INSTANT COFFEE FOR BAKING RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan. Line and butter two 18cm sandwich tins. Add the sugar and butter to a bowl and whisk until very fluffy and pale.
• Whisk the eggs in a mug with a fork, then add them gradually to the mixture with 1 tbsp of flour each time. (Make sure you don't use all the flour.) When the eggs have been fully combined into the mix, add the rest of the flour and fold it in gently.
• Add the dissolved coffee to the mixture, still folding. Divide into the sandwich tins and cook for 25-30 min until risen and firm and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 mins then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Can be frozen at this stage.
• Meanwhile, make the icing by beating the icing sugar with the butter until light and fluffy, then add the dissolved coffee. Whisk, then cover and set aside until ready to ice the cake.
• Spread half the icing on the bottom of one sponge and spread the strawberry jam on the bottom of the other, if using. Sandwich together, then spread the remaining icing on top. Decorate with walnuts or cherries, if you like.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Grease 2 x 20cm round cake tins and line with baking parchment. Dissolve the coffee granules in 1 tbsp boiling water and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

  Meanwhile, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Using a large spoon, fold in the flour and baking powder. Stir in half the walnuts and the dissolved coffee.

  Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and springy to the touch. Remove the cakes from the tins and leave to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.

  Dissolve the coffee granules in 1 tsp boiling water. Beat together the butter and icing sugar until pale and fluffy. Stir in the coffee and mix until well combined. Use half the buttercream icing to sandwich the cakes together. Cover the top with the remaining icing and decorate with the remaining walnuts.