a template, drawing round the base with a pencil. Cut this out to fit over the snipped paper over the base.

   Make sure you grease and line your cake tin to prevent the cake from sticking to the side whilst baking, making it difficult to remove from the tin. Use a pastry brush and brush a small amount of butter or oil around the sides of the tin.

2. Cream your butter and sugar together in a large bowl with a free-standing or hand-held mixer until light and fluffy.

   • 500g Unsalted Butter (Softened)
   • 500g Golden Caster Sugar (We like Billington's)

3. Crack the eggs in one at a time, mixing after each addition.If the mixture begins to curdle, just pop in a couple of tablespoons of the flour to bring it back together.

   • 8 Free Range Large Eggs

4. Turn the speed down low and add both your extracts, flour, ground almonds, baking powder, orange zest and milk.
    

   • 350g Self-raising White Flour
   • 170g Ground Almonds
   • 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract (We like Nielsen-Massey)
   • 1/2 tsp Almond Extract (We like Nielsen-Massey)
   • 1 tsp Baking Powder
   • 1 Orange Zest
   • 200ml Whole Milk

5. Divide your mixture evenly between the cake tins and bake for 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10–15 minutes in the tins before turning out on to a wire rack.
    

6. Crème Pat

   Place a saucepan over a medium heat and add the milk, vanilla and ginger. Bring to the boil then take off the heat.

   • 500ml Whole Milk
   • 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract (We like Nielsen-Massey)
   • 1 tsp Ground Ginger

7. Meanwhile, whisk the sugar and egg yolks together in a large bowl. Sift your flour into the bowl and mix together.

   • 125g Golden Caster Sugar (We like Billington's)
   • 6 Free Range Large Eggs
   • 80g Plain Flour
   • 80g Plain Flour

8. Pour a little of the milk into the sugar mixture, constantly whisking, then whisk in the remaining hot milk, pouring it in a steady stream until it is well combined.

9. Pour the custard back into the saucepan and place over a gentle heat. Keep stirring until thick.

   Remove from the heat and pass the custard through a sieve. Place a sheet of clingfilm over the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming and leave to cool then pop in the fridge.

10. Meanwhile, whip the cream in a large bowl until thick. Fold the cream into your chilled custard then add your stem ginger. Pop back in the fridge until you’re ready to use.

    • 200ml Double Cream
    • 75g Stem Ginger (Diced)

11. Rhubarb Filling

    Mix the cornflour and water together in a small bowl with a fork.
     

    • 1 tbsp Cornflour
    • 2 tbsp Water

12. Chop the rhubarb into medium-sized pieces and place in a large saucepan with the orange zest and juice, sugar, cornflour mixture and another tablespoon of water. Place over a medium heat and bring to the boil. 
     

    • 500g Rhubarb
    • 1 Zest & Juice of Large Orange
    • 75g Golden Caster Sugar (We like Billington's)

13. Turn down the heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes, or until the rhubarb is cooked but not soggy – it needs to hold its shape. Remove from the heat and tip into a bowl to cool.

14. Buttercream Time

    Measure your butter into a large bowl and beat with your free-standing or hand-held mixer until light and pale. 

    • 600g Unsalted Butter (Softened)

15. Sift your icing sugar into a separate bowl, then add it to the butter in 3 stages, beating after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl from time to time.

    • 1.5kg Icing Sugar (We like Silver Spoon)

16. Add your milk and vanilla to loosen the buttercream and then beat it again until it holds its shape.

    • 150ml Whole Milk
    • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (We like Nielsen-Massey)

17. Assemble

    Use a cake leveller or sharp knife to trim the top off all the cakes so they are level. Spread a small amount of buttercream on a board that is slightly bigger than your sponges and place your first layer of sponge on top.

18. Place that board on a turntable, if you have one. Place half the buttercream in a piping bag with a roundtipped nozzle and pipe a circle around the edge of the first layer of sponge, leaving an 8cm circle in the middle. Fill that circle with half the stewed rhubarb.
     

19. Repeat this process with another layer of sponge, but fill the circle with the custard filling. Top with another sponge, pipe a buttercream circle and fill it with the rhubarb filling. Finally, top with the last sponge, making sure it is placed upside down on top.
     

20. Crumb and Top Coat

    Using a palette knife, cake scraper and a turntable, coat the sides and top of the cake with a thin layer of buttercream.  Place in the fridge for at least an hour to set.

21. Separate the remaining buttercream into two bowls. Colour one bowl with pink food colouring and the other with yellow food colouring. Place both buttercreams into individual piping bags with round-tipped nozzles. Alternating the pink and yellow buttercream, pipe another layer around the sides and top of the cake.
     

    • 1 tube Pink Food Colouring
    • 1 tube Yellow Food Colouring

22. Smooth the surface with a palette knife – you should have a cool, flurry, sweet shop effect.Pipe alternate buttercream kisses around the top edge of your cake, and scatter over the crushed sweets, if you like.
     

    • 1 bag Rhubarb and Custard Sweets (Crushed)