Berry and Coconut Layer Cake with Lemon Curd Cream

Grease 2 x 20cm cake tins and line the bases with baking paper.

Preheat the oven to 170˚C fan bake.  

Beat the egg yolks and ⅓ cup of the sugar until thick and pale. This will take about 5 minutes. 

Combine the coconut, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Add to the yolks along with the lemon juice and gently combine.

Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks then gradually whisk in the remaining sugar until thick and glossy.

Using a large metal spoon, fold ⅓ of the egg whites into the yolk mixture then fold in the remaining egg whites in two lots.    

Divide the mixture evenly between the tins and spread evenly.

Bake for 13-15 minutes until the sponge is pulling away from the side of the tin and is golden. Don’t over bake or the sponges will be dry. 

Cool completely in the tins. 

Filling: Stir the mascarpone and lemon curd together then fold in the cream. 

Place one sponge on a serving plate and spread with half of the cream if only using two layers. Top with berries. Place the second cake on top and spread with the remaining cream and berries, adding the flowers to garnish. Makes 1 cake

If making a 4 layered cake as in the photograph, increase the cream in the filling to 1 cup. Spread a ⅓ of the cream filling on 3 of the layers with only berries and flowers on the top layer. 

The sponges can be made 2 days ahead. Wrap well in plastic wrap and keep in an airtight container.