Strawberry Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (10 inch)  sponge cakes

Strawberry Filling

• 4 pints fresh strawberries
• 1/3 cup sugar

Vanilla Custard

• 2 cups milk
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 vanilla bean, cut in two lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup dark rum

Decoration

• 2 cups heavy cream

Directions

1. 1

   Carefully cut the spongecake into three horizontal layers.

2. 2

   Strawberries: Save half of the strawberries for decoration. Cut the other half of the strawberries in small cubes -- an put in a bowl. Mix in the sugar and let it rest until the sugar has dissolved. It should become a little syrupy.

3. 3

   Vanilla Custard: Bring the milk, with the vanilla bean added, to a boil. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and corn starch. Add 1 tablespoon of water if the mixture becomes too thick. Remove the vanilla bean and then pour the milk over the egg mixture and whisk briskly. Pour the mixture back into the pot. Gently reheat the mixture and continue whisking until it becomes a thick cream. Pour the cream through a sieve and let cool. Whip 2/3 cup of the heavy cream and fold it in the custard.

4. 4

   Spread half of the vanilla custard and then half of the strawberry filling on the bottom layer of the sponge cake. Place the second layer on top of this and press gently. Repeat the above process before placing the last layer of sponge cake on top.

5. 5

   Tip! If you have extra time on your hands, you may cover the cake in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours before decorating. This will give the flavours time to settle a bit and will make a great cake even better!

6. 6

   For serving: Whip the remaining cream. Use a pastry bag with a spout to decorate, working it in an upward movement all around the cake. To crown the work add the remaining strawberries on top.

7. 7

   A cream and strawberry cake normally doesn’t require any drinks -- except perhaps for coffee. We have however made some suggestions to Tinas lovely cake.