Strawberry & elderflower gateau

Make this stunning strawberry and elderflower gateau in just 30 minutes. As well as looking amazing, it tastes as good as anything from a top-end patisserie

Prep:30 mins
No cook

Serves 10
Easy

Nutrition per serving

kcal 625
fat 44g
saturates 25g
carbs 52g
sugars 41g
fibre 2g
protein 4g
salt 0.3g

Ingredients

2 x 200g sponge flan cases(25cm)
6 tbsp strawberry jamor conserve
400g strawberries(look for ones that are a similar size), halved
600ml double cream
2 tbsp icing sugar, plus 150g
5 tbsp elderflower cordial
5-6 raspberriesor some pink food colouring gel
small handful pistachios(optional), slivered or roughly chopped (see tip)
strawberry coulisor cream, to serve

Tip

Prepare the pistachios

Slivered pistachios are blanched, peeled and thinly sliced. They have a vibrant colour but taste the same as regular shelled pistachios. You can usually find them in Middle Eastern shops or online at souschef.co.uk. To prepare your own, pour boiling water over shelled pistachios and leave to soak for 10 mins. Drain and tip onto a tea towel. Rub between the towel to remove the skins and reveal the lovely green colour underneath. Finely slice lengthways.

Method

Remove the base of a 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin (make sure it’s a deep one) and use it as a template to cut out a circle from each flan case. Chop the offcuts from the flans into small pieces and set aside. Reassemble the tin and line it with a couple of sheets of cling film, leaving enough overhanging to wrap up once the tin is filled.
Put one flan disc in the base of the tin and spread over half the jam. Arrange the strawberries around the outside with the cut surface facing outwards. If you have any particularly large or small strawberries, put them to one side.
Whip the cream, 2 tbsp icing sugar and 3 tbsp elderflower cordial together in a bowl until the mixture holds its shape. Chop the reserved strawberries, then fold them into the cream mixture. Use half of the cream to fill the centre of the gateau, spreading right to the edges so it holds the strawberries in place.
Push a single layer of the chopped flan offcuts into the cream (you may have some leftovers to nibble on), and drizzle over the remaining elderflower cordial. Stir the remaining jam through the rest of the cream, spread it over the flan pieces, and top with the final piece of flan. Fold over the cling film and give the gateau a gentle press down to compact the layers. Chill while you make the icing. Can be chilled for up to 24 hrs.
Crush the raspberries with the back of a fork and stir in the 150g icing sugar to make a thick icing. Add a splash of water if it’s too thick. Alternatively, add enough water to the icing sugar to make a thick icing, then stir in a few drops of pink food colouring.
When you’re ready to serve, remove the cake from the tin and discard the cling film, then transfer to a cake stand. Spread the icing right to the edges, then scatter the pistachios in a ring around the top, if using, and serve with a little strawberry coulis or cream on the side, if you like.