Torta Paradiso with Mascarpone and Blueberries
INGREDIENTS
Fresh:
- 250g mascarpone
- 200g fresh blueberries
- 1 unwaxed lemon
- 190g unsalted butter
From the storecupboard:
- 190g caster sugar + 1 tablespoon
- 175g plain flour
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- icing sugar for dusting
EQUIPMENT
- 20cm cake tin
- Baking parchment
- 2 saucepans
- Wooden spoon
- Mixing bowl
- Bowl
- Electric hand mixer
- Sieve
METHOD
PRE-HEAT THE OVEN TO 180˚C/160˚C fan/gas 4
1. GREASE
Grease a 20cm cake tin with a little butter. Line the bottom with baking parchment.2. MELT
Put the butter into a pan and place on a very low heat. When it starts to melt remove from the heat and beat lightly with a wooden spoon. You want to achieve a very soft almost runny consistency.3. BEAT
Put the butter and 190g caster sugar into a mixing bowl and beat together until creamy.4. BEAT
Break the eggs into a separate bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat lightly with a fork.5. BEAT
Slowly beat the eggs into the creamed butter and sugar.6. SIFT
Sift together the flours and baking powder. Add to the mixture a third at the time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.7. BAKE
Pour the cake mixture into the tin and bake for 30 minutes until golden and coming away from the sides.Turn the oven off and leave the cake in the oven for a further 5 minutes.
8. FILLING
Meanwhile, rinse the blueberries under running water and place in a pan with 1 tablespoon of sugar and the juice of ½ lemon. Simmer for about 5-8 minutes until the berries start to burst. Stir in the mascarpone and set aside.9. SPREAD
Turn the cake out and leave to cool on a wire rack or plate. Then slice it in half horizontally, spread the filling over one cake layer and top with the other layer. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.NOTES FROM THE COOK
- This gorgous cake looks truly impressive but is pretty simple to make. Any leftovers should be kept in the fridge wrapped in foil.
