Ombre Vanilla Dream Cake with strawberry balsamic jam

I've spent years trying to bake the perfect vegan vanilla sponge cake. A classic cake that is light and airy, with a delicate sweet flavour. You'll find all of the ingredients in your store cupboard- not an egg-replacer in sight! This is my go-to recipe that never fails.... and looks fantastic with some special decoration.

     

The delicate flavour of the sponge allows for the showcase of a beautiful jam layer. This 'cheats' homemade jam is simple to make. The exciting combination of strawberry and balsamic vinegar is a flavour match made in heaven. Balsamic vinegar makes the flavour of strawberries pop; if you've never tried it you're in for a wonderful surprise. 

When you've baked the perfect vanilla sponge and sandwiched it with lashings of strawberry balsamic jam, the only thing left is to turn it into a showstopper. This delicate ombre rose buttercream icing looks difficult, but it is a really simple technique that will have people believing that you're a pro! 

Pour yourself a cup of tea and cut a slice of this cake. Then sit back and smile as you hear the phrase  'I can't believe it's vegan'. Everyone needs a sweet treat now and again. 

Makes 1 medium cake 

Ingredients 

For the vanilla sponge cake: 

400g self-raising flour 

2 tsp baking powder 

200g granulated sugar 

400ml non-dairy milk (I used soya milk) 

110ml sunflower oil 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

For the strawberry balsamic jam: 

200g strawberry jam

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 

4 large ripe strawberries, chopped 

For the ombre rose buttercream: 

4 tbsp non-dairy margarine (I used Vitalite) 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

1 tsp non-dairy milk 

250g icing sugar 

1/4 tsp pink gel food colouring (I used Sugarflair- all vegan food colours) or if you avoid artificial food colours, use blended sieved strawberries for a more subtle colour. 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas Mark 4.

2. To make the sponge cake, sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl and  stir through the sugar. Pour in the soya milk, sunflower oil and vanilla extract and mix until just combined. Be careful not to over mix as this will affect the finished texture. Pour into greased 6 inch baking tins and bake in the oven for 22-24 minutes until lightly golden. Allow to cool fully before removing from the tins.

3. For the strawberry balsamic jam, heat the jam, balsamic vinegar and chopped strawberries in a pan, bring to the boil over a medium heat, reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside and allow to cool. 

4. To prepare the buttercream, mix the Vitalite, vanilla extract and soya milk in a bowl. Gradually add the icing sugar until a thick mixture is formed. Using a mixer, whisk the buttercream for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Save the pink colouring for when you are about to decorate. 

To decorate the cake: 

1. Smother one half of the sponge cake with the strawberry balsamic jam and place the other half of the sponge cake on top. 

2. Using a spatula, spread a thin layer of the buttercream all over the cake. 

3. -Add a 'closed star' shape icing tip (I used Wilton 2D) to a piping bag. 

-Add a third of the buttercream to the bag. 

-Practice the rose shape on a chopping board: starting in the middle make a tight swirl in a clockwise direction. Then make the swirl slightly larger and work outwards until you have the desired shape. Apply the same pressure on the piping bag to ensure perfect rose shapes.

-When you are confident, decorate the outer, upper layer of the cake with white roses. Return to the bowl of buttercream and add a drop of food colouring and stir to combine fully. Fill the piping bag with the light pink buttercream and repeat the roses on the upper inner layer and outer side of the cake. Return to the buttercream and add another drop of pink colouring to darken the colour, fill the piping bag and repeat the roses in the centre of the upper cake and lower outer side of the cake. 

This cake is a special entry for the PETA's Great Vegan Bake Off. Why not enter your favourite vegan bake and share yummy recipes! 

Enjoy! 

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