Serves 18
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 40-45 minutes
To decorate: 40 minutes
What you need
350 g (12 oz) soft margarine
350 g (12 oz) caster sugar
450 g (1 lb) self-raising flour
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
6 medium eggs, beaten
Grated rind 2 lemons
Juice of 1 lemon
Red and blue paste food colouring, optional
To decorate
350 g (12 oz) butter, at room temperature
675 g (11/2 lb) icing sugar, plus a little extra, no need to sift
Juice of 1 lemon
200 g (7 oz) white ready to roll icing
250 g (9 oz) blueberries
150 g (5 oz) raspberries
225 g (8 oz) baby strawberries with green hulls still on
Method
1.Preheat the oven to 180oC/fan 160oC/Gas Mark 4. Line the base and sides of a 30 x 20 x 5 cm/12 x 8 x 2 inch rectangular cake tin (or roasting tin with the same base measurement) with a large piece of non-stick baking paper, snip diagonally into the corners then press the paper into the tin so that the base and sides are lined and the paper stands a little above the top of the tin sides.
2. Cream the soft margarine and sugar together in a bowl or food processor until light and fluffy. Mix the flour and baking powder together then gradually mix in alternate spoonfuls of egg then flour until both have all been added and the mixture is smooth.
3. Stir in the lemon rind and lemon juice until the mixture is a soft dropping consistency. Spoon the cake mixture into the lined tin, or for a patriotic red, white and blue marble cake, spoon half the cake mixture into the lined tin. Then divide the remaining cake mixture between two bowls, colour one half red, the remainder blue. Add spoonfuls of the coloured mixtures to the lined tin then swirl together with a small knife.
4.Bake for 40-45 minutes until the cake is well risen, golden brown and a skewer comes out cleanly when inserted into the centre of the cake. Leave to cool for a few minutes then invert the cake on to a wire rack, remove the tin and leave to cool.
5 To make the buttercream, beat the butter and one third of the icing sugar together in a bowl or food processor until smooth. Gradually beat in the remaining icing sugar and lemon juice until light and fluffy. Cover and keep at room temperature until ready to use.
6 Peel the paper off the cake, turn the cake over and trim the top level if needed. Cut in half then sandwich back together with a thin layer of buttercream. Put top down on a large plate, tray or cake board.
7 Spread a very thin layer of buttercream over the outside of the cake to stick the crumbs in place then spread a thicker layer all over the cake and smooth with a palette knife, reserving a couple of tablespoons for piping later.
8 Knead the ready to roll icing to soften then roll out half into a long strip on a work surface lightly dusted with sifted icing sugar. Trim to make 2, 4 cm (11/2 inch) wide strips long enough to make a cross over the centre of the cake then trim the ends level with the edges of the cake. Mix the trimmings with the remaining icing then roll out and cut two long strips about 2.5 cm (1 inches) wide and long enough to go diagonally from corner to corner of the cake, trimming the strips to sit flush with the wider white cross, see step pic.
9 Arrange the blueberries between the strips of white ready to roll icing, see step pic. Spoon the remaining buttercream into a paper or plastic piping bag, snip off the tip then pipe dots on to the diagonal white strips and arrange the raspberries in lines on top. Add dots of icing over the central cross and stick the whole strawberries in place. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tip: to help you get ahead, the undecorated cake can be frozen wrapped in foil, take out the morning of the party and allow to defrost at room temperature for 3-4 hours.

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Yummy that is amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up :)
DeleteHope you don't mind I've lab'd it
ReplyDeleteHope you get to make it,let me know if you do :)
DeleteWowwwwww
ReplyDeleteThis is a GORGEOUS cake!! Just love it
Thanks for hosting another party
and btw - I'm glad you're back to the "old" look of your blog. It's much nicer and easier to handle(!)
thanks for linking up Winnie,I know what you mean it is much easier :)
DeleteSorry my link from my husbands iPad didn't work properly
ReplyDeleteSorry. I'm really annoyed because my pavlova is patriotic and everything! Grrr. Silly ipad!
ReplyDeleteGreat pavola :)
DeleteOMG! These looks fabulous & very creative with those fruits! A stunning cake with lovely colors! Well done, Clairejustine! LOVE IT! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment this is a guest post I wish I had made it :)
DeleteWow! What a beautiful cake Clairejustine and I am sure it is oh so-o-o delicious. I am happy to be co-hosting again. I hope you have received the email I just sent you. Have a wonderful Monday.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy,thanks so much for co hosting,hope your having a great day :)
DeleteThis cake is so pretty! I love it! It reminds me of one my sister and I always make when we happen to be together in the US for the 4th of July. Different country, same colors and same fruits. :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds great,thanks for linking up :)
DeleteYour cake looks delicious! Thanks for visiting my blog and inviting me to link up. I'm following you back from What's cooking in the burbs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up,hopping over now to see what you've linked up :)
DeleteThat looks insanely good and perfect. Which I had seen step 7 when i was trying to ice my daughter's birthday cake.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment and linking up :)
DeleteDecorazione meravigliosa!! Buon inizio settimana...ciao
ReplyDeleteHello thanks for the comment :)
DeleteThat cake looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment :)
DeleteThat cakes looks too good to cut into! Just beautiful. Found your blog this morning as I've JUST started my first blog and would love to get any advice and support on cookery blogging from you and your followers.
ReplyDeleteGreat to meet you.
Thank you Janet,thanks for joining us,have fun with your new blog :)
DeleteGorgeous cake!! Thank you for hosting (love how you remade your blog!!!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us,glad you like my new/old lay out :)
DeleteWhat a lovely cake, Claire! Almost too lovely to eat. (emphasis on almost. LOL) I love that there's lemon in the cake and the icing. It just goes so well with berries, don't you think? It would be perfect for our July 4th family cookout! I'm sharing a Greek pasta salad and homemade Greek dressing today. Thanks so much for hosting another fab Creative Monday! Hope your week ahead is an awesome one! ~Mary
ReplyDeleteThnaks Mary,it does look ( almost ) to good to eat ha ha!I can't wait to make this...wow poping over now to see your Greek pasta salad thanks for linking up :)
DeleteThat cake looks amazing! Have a lovely week:)
ReplyDelete~Anne
Thanks for the comment,have a great week :)
DeleteI must learn more about "Diamond Jubilee". I have been seeing all the celebratory items from my friends across the ocean but I wasn't sure what it is. I will be checking up on it:) Thank you for hosting an amazing party and I am so loving that cake.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us,going to see what you have shared :)
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, delicious looking cake! Thank you so much for hosting. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up :)
DeleteWow that cake looks beautiful! Those strawberries looks too perfect to be real!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the party!
Thanks for the commnet :) great to see you have linked up hoping over now to see what you've been up to :)
DeleteHi Clairejustine: I managed to make it over and link up, but I have to shut down and I'm shipping my computer in, sadly I'll be without my baby for 2 weeks. So, I don't have the opportunity to check the other links now. My daughter will share her laptop, but you know it's not the same. Thanks for inviting me to the party, I will add your button to my link page sometime this week.
ReplyDeleteHi Connie so glad you came over and linked up hope you see you again soon :)
DeleteBless your heart. I would have a floor full of squished blueberries.
ReplyDeleteLol I've done this before :)
DeleteOh gosh, I could eat that whole cake right now, it looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteme too :) Thanks for the comment :)
ReplyDeletenice opinion.. thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment :)
Deletelove this cake..it looks beautiful!
ReplyDelete