BIRTHDAY CAKE 35 RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round baking pans. Set aside.
• Combine flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in bowl. Set aside.
• Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar and 3/4 cup butter in another bowl at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla; mix well. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating at low speed after each addition just until mixed.
• Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Place onto cooling racks; cool 10 minutes. Loosen cake by running knife around inside edge of pans. Carefully remove cake from pans; cool completely.
• Beat 3/4 cup butter in bowl at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt alternately with whipping cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate, bottom-side up; frost top. Place remaining cake layer over frosting, bottom-side down; frost top and sides of cake. Decorate as desired.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two round 20cm springform cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl until smooth. Sieve the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another large bowl, then gradually mix in the wet ingredients.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 35-40 mins until the cakes are risen and spring back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the raspberry layer, stir the jam and the defrosted raspberries together. Once the cakes are cool, whip the cream with the sugar to soft peaks, then gently fold half the raspberry mixture through the cream to create a ripple effect.
• Spoon most of the reserved raspberry mixture over one of the cakes, then dollop on half of the cream. Smooth over with a palette knife, then place the other sponge on top. Swirl over the remaining cream and swirl the last of the raspberry mixture through it. Will keep in the fridge for two days.