Raspberry & Lemon Spring / Easter Cake

• 300 g caster sugar
• 350 g butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons almond essence
• 6 medium eggs, beaten
• 150 g ground almonds
• 300 g self raising flour
• 4 lemons, zest of, grated (optional)
• 150 g icing sugar
• 4 tablespoons lemon juice
• 300 ml double cream
• 150 g lemon curd
• 200 raspberries
• 300 g royal icing sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• yellow food coloring
• mini chocolate egg (optional)
• fresh edible flower (optional)
• raspberries (optional)
• strawberry (optional)
• rose petal (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F Grease & flour two 20cm / 8" cake tins.
2. Beat the sugar, butter & almond extract until pale & fluffy.
3. Gradually the egg, then fold in the ground almonds, flour, lemon zest & juice.
4. Spoon into the tins, smooth the top & bakes for 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the cake.
5. Make a drizzle by mixing the icing sugar& lemon juice together.
6. When the cake comes out of the oven, turn out onto a cooling rack set over a plate.
7. Prick the cakes all over with a skewer & drizzle the syrup over.
8. Set aside to cool/.
9. Whip the cream & fold in the lemon curd.
10. Set one cake on a plate, level the top if necessary & spoon the filling over the top.
11. Sprinkle with the raspeberries & set the other cake on the top.
12. Set aside.
13. To make the icing, mix the lemon juice & icing sugar to make a spoonable thick paste.
14. Use a few drops of colouring to get a nice pastel yellow colour & spoon evenly all over the top of the cake & round the sides.
15. Run a pallet knife round the sides to neaten them up & make sure the icing is evenly distributed.
16. Top with your choice of decorations - chocolate mini eggs, fresh fruit, flowers etc.

caster sugar, butter, almond essence, eggs, ground almonds, flour, lemons, icing sugar, lemon juice, cream, lemon curd, raspberries, royal icing sugar, lemon juice, yellow food coloring, chocolate egg, edible flower, raspberries, strawberry

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/raspberry-lemon-spring-easter-cake-293401 (may not work)