Apple & Gingerbread Cake

Cake:

• Separate eggs.
• Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt and add 40g of sugar, continue beating until egg whites form a peak.
• Beat egg yolks, sugar and gingerbread spices together, add in flour and baking powder.
• Gently fold in egg whites.
• Place cake mixture in a baking tray (22cm in diameter).
• Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C for about 20 minutes.
• Allow to cool and slice evenly into two layers.
• Lightly drizzle on liqueur.

Apple Cream filling:

• Peel, core and dice apples, sprinkle with lemon juice.
• Place 50ml apple juice and sugar in a saucepan and cook for 5 minutes until mixture has dissolved.
• Mix icing powder together with remaining juice.
• Add in the diced apple, allow to boil, continue stirring and allow to cool.
• Spread on top of the bottom layer of the cake, then place the top layer on top.

Gingerbread Cream Filling:

• Beat icing sugar, gingerbread spice and whipped cream together until stiff.
• Decorate with a layer of cream all over the cake, use a piping bag to pipe flower shapes and sprinkle decorative sugar.

Christmas Tree Decoration:

• Break up white chocolate, melt over a hot water and place in a piping bag.
• Make at least 12 trees.
• Decorate with green coloured sugar and let it set.
• Place chocolate christmas trees around the cake.

Tip:

• The cake can be baked the day before.
• You can also make the christmas trees 1-2 days in advance, keep them cool and in a dry area.