Bbc Food Ginger Sponge Cake

SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, butter and line the base of two 20cm spring-form cake tins with baking parchment.
• Using an electric whisk beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Crack the eggs in one at a time and whisk well, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the lemon zest, vanilla, flour, milk and a pinch of salt. Whisk until just combined then divide the mixture between the two tins.
• Bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean. After 10 mins remove the cakes from their tins and leave to cool completely on a wire rack. Fill how you like. My personal favourite is a good dollop of lemon curd and some fresh cream, then dust the top with icing sugar. Will keep for 3 days.

JAMAICAN GINGER SPONGE PUDDING

Steps:

• Butter a 1.2-litre pudding basin, then press a disc of baking parchment into the base. Heat 4cm water in a heavy-based pan and add a trivet or upturned bowl or saucer to the base.
• Sieve the flour, baking powder and bicarb into a large bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, ginger, allspice, cinnamon and ½ tsp fine salt and stir everything together. Wrap the end of the frozen butter in foil and, holding it by the foil end, coarsely grate the butter into the dry ingredients. Unwrap and discard the foil to grate the last piece. Fold everything together so the butter is evenly distributed. Mix in the stem ginger, eggs, treacle, sugar and milk. Spoon into the pudding basin, leaving a small gap for the sponge to rise, and cover with a disc of parchment. Seal the pudding basin with a tight-fitting lid or a double layer of foil, sealed tightly around the basin and tied with cook's string. Set on top of the trivet, cover with a lid and steam for 3 hrs, topping up with water so it doesn't boil dry.
• Pour the syrup into a shallow frying pan, bring to the boil and cook until the syrup is turning a deep golden brown. Quickly whisk in the rum and butter, then whisk in the cream and bubble for 2 mins. Gently tip the sponge pudding out of its basin and onto a serving plate. Pour over the rum sauce and serve with thick cream or vanilla ice cream, if you like.

BLUEBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Butter a 22cm cake tin, line the bottom with baking parchment. Put a third of the frozen blueberries aside, sprinkle the rest with flour, set aside (do not defrost).
• In a large bowl, beat the sugar and eggs until smooth, add the vegetable oil, lemon zest and juice and yogurt. Combine the wet ingredients with the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt using a whisk. Don't worry if a few lumps remain. Add the blueberries mixed with flour.
• Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin. Sprinkle the remaining berries on top. Put the tin in the oven, reduce the temperature to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Bake for 1 hr 10 mins-1hr 20 mins or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. After removing from the baking tin, sprinkle the cake with icing sugar, if you like.