10tablespoonsstrawberry jam (ensure refined sugar free if n)ecessary
Suggested decorations listed below**
Instructions
For the cake:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil).
Once melted, add the milk to the same bowl along with the lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla, salt and ground almonds.
Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
Mix well, adding a tiny splash more milk if it’s looking too dry.
Transfer mixture into greased baking tins lined with baking paper (I used two 7inch/18cm baking tins and then used four metal rings lined with greased baking paper, which each measured 4.5inch/11.5cm, 3.5inch/9cm, 2.5inch/6cm and 2inch/5cm. Or you can use baking tins if you have ones of varying sizes).
Bake in oven for around 15 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
Turn all the cakes out onto wire racks to leave to cool completely before frosting.
For the buttercream:
Drain soaked cashews and add to a food processor or blender along with all the other ingredients***.
Whizz until completely smooth.
Taste and adjust flavour if necessary, adding more maple syrup, salt or vanilla if you wish.
Put the mixture (keep it in the food processor but you can transfer to a bowl if you wish) into the fridge and leave to harden slightly before using to frost the cake.
To frost and decorate the cake:
Cut the smaller cakes in half horizontally using a cake slicer or a bread knife.
Place half of the biggest cake onto a large plate or cake stand.
Split the buttercream into even thirds.
Using a spatula or knife, spread a third of the buttercream over the bottom layer of cake.
Next, spread over 5 tablespoons of the jam.
Finally, place the other half of the cake on top.
Next, place the bottom layer of the second biggest cake on top, and spread half of another third of the buttercream onto this layer of cake.
Then, spread over 2 tablespoons of the jam.
Now, place the other half of that cake on top.
Repeat this process for the remaining cakes, going in order of decreasing size. Divide up the remainder of the second third of the buttercream and the remaining jam between these cakes.
Once these are all done, use a spatula or knife to spread the remaining third of the buttercream around the tops and sides of all of the cakes.
Decorate however you wish - see notes for some suggested decorations.
Best when fresh, but keeps in the fridge for up to a couple of days.
Notes
*You can alternatively use almond flour.**Suggested decorations:
Edible flowers
Wild strawberries
Fresh fruit
Dried fruit
Freeze-dried fruit
Rose petals
Cacao nibs
Nuts
***If your food processor isn’t very powerful, it may have trouble with the cocoa butter. In this case, melt the cacao butter first using a bain-marie before adding to the food processor.