Eat Love Eat

A recipe for life

  • Recipes
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy

Baking Cakes Desserts

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake - this impressive layer cake is filled with the flavours of summer and is surprisingly easy to make! | eatloveeats.com

I couldn’t help myself, I just had to make another cake. This time, a celebration of the summery fragrance of those frothy elderflower blossoms that are so characteristic of June. If you’re lucky, you still have access to these precious flowers. They’re still around here, but we’ve had a ton of rain lately and so they’re on their way out. But even if the flowers have disappeared, fear not – you can use bought elderflower cordial. I wanted to imbue a cake with that heavenly floral scent and could think of no better pairing than the pure simplicity of ripe strawberries. This Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake is delicately flavoured and perfectly captures the essence of early summer. It sure looks a treat, too! Imagine bringing this out at the end of your summer picnic or barbecue.

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake - this impressive layer cake is filled with the flavours of summer and is surprisingly easy to make! | eatloveeats.com

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake - this impressive layer cake is filled with the flavours of summer and is surprisingly easy to make! | eatloveeats.com

It’s hasn’t been feeling too summery around here lately though! We’ve had so much rain over the past two weeks and the sun has been a distant memory. Although as I write, it appears we have been graced with blue skies so I’m hopeful that the weather is changing. My husband and I have some time off work at the moment and we’re off for a short break in a couple of days to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I can’t believe we’ve been married a year! The time has flown by. I’m looking forward to spending a few days together in the beautiful English countryside. Perhaps the sun will come out for us! Either way, I’m just excited to enjoy some different scenery and to seek out some delicious food along the way.

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake - this impressive layer cake is filled with the flavours of summer and is surprisingly easy to make! | eatloveeats.com

The star of this cake is the strawberry and elderflower curd which is slathered between the layers. I adore making lemon curd but I wanted to make something different and strawberry curd just sounded so delicious! I wondered if I could infuse it with the delicate perfume of elderflower and it actually worked really well! The flavour is subtle, yet undeniable. The recipe makes two jars of curd so you’re set for not only this cake, but plenty of summer desserts – this would be perfect on scones, in eton mess, basically anywhere you would use lemon curd!

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake - this impressive layer cake is filled with the flavours of summer and is surprisingly easy to make! | eatloveeats.com

This cake is really easy to make. A simple vanilla sponge is drenched with elderflower cordial and filled with strawberry and elderflower curd, lightly sweetened whipped cream and fresh sliced strawberries. What’s not to love? The curd can be made ahead of time and is a lovely relaxing afternoon task – the recipe requires you to strain the curd multiple times as you make it but it’s not that much of a hardship and is really worth it for the silky smooth texture which results. However, feel free to skip these steps if you don’t have time, the recipe will still work! Go on, give this Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake a try and let’s see if we can get the sun to shine!

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Cake
Print Pin
4.5 from 2 votes

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake

Course Dessert
Cuisine British
Servings 8 slices
Author Eat Love Eat

Ingredients

For the strawberry and elderflower curd

  • 250 g strawberries (2 cups) hulled
  • 200 g caster sugar (scant 1 cup)
  • zest and juice of 1 lemon (1 teaspoon zest, 3 tablespoons juice)
  • 100 g unsalted butter (scant 1/2 cup)
  • 3-4 elderflower heads
  • 4 large eggs

For the cake

  • 225 g unsalted butter (1 cup)
  • 225 g golden caster sugar (1 cup)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 225 g plain flour (1 1/2 cups)
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To assemble

  • 60 ml elderflower cordial (1/4 cup)
  • 250 ml double cream (1 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon icing sugar
  • 6 tablespoons strawberry and elderflower curd
  • strawberries to decorate

Instructions

For the strawberry and elderflower curd

  • Begin by making the curd. Place the strawberries into the bowl of a food processor and blitz until smooth. Strain into a heatproof bowl.
  • Add the sugar, lemon zest, juice and butter. Set over a pan of simmering water and stir occasionally until the butter has melted. Remove from the heat.
  • Shake any unwanted friends from the elderflowers and dunk the heads into the mixture. Leave to infuse for 5 minutes or so. Whilst this is infusing, lightly beat the eggs and strain to remove any lumps.
  • Remove the elderflowers from the strawberry mixture - you'll have to give them a good squeeze. Strain again to remove any stray flower heads. Whisk in the eggs and return the bowl to the pan of simmering water. Cook over a low heat, whisking frequently, until thickened. This took me about 20 minutes.

For the cake

  • Preheat oven to 160Β°C fan/180Β°C/350Β°F. Grease and line 2 6" cake tins (4 if you have them). Place the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a regular bowl and an electric whisk). Add the caster sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one by one, adding a spoonful of flour between each one.
  • Mix in the flour and baking powder until just combined - be careful not to overmix! Finish by mixing in the vanilla extract and milk.
  • Divide half of the mixture between the two tins and bake for 20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Leave to cool for 5 minutes before removing the cakes from the tins and transferring to a cooling rack. Get the tins ready to bake the next two cakes. Pour in the remaining mixture and bake as above.

To assemble

  • As the cakes cool, prepare the cream filling. Place the double cream and the sugar into the bowl of your stand mixer (or a regular bowl). Whisk until the cream holds its shape in peaks but is still soft and yielding.
  • Once the cakes are cooled, gently prick the tops with a cake tester and drizzle with the elderflower cordial and allow it to soak in.
  • Place one of the cakes onto a cake stand. Spread with a couple of tablespoons of the strawberry curd but make sure you don't spread it right to the edges - it will spread more when you add the cream. Dollop on some cream and spread it out - go easy, you want the cakes to stand up straight! Repeat until you reach the top layer. Top with cream and decorate with halved strawberries and some elderflower blossoms if you're feeling fancy.

Notes

The recipe for the cake layers is barely adapted from Primrose Bakery.

Strawberry and Elderflower Curd Layer Cake - this impressive layer cake is filled with the flavours of summer and is surprisingly easy to make! | eatloveeats.com

 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard


20 Comments

« Passionfruit and Elderflower Fizz
Simple Lemon, Basil and Courgette Pasta »

Comments

  1. Hana | Nirvana Cakery says

    June 24, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    How gorgeous is this cake! The strawberry and elderflower curd sounds divine:) xx

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      June 24, 2016 at 9:29 pm

      Thanks Hana! The curd is so delicious! x

      Reply
  2. Michelle @ The Last Food Blog says

    June 25, 2016 at 8:51 am

    What a beautiful cake Sasha! Perfect for summer and that curd sounds amazing x

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      June 25, 2016 at 9:02 am

      Thanks Michelle! x

      Reply
  3. Akhila@Pepper Delight says

    June 25, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    WOW!! That looks amazing, Strawberry and elderflower, Gorgeous !!!!

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      June 25, 2016 at 9:00 pm

      Thanks so much, Akhila! It’s a wonderful combination πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Leslie @ flora foodie says

    June 27, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    Oooh, this looks gorgeous! I sure love elderflower liqueur, I’ll bet I’d like the flowers themselves! πŸ˜‰ I’ve never seen them before! So beautiful.

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      June 28, 2016 at 7:31 am

      Thank you Leslie! I’m not sure where you live, but here in England the flowers are everywhere! It’s so fun to use something that you’ve foraged yourself! Hope you find some πŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says

    June 30, 2016 at 10:48 pm

    That is a gorgeous cake Sasha! Love it! And the flavors…fantastic! Amazing job! And happy wedding anniversary ?.

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      July 2, 2016 at 10:22 pm

      Thank you for the sweet comment, Nicoletta πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Julie says

    July 2, 2016 at 12:11 am

    Sasha,
    This cake looks absolutely delicious and beautiful too! Great photos!! I wish I could dive right it and take a bite! Great job πŸ˜€

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      July 2, 2016 at 10:23 pm

      Hey Julie! I’m glad you like the look of the cake, I really had fun making/photographing it! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. cheryl pasquier says

    July 13, 2016 at 6:12 am

    Wow that’s a real showstopper of a cake ! #recipeoftheweek

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      July 14, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      Thank you Cheryl! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Jenia Ruth Johnson says

    April 19, 2018 at 9:04 am

    5 stars
    Oh goodness gracious!! Looks absolutely delicious! My family loves my Strawberry layer cake with strawberry whipped cream icing & this looks like another winner to me! I am envying you as I speak! I have dreamed along with my daughter to live in England or Ireland. The American southern states can be beautiful but extremely humid and I adore rain because of it! U continue to have that upbeat spirit & sharing these wonderful recipes!

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      April 22, 2018 at 4:25 pm

      Oh Jenia you are so sweet! Your comment has made my day πŸ™‚ I hope you get to visit the UK or even live here one day! I would love to visit the southern US – I guess the grass always looks greener! It is beautiful here though, I just get fed up of the changeable, often cold, weather!

      I’m now dreaming of your strawberry cake, yum πŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. mehul says

    July 12, 2018 at 1:09 pm

    4 stars
    Oooh, this looks gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      July 13, 2018 at 7:52 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  10. Chloe says

    September 13, 2018 at 7:38 am

    Beautiful cake! Can’t wait to try this, this summer!

    Reply
    • Sasha says

      September 14, 2018 at 7:47 pm

      Thank you Chloe! I hope you love it!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hey There!

Hi! My name is Sasha and I love food. Well, most of it. Blue cheese and I aren’t friends. But most other things? Yes please! I pretty much live from meal to meal. This blog is about expressing my love for cooking and flexing my creative muscles. Read More…

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 Β· Divine Theme on Genesis Framework Β· WordPress Β· Log in