Passion Fruit Sponge Food

A CLASSIC SPONGE CAKE (WITH PASSION-FRUIT FILLING)

Steps:

• Take a very large mixing bowl, put the flour and baking powder in a sieve and sift it into the bowl, holding the sieve high to give it a good airing as it goes down. Now all you do is simply add all the other cake ingredients (except the icing sugar) to the bowl and, provided the butter is really soft, just go in with an electric hand whisk and whisk everything together until you have a smooth, well-combined mixture, which will take about 1 minute. If you don't have an electric hand whisk, you can use a wooden spoon, using a little bit more effort. What you will now end up with is a mixture that drops off a spoon when you give it a tap on the side of the bowl. If it seems a little too stiff, add a little water and mix again. Now divide the mixture between the 2 tins, level it out and place the tins on the centre shelf of the oven. The cakes will take 30-35 minutes to cook, but don't open the oven door until 30 minutes have elapsed. To test whether the cakes are cooked or not, touch the centre of each lightly with a finger: if it leaves no impression and the sponges spring back, they are ready. Next, remove them from the oven, then wait about 5 minutes before turning them out on to a wire cooling rack. Carefully peel off the base papers, which is easier if you make a fold in the paper first, then pull it gently away without trying to lift it off. Now leave the sponges to get completely cold, then add the filling. To make this, first slice the passion fruit into halves and, using a teaspoon, scoop all the flesh, juice and seeds into a bowl. Next, in another bowl, combine the mascarpone, fromage frais, sugar and vanilla extract, using a balloon whisk, which is the quickest way to blend them all together. After that, fold in about two-thirds of the passion fruit. Now place the first sponge cake on the plate or cake stand you are going to serve it on, then spread half the filling over it, drizzle the rest of the passion fruit over that, then spread the remaining filling over the passion fruit. Lastly, place the other cake on top, press it gently so that the filling oozes out at the edges, then dust the surface with a little sifted icing sugar.

MANGO & PASSION FRUIT ROULADE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Grease and line a 30 x 24cm Swiss roll tin with nonstick paper. Put the eggs and sugar into a large bowl and beat with electric beaters until thick and light, about 5 mins. Fold in the flour and baking powder, then the vanilla. Tip into the tin, tilt to level the mix, then bake for 12-15 mins until golden and just springy. Turn onto another sheet of paper, dusted with 1 tbsp caster sugar. Roll the paper up inside the sponge, then leave to cool completely. Sponge can be frozen for up to 1 month.
• Fold sugar, passion fruit pulp and one-third of the mango and raspberries into the yogurt. Unroll the sponge, spread with filling, then roll up. Serve with the rest of the fruit on the side. Roulade can be filled and rolled up to 2 hrs before serving and kept in the fridge.

ORANGE & PASSION FRUIT TRAYBAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line a 20 x 24cm cake tin with baking parchment. Cream the margarine or butter with the caster sugar using an electric whisk until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Sieve in the flour and fold it in. Add the orange zest and juice, fold that in as well, then pour into the prepared tin, smoothing over the top. Bake for 25 mins until golden. A skewer should come out clean when inserted in the middle.
• Remove the cake from the oven, leave for 5 mins, then remove from the tin, peel away the parchment and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make the topping by mixing the mascarpone, icing sugar, orange juice and vanilla until smooth. Cut open the passion fruit, scoop out the seeds, then add half to the mix, reserving the rest.
• Use a palette knife to spread the topping over the cooled cake, then drizzle over the remaining passion fruit seeds.

PASSION CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the bases of 3 x 20cm sandwich tins with baking parchment. Mix the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, half the sugar and the coconut in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl mix the beaten whole eggs, mashed bananas, grated carrot, drained crushed pineapple, milk and oil. Beat the egg whites until stiff, then add the remaining sugar and beat until stiff and shiny again.
• Stir the wet mixture into the dry until smooth and lump-free, then using a large metal spoon or spatula, fold in the egg white mixture. Divide evenly between the tins and bake for 25 mins until risen and a skewer comes out clean. You might need to swap the position of the tins after 20 mins.
• For the drizzle, scoop out the passion fruit pulp into a small pan. Add the pineapple juice and caster sugar and heat until bubbling, then bubble until syrupy. For the icing, beat the cheese and butter until lump-free, then beat in icing sugar and vanilla. Chill until ready to assemble.
• Poke the cakes all over with a skewer, drizzle over most of the passion syrup, then cool. Once cool, spread the icing over two of the sponges. Sandwich together and top with the third, un-iced, sponge. Drizzle over the remaining syrup.

PASSION FRUIT & LEMON SELF-SAUCING PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and butter a deep baking dish (about 20 x 30cm and 5cm deep). Tip the flour, baking powder, sugar, lemon zest and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Put the melted butter, milk, eggs and passion fruit pulp in a jug and whisk together. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix together using a spatula until you have a smooth batter. Pour the batter into the prepared dish.
• For the sauce, whisk the sugar, lemon juice, passion fruit pulp and lemon curd together in a heatproof bowl with 300ml boiling water from the kettle. Carefully pour the sauce directly over the batter in the dish, then bake for 40-45 mins until the top is set and golden, and the sauce is bubbling up at the edges. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.