BEAUTIFUL FOOD

EASY AND DELICIOUS FOOD TO SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

- 

Party PIECES

No matter what the special occasion is, these stunning showstopper cakes step up to the plate to say "let's celebrate"

RECIPES JESSICA BROOK STYLING STEVE PEARCE PHOTOGRAPHY CON POULOS

Mocha meringue vertical layer cake

SERVES 12

• 8 eggs

• ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1¼ cups (185g) plain flour

• ½ cup (50g) Dutch cocoa powder, plus extra to dust

• A pinch of salt

Mascarpone cream

• 2 tbsp instant coffee granules

• 1 tbsp boiling water

• 1kg mascarpone cream cheese

• 1¼ cups (310ml) single cream

• ¾ cup (120g) icing sugar, sifted

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Italian meringue

• ⅓ cup (80ml) water

• ½ tsp cream of tartar

• 2 cups (440g) caster sugar

• 150ml eggwhite (about 4 eggs)

Prep 1 hour, plus refrigerating Cooking 20 minutes

1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Lightly grease and line 2 x 30cm x 40cm baking trays with nonstick baking paper.

2 Place eggs, sugar and vanilla in bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk for 8 minutes, or until tripled in volume. Sift over flour, cocoa and salt and fold to just combine. Make sure not to overmix.

3 Divide between baking trays, spreading evenly. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

4 While cakes are baking, dust 2 x 50cm long sheets of baking paper heavily with cocoa powder. Flip the warm cakes onto the baking paper and peel off the sheet of baking paper it was baked on.