Vanilla sponge with strawberry mascarpone Gateau - Celebration continues..

Yet another cake for my son's birthday celebration in his kindergarten. I followed Ria's lace border technique for this cake & it came out absolutely perfect. Everyone is surprised to believe it's a homemade cake. It looks really cute & taste simply delicious. Happy to see my son had fun with his friends & teachers arround. Happy Birthday to U my dear :)

Ingredients :

For the sponge :

1. Eggs - 4 nos (Medium)
2. Sugar - 150 gms
3. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
4. All purpose flour - 100 gms
5. Baking powder - 1 tsp
6. Cornflour - 50 gms

For the Marcarpone filling :

1. Mascarpone - 100 gms
2. Whipping cream - 200 ml
3. Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
4. Icing / Powdered sugar - 3 to 4 tbsp (to ur sweet tooth)
5. Sliced strawberries

For the lace border :

1. Semi-sweet or Milk chocolate - 1 bar
2. Caramalized almond flakes for decorating
3. Chocolate flakes for decorating
4. Sliced strawberries for decorating

Method :

For the sponge :

1. Grease the baking pan & preheat the oven about 180 C.

2. Put eggs in a mixing bowl and whisk until foamy. Mix together the sugar & vanilla essence.

3. Mix together the flour, baking powder & cornflour & whisk into the egg mixture on the lowest setting. Transfer the sponge into the greased baking pan & bake it for 25 mins or until done.

4. Allow the cake to cool & cut them horizantally into three layers.

To make the Mascarpone filling :

5. Combine together the mascarpone cheese, whipping cream, vanilla essence & icing sugar. Whisk the cream to almost stiff.

For Lace border :

6. Melt the chocolate & transfer it to the piping bag. Measure the cake & cut the parchment paper accordingly. Now create your design & pattern over the parchment paper. Allow it to set for a while.

Arranging the cake :

7. Put the bottom layer on a cake platter, spread the mascarpone filling on top, then put the next layer on top, press down lightly and spread the filling & arrange the sliced strawberries on it. Finally, put the top layer on top & press lightly.

8. Now coat the top and sides of the cake with a thin, even layer of the cream.

9. Decorate the almond flakes, sliced strawberries & chocolate flakes on the cake.

10. Before the chocolate becomes hard wrap the chocolate lace border arround the cake & refrigerate it. Gently peel the parchment paper once set.

Happy baking :)

Source: Cooking With Swapna