Parma Violet Victoria Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Soak the gelatine in a bowl of cold water and set aside. Bring the cream, milk and sugar to the boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then take off the heat and add the violet essence - if you want to colour the creams, add the colourings, a tiny drop at a time, until it is as violet as you would like it. Gently squeeze the excess water from the gelatine, then stir it into the hot cream until completely dissolved. Pour into 2 glasses - martini glasses or Champagne coupes look nice - and leave to set in the fridge overnight.
• The next day, gently melt the chocolate over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave. Leave to cool a little, then gently zigzag over the top of the set cream mixture in the glasses. Return to the fridge for the chocolate to set.
• To serve, sprinkle with the crystallised roses and violets. Serve with the shortbread on the side.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 7-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper.
• Sift self-rising flour into a bowl; add sugar, margarine, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Crack in eggs. Beat with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Divide batter between the cake pans; smooth the tops with the back of a spoon.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Sift confectioners' sugar into a bowl; add butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until frosting is light and fluffy.
• Spread raspberry jam over 1 cake layer. Cover jam with frosting. Place second cake layer on top.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch springform pan.
• Sift the flour and baking powder into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in vanilla. Pour in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing until just incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• This cake can be served as is, just dusted with confectioners' sugar. Alternately, cut the cake in half horizontally and sandwich the layers together with jam or custard.