Prep time:

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Total time:

Serves: 12

For the cake:

225g unsalted butter, softened

225g caster sugar

4 large eggs

200g self-raising flour

75g finely ground pistachios

1tsp baking powder

1 finely grated zest of 1 lemon

2tbsp milk

For the rose, honey & lemon drizzle:

1 juice of a lemon

2tbsp honey

2tbsp rosewater (or dilute1 tsp with a tbsp water if using rose essence)

For the filling:

250g mascarpone

2tbsp sifted icing sugar

½tsp vanilla extract

4 ripe peaches, diced into small pieces

2tbsp peach or apricot jam

To decorate:

50g pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped

dried edible rose petals

This is an end of summer take on a Victoria sandwich, using peaches and mascarpone instead of jam and cream. Rose and lemon drizzle keeps the cake moist and rich, while pistachios add colour and a luxurious crunch.

1. Preheat oven to 160°C (fan), gas 4. Grease and line 2 x 8-inch (20cm) sandwich tins.

2. Cream butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Beat in 3 of the eggs carefully, beating in between each egg to stop the mixture curdling. Fold in the rest of the ingredients, adding the milk a little at a time until the batter is a stiff dropping consistency.

3. Divide equal amounts into the baking trays and bake in the centre of the oven for approximately 25 minutes – until golden and springy to the touch.

4. While the cake is baking, make the drizzle by adding all the ingredients into a small pan and heating to a simmer. Once the cake is baked but still hot, prick with a cocktail stick and brush the drizzle over the cake (this helps the sponge absorb the drizzle). Leave to cool.

5. Whip the vanilla, mascarpone and icing sugar until the mascarpone thickens (be careful not to over whip or it will split). Once the cake is cool, spread the bottom layer with jam and then the mascarpone, spoon on the peaches and sandwich with the top layer of cake. 

6. Decorate with chopped, toasted pistachios and dried rose petals.

Shot on location in Jo Arnell’s glorious garden in Woodchurch, Kent. Find out more about her gardening courses and workshops at hornbrookmanor.co.uk

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether

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