Molly Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Place the dates in a saucepan, and add the water. Bring the mixture to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
• Sieve the plain flour, wholemeal flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Add the mixed spice and cinnamon.
• Pour the wet date mixture into the dry mix, then add the dried fruit and the orange juice. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until well combined.
• Spoon the mixture into a greasproof paper-lined loaf tin, or divide it between 6 smaller tins. Bake for 40-45 minutes if making one large loaf, or 30 minutes for the mini mollies. A skewer stuck in the centre of the cake should come out clean.
• Leave the cake to cool on a wire rack for at least an hour. To make the iced topping (if using), melt the jam and water together in the microwave. Add wet mixture to the icing sugar, and stir well. Drizzle over the cake, and sprinkle the chopped apricots and cherries on the top. Alternatively, decorate with ready to roll icing, cut into shapes.

Steps:

• Set an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• To make the cake: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat together the eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, if needed. Beat in the water. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Gradually sift in the flour and baking powder and fold together with a rubber spatula until just combined. Transfer to the cake pan and bake until the center springs back when you poke it; 1 hour to1 hour and15 minutes. Cool in the pan.
• To assemble the cake: Once the cake is cooled, slice in half crosswise. Place the bottom of the cake cut-side up on a cake round or directly onto a cake stand or serving platter. Spread whipped cream on top and dot with a layer of sugared cranberries. Place the remaining half of the cake on top, cut-side down. Spread the whipped cream on the top and sides of the cake to cover. Decorate the top of the cake with remaining cranberries and a few sprigs of rosemary.
• In a large mixing bowl with a hand-mixer, or in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla to medium-stiff peaks.
• Just before assembling the cake, combine cranberries and sugar in a bowl and toss to coat.

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease two 8-inch cake pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, coconut oil and granulated sugar. Cream together on medium speed, scraping the bottom and sides with a rubber spatula as needed, until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. With the mixer running, add the eggs, one at a time, beating each until fully incorporated. Add the food coloring, vanilla and vinegar and mix to combine. Add the dry ingredients and buttermilk in 2 to 3 alternating additions and beat until just combined. Divide the batter between the cake pans, spreading it out evenly.
• Bake until the sides of the cakes start to pull away from the pans and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes in the pans, then invert onto racks and let cool completely.
• Trim the top of each cake layer to make a flat surface. Place the bottom cake layer on a turntable or something easy to rotate. Dollop about a third of the Frosting on the cake layer and spread with an offset spatula in an even layer to the edge. Top with the second cake layer, cut-side down. Frost the sides and top, then decorate with chopped pistachios or sprinkles as desired. Use icing gel to write "Happy Birthday," if desired.
• Cream together the butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, salt and vanilla and whip, scraping down the sides as necessary, until combined, light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes.

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 170oC/Gas Mark 3 and line 2 loaf tins with baking parchment (this will make two flattish cakes, for a full-sized cake use just one tin).
• Put the dates and water in a pan and bring to the boil. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
• Sieve the plain flour, baking powder and mixed spice into a bowl. Add the wholemeal flour, mixed fruit and ground almonds. Stir to combine. Stir in the wet date mixture and the orange juice. Mix well.
• Spoon into the tin(s). Bake for 50 minutes (170C / gas mark 3) or until a skewer comes out clean. Turn out onto a wire rack and cool.
• Serve in slices with a nice cup of tea.