Vanilla Layer Cake with Passionfruit Curd

Method

Passionfruit Curd:

1. To make curd, whisk yolks, sugar and cornflour in a medium saucepan until combined. Whisk in juice, passionfruit pulp and 1/3 cup water. Whisk constantly over a medium heat until boiling and thickened. Remove from heat. Whisk in Fairy Margarine, until thick and glossy. Transfer to a bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until cold.

Vanilla Cake

1. Preheat oven 180°C/ 160°C (fan forced) and grease a 20cm round cake pan. Line base and side with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above pan edges.
2. Beat Fairy Margarine, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Mixture may look curdled at this stage.
3. Add milk and sifted flour, in two batches, folding until combined. Spoon into prepared pan. Smooth over top.
4. Cook 45-50 minutes, or until lightly golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove. Stand in pan 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

To Assemble:

1. Beat cream, sugar and vanilla in a, clean bowl of electric mixer until soft peaks form.
2. Split cake in half horizontally. Spread base of cake with half the cream then spoon over ½ cup of the passionfruit curd. Sandwich with remaining cake. Repeat with remaining cream and curd.
3. Sprinkle with toasted coconut chips. Serve with remaining passionfruit curd.

TIP: You will need approx. 6 passionfruit for this recipe. You can replace fresh pulp easily with the same amount of canned passionfruit pulp. Available in 170g cans at supermarkets, however the canned pulp contains sugar. If the resulting curd is then too sweet, increase the lemon juice by 1-2 tsp or to taste. The remaining pulp can be frozen in a zip lock bag for 3 months or one week in the fridge.