Lemon Olive Oil Sponge, Lemon Whipped Cream, Blackberry Honey Filling

I was eager to bake something fresh and delicious that tastes and looks impressive - this recipe is exactly that. It’s easy to follow, with perfect results. The lemon flavours are balanced and not overpowering and pair gorgeously with the naturally sweet blackberry and honey notes.

Olive oil is the secret to an ultra-moist and tender crumb without the heaviness of butter. Its natural emulsifying properties help trap air in the batter, resulting in a fluffier, lighter cake that stays soft for days. Plus, a good brand of olive oil adds a subtle fruitiness that pairs beautifully with berries! It’s what makes this cake so delicate and moist, it stays tasing fresh for up to 4 days.

The recipe uses whipped egg-whites to achieve the airiest crumb that’s unbelievably moist and fluffy. If you have never attempted a layer cake before - do not be daunted! They are surprisingly simple to make. The layers require minimal oven time, use no complicated techniques, and the naturally vibrant colour from the fruit is guaranteed to impress - it looks like much more effort than it actually is!

For the compote you can use any type of tart summer berry available to you. The recipe calls for blackberries, however strawberries, raspberries, cherries, or blueberries would also work beautifully here.

The cream is only gently lemon-flavoured because I wanted the blackberries natural sweetness to shine and complement the cake. If you prefer a more intense lemon flavoured cream, feel free to add 3-4 tbsp of lemon curd whilst whipping the cream to medium-soft peaks.

It’s essential to have your tins greased and lines, oven fully pre-heated, and all your ingredients measured and ready to use so you can work fast from step 7 onward. Once the buttermilk and lemon juice meet the bicarb in the flour, the chemical reactions for the baking process starts immediately and you have maybe 5–7 minutes to get it in the oven, otherwise you risk a dense and flat cake!

As always, read through the full recipe, and ensure your dairy products and eggs are room temperature before you start, so everything comes together smoothly!

Let’s begin…