If you’ve offered to bake a treat for a stall or your local coffee morning then this cake stall classic is just the thing
Prep:15 mins
Cuts into 12 slices
250g pack butter, softened250g light soft brown sugar plus 2-3 tbsp 300g self-raising flour4 eggs, beaten50g walnuts, toasted and finely chopped (a food processor is easiest), optional200ml very strong coffee (made fresh or with instant), cooled
STEP 1Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter 2 x 20cm sandwich tins and line the bottoms with greaseproof paper. Beat butter and sugar together with electric beaters until pale and creamy. Add the fl our and eggs in one go and keep beating until evenly mixed. Fold in the walnuts (if using) and half of the coffee. Spoon the mix into the prepared tins and bake for 25-30 mins or until golden and well risen.STEP 2Leave the cakes in their tins for 5 mins before turning onto a wire rack. Sweeten the remaining coffee with the extra sugar and sprinkle 4 tbsp over the sponges. Leave to cool completely.STEP 3While the cakes cool, make the frosting. Tip the mascarpone into a large bowl and beat in the sugar and remaining coffee until smooth and creamy. Use about half of the frosting to sandwich the sponges together then, using a palette or cutlery knife, spread the rest of the frosting over the top of the cake. Decorate with a dusting of cocoa powder or drinking chocolate. If you’re making this cake to eat at home, it will keep covered in the fridge for 2-3 days.
