Strawberry Blueberry Layer Cake with Whipped White Chocolate Ganache
This strawberry blueberry layer cake combines four soft sponge cake layers with fresh strawberry and blueberry purée and fluffy whipped white chocolate ganache. The combination of sweet berries and light whipped white chocolate ganache creates a fresh, elegant cake that's perfect for birthdays, celebrations, and summer parties. Although it looks like a bakery showstopper, the simple decoration and light fillings make it surprisingly approachable to make at home.
WHIPPED WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM (made the day before)
500gwhite chocolate
1literheavy cream
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
STRAWBERRY BLUEBERRY JAM (made the day before)
125gfrozen strawberries
125gfrozen blueberries
50ggranulated sugar
2teaspoonlemon juice
1teaspooncornstarch
2teaspoonwater
SPONGES
10large eggseparated
½teaspoonwhite vinegar
320ggranulated sugar
1teaspoonvanilla bean paste
320gall-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
160gheavy cream
ASSEMBLING
500gfresh mixed berries
Instructions
WHIPPED WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM
Start by melting the white chocolate. In a small saucepan, heat up the heavy cream until it starts to steam. Then pour it over the white chocolate and stir it together with a rubber spatula. Add the vanilla bean paste and with a hand blender, blend the mixture until smooth. Cover it with some cling film, so it touches the surface of the cream, and place it in the fridge for 5-6 hours until completely cold or preferably overnight.
500 g white chocolate, 1 liter heavy cream, 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
STRAWBERRY BLUEBERRY JAM
Add the strawberries, blueberries, granulated sugar and lemon juice to a saucepan and heat it up until the berries starts to break down, and the liquid has come to a bubble. Once bubbling, turn it down to a simmer. Stir occasionally and with a rubber spatula mash down the berries.
125 g frozen strawberries, 125 g frozen blueberries, 50 g granulated sugar, 2 tsp lemon juice
Let it simmer for 8 minutes or until the jam has thickened. Then in a cup mix together cornstarch and water and pour it into the jam. Continuously stir it around for 1 minute while it thickens. Take it of the heat and using a handblender, blend it until smooth.
1 tsp cornstarch, 2 tsp water
Pour the jam into a shallow bowl, covered with plastic wrap, to let it cool down faster, and place it in the fridge. Let it cool down until cold.
SPONGE
Preheat the oven to 175ºC /350ºF conventional oven. Prepare 2x 30x40 cm / 12x 16 inch sheet pans with parchment paper. Do NOT grease the sides of the pans as the batter needs to cling to the sides as it rises, which helps the sponge achieve maximum height and a light texture.
Separate the egg whites and egg yolks into two clean bowls. Add the egg whites and white vinegar to the bowl of a stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, or a hand mixer, and beat the egg whites until foamy, on medium speed, then in a slow steady stream pour in the sugar while the egg whites continue to whisk. Continue whisking at high speed until stiff peaks.
10 large egg, ½ tsp white vinegar, 320 g granulated sugar
Stir the egg yolks together and add them to the meringue together with the vanilla bean paste. Mix it together at the lowest speed until just combined.
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
Sift the all-purpose flour and salt and add it to the meringue. Mix it together at the lowest speed until just combined, it’s important not to over mix the batter.
320 g all-purpose flour, Pinch of salt
Then finally heat up the heavy cream until it starts to steam and pour it into the batter and again mix until just combined.
160 g heavy cream
Give the batter a final mix with a rubber spatula to make sure everything is combined.
Divide the cake batter into the pans and bake them for 11-12 minutes.
Once baked, immediately trace a thin knife along the edge of the pan and flip it upside down, onto a cooling rack. Flip it back around so it faces the right way up.
ASSEMBLING
Whip the ganache until medium peaks. Using a serrated knife, cut the two sponge into two so each layer is 30x20 cm. Add the first sponge layer onto your serving plate and add 2-3 tablespoon of the jam and even it out. Leave 1-2 cm around the edges so the jam doesn't spill.
Add ⅔ of the whipped white chocolate ganache to a piping bag and cut the tip off. Pip a boarder and pip as well on top of the jam, using a ⅓ of the cream in the piping bag. Using a offset spatula, even it out.
Continue the same process 3 more times. Scape down the side and add the remaining whipped white chocolate ganache that was left in the bowl. Spread it over the cake and even it out. Place it in the fridge to set.
Once ready to serve, decorate it with lots of mixed berries. This cake is great to make a day ahead of serving it as it stays soft in the fridge.