Raspberry and White Chocolate Gateau

Recipe by Leah

Ingredients:

• raspberries
• sponge fingers
• white chocolate
• cream
• cream cheese
• zest of 1 lemon
• vanilla extract
• icing sugar

Method:
Crush your raspberries with a fork to release plenty of juice then dip your sponge fingers on both sides into the lovely tartness. Make one layer of this in the bottom of whatever container you may have. You can make these in individual ramekins or make a large one to slice up. Vary your quantities accordingly.

Whip your cream 2 parts to 1 with your cream cheese. Add vanilla, icing sugar to taste (the sweetness of the cream to contrast the acidity of the berries) the zest of 1 lemon and plenty of coarsely chopped white chocolate. You need two layers of this so divide your mixture in half then spread one half onto your sponge finger first layer.

Another layer of sponge fingers then drizzle left over crushed raspberries over that layer. (not too sloppy though)


Final layer of cream then top with crunchy toffee crumbles, these are made by laying a piece of greaseproof paper on your bench, heat up a little sugar on a medium heat until it's all dissolved. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until it starts to set when you lift your spoon up and twirl it around a few tims.


Go crazy with lots of swirls and zig zags on your paper, let it set then pick it off the paper, give it some taps with a rolling pin to crush it up, sprinkle over your gateau along with some fresh raspberries.

Simple Heart Garnish
It's easier if you put your chocolate topping, condensed milk and strawberry topping into squeeze bottles.

Start with a blob of chocolate......

Then carefully put a smaller blob of condensed milk as close to the middle of the chocolate as you can.

Same again with the strawberry, this time just a tiny drop...

Run a skewer through the white and red blobs

To form a simple heart shaped garnish for your dessert plate.

This looks really effective if you run a thick line of the chocolate around the plate then white blobs then red drops, run the skewer around the lot in one go to form a circle of hearts.

Bon Appetit