Sweet treats

Lime, passion fruit and coconut spelt cake recipe

10-12
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Try out this easy to follow cake recipe to create a show-stopping lime, passion fruit and coconut spelt triple-layer cake. The end result will look impressive, while also being packed with magnesium and iron, thanks to the spelt flour.

Topped with edible flowers and bursting with fresh, fruity flavours, this cake is perfect for a party or making your afternoon tea break feel extra special.

Magnesium can help you sleep and survive stress, improve your mood and helps turn food into energy, while iron plays a central role in the function of our red blood cells. Without enough of it we may feel tired, dizzy and our immune system will be reduced.

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Wellbeing Wisdom

  • As well as providing a nutty flavour, the spelt flour in this cake contains magnesium and iron.

Ingredients

    For the cake

    • 250g butter
    • 250g caster sugar
    • 4 eggs
    • 250g spelt flour, sifted
    • 1 tsp baking powder, sifted
    • 100g desiccated coconut
    • 3 limes, zest and juice
    • 120ml milk

    For the curd filling

    • 120g caster sugar
    • 35g butter
    • 2 medium eggs
    • 2 limes, juice and zest
    • 2 passion fruit, juice (reserve the seeds for decoration)

    For the icing

    • 300g golden icing sugar
    • 150g butter
    • 2 passion fruit, juice (reserve the seeds for decoration)
    • 30ml coconut cream (optional)

    To decorate

    • Reserved passion fruit seeds
    • 1 lime, zest
    • 30g coconut flakes, toasted
    • Edible flowers (optional)

    Method

    1. Grease and line the bottom and sides of a 20cm spring-form cake tin. Preheat the oven to 180ᵒC/350ᵒF/gas mark 4.
    2. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Whisk in the eggs one by one, then fold in the spelt flour and baking powder. Add the desiccated coconut, zest and juice from the limes, and the milk. Stir until just combined. It should not be stiff or runny but have a soft dropping consistency. Spoon into the prepared cake tin and level out the top. Bake in the oven for around an hour until risen, golden and slightly cracked on top. You know it’s ready when a skewer comes out clean from the middle of the cake. Leave to cool for a few minutes before removing from the tin.
    3. While the cake is baking, make the curd filling. Put the caster sugar, butter, eggs, lime zest and juice, and the passion fruit juice into a heat-proof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk the mixture continuously until it becomes thick and coats the back of a spoon. This will take 15-20 minutes. Don’t stop whisking or take your eye off it, as it can curdle easily if the mixture gets too hot; too little heat and it won’t thicken at all. Once the mixture has thickened, strain it through a sieve and refrigerate until you are ready to decorate the cake.
    4. To make the icing, beat together the golden icing sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the passion fruit juice and coconut cream (if you are using it) and continue to beat until whipped and smooth.
    5. To decorate, slice the cooled cake into three equal layers. Spread the curd in between each layer then spread the icing all over the top and sides of the whole cake. Smooth the surfaces with a palette knife, then decorate with the lime zest, toasted coconut flakes, edible flowers (if using) and reserved seeds from the passion fruit.