Berry Mascarpone Christmas Gateau

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup Frangelico
• 3 (120 g)  punnets fresh raspberries
• 250 g punnet strawberries, hulled, roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• 300 ml thickened cream
• 2 (250 g) containers mascarpone
• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
• 1/2 cup extra caster sugar
• 3/4 cup roasted hazelnuts, chopped
• 2 (250 g) packets sponge cake fingers (sponge-finger biscuits)
• 90 g chocolate, crumbled
• 2 (120 g)  punnets raspberries, to serve
• 2 (250 g)  punnets strawberries, to serve

Directions

1. 1

   Line the base and sides of a 24cm spring form tin with baking paper. Combine 1/4 cup of the liqueur, raspberries, strawberries and sugar in a bowl. Stir gently to combine and set aside.

2. 2

   Whip the cream in the large bowl of an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the mascarpone, vanilla and extra sugar, then beat on low speed till thickened slightly (it takes seconds). Fold in the hazelnuts.

3. 3

   Pour remaining liqueur into a shallow dish. One at a time dip in one-third of the biscuits and arrange over the base of the tin, cutting to fit where necessary. Top with one-third of the mascarpone mixture. Spoon over half the berry mixture. Repeat layering, using half the biscuits and mascarpone mixture, then the remaining berry mixture. Top with remaining biscuits, pressing down firmly. Spread the remaining mascarpone mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

4. 4

   To serve, sprinkle the top of the gateau with flake. Cut into wedges and serve with the extra berries.