Sunday, June 3, 2012

Fruity Flag Traybake for the Jubilee

The nation is awash with patriotism this weekend...it's great to see all the decorations, celebrations and everyone enjoying themselves!!

Even if you're not a Royalist, it really is an excuse for a get together and a party. On Friday afternoon it was great to have Jubilee picnic at work. There was celebratory food, egg and spoon and sack races and even a visit from Wenlock the Olympic mascot...a great time was had by all.
I made this Union Jack traybake for the occasion. I think quite a few people might have baked this one for the Jubilee as it's so simple but stunningly effective...and if you haven't seen it, it's on the cover of this month's BBC GoodFood Magazine! I just couldn't resist. It's a special recipe by Mary Berry for the Jubilee.
The sponge itself has the zest of two lemons along with Greek yoghurt and ground almonds. It was deliciously moist and light and when combined with the succulent berries and buttercream, it amounted to the perfect combination!
I hope you're enjoying the Jubilee celebrations...roll on Euro 2012 and the Olympics...more excuses to fly the flag and have a party! :-)

Ingredients
100g butter
175g self-raising flour
50g ground almonds
2tsp baking powder
4 large eggs
225g caster sugar
125ml full-fat Greek yogurt
Zest of 2 lemons

Buttercream

175g butter
350g icing sugar

300g raspberries
175g blueberries

 Preheat your oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4. Then butter and line a 30 x 20cm tin. I only had a 21 x 28cm tin and it worked just as well, so if you've got something of a similar size, it would be fine to use that.

It really is simple to make, literally tip all the sponge ingredients into a large bowl and mix using smooth. It's best to use an electric hand whisk. The sponge then needs to be baked for 25-30 minutes until it is springy and a skewer comes out clean. You should then cool your cake on a wire rack out of the tin.

To decorate, whisk up the butter and icing sugar (preferable sifted) until lovely and fluffy. This can then be spread over the cold cake. For the crowning glory (sorry bad joke) top the cake with the raspberries and blueberries. Place a double row of raspberries from top to bottom and side to side, and then a single row diagonally out to each corner. Then just fill in the gaps with blueberries. Enjoy whilst singing 'God Save the Queen' :-)

17 comments:

  1. This looks seriously delish Laura - your raspberries are enormous! I'm sure all your colleagues loved it too!

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  2. Wonderful!! I am really impressed by this and must be very yummy too!

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  3. You can't go wrong with a sponge cake - particularly such a gloriously patriotic one!

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  4. haha!!! I made exactly the same cake today! It's a good 'en!x

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  5. Ha ha...I did think there would be quite a lot people making this one...but as you say definitely a good 'en! :-)

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  6. I love flag cakes made with berries! I would love for you to you link it up to our Fabulous Friday Party, Laura. It's a showstopper!

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  7. What a brilliant looking cake, such simple decoration but really effective. Wish I had kept my raspberries and blueberries to do this cake now!

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  8. What a brilliant combination to make this fantastic looking Jubilee cake! Everything used to make this cake is all fresh ingredients with no artificial colouring used :D

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  9. Gorgeous cake Laura. Bet your work colleagues were impressed. It looks perfect and just right for a Jubilee picnic. :)

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  10. I love the Greek yogurt addition into your ingredients. I use yogurt in almost everything! Colorful dessert! Yummy recipe.

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  11. you guys are making me green with envy with your wonderful vast selection of berries. in my part of the world, these are very expensive. love your cake.

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  12. Love your cake and... love berries! Bet your collegues liked it.

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  13. Awesome cake - didn't quite get round to making one myself as I made cupcakes instead. Hope you're having a good weekend :)

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  14. Perfect cake for the occasion... I love all the fresh fruit.

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  15. I saw one like this on the BBC good food and thought it looked great and you have done a fantastic cake just like it - coincidence or not its amazing!

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