Summer Sunshine Cake

Instructions

To prepare the Orange Curd

1. Whisk together egg yolks, orange juice concentrate, orange zest and sugar in a small saucepan.
2. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.
3. Remove from heat and whisk in the butter, one piece at a time until smooth.
4. At this point you can press the orange curd through a sieve to remove the zest if desired but I generally don't bother. I find the zest intensifies the orange flavor even more as it cools.
5. Chill completely before using to fill the cake layers.

To prepare the Vanilla aButter Cake

1. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Smaller pans will not be sufficiently large. If you are using smaller pans reduce the measurements by 1/4.
2. Cream together the butter and sugar until very well until light and fluffy.
3. Add, the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until light and fluffy:
4. Add the vanilla extract.
5. Sift together the flour and baking powder.
6. Fold dry ingredients into the creamed mixture alternately with a mixture of the milk and whipping cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. I warm the cream and milk in the microwave for a 15 -20 seconds.
7. Bake at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Rely on the toothpick test to ensure that it is properly baked.
8. Let the cake cool in the pans for 10- 15 minutes before cooling completely on a wire rack.

To prepare the Strawberry Mascarpone Cream Filling

1. To the bowl of an electric mixer add:
2. 8 ounces cream cheese
3. 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
4. 1/2 cup icing sugar (i.e. powdered sugar)
5. 2 tsp vanilla extract
6. 3/4 cup whipping cream
7. Beat together the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract until very well until light and creamy
8. Whip the 3/4 cup whipping cream to firm peaks.
9. Fold it in to the cheese mixture by hand using a rubber spatula.
10. Finally fold in 2 cups chopped fresh strawberries ( I cut them in quarters)

To construct the cake

1. Cut both cake layers horizontally to create 4 layers.
2. Place the bottom layer onto the cake plate, then cover it with half of the orange curd.Reserve a dollop of the orange curd to garnish the top of the cake.
3. Place the next layer of cake on top and add the strawberry mascarpone cream filling followed by the third layer of cake and the remaining orange curd.
4. Add the top layer of cake and garnish with a dollop of the orange curd and extra berries.