These feather-light bite-sized sponge cakes are a delight served with homemade strawberry jam and drizzled with custard. The addition of ginger gives them an unexpected edge.
Ingredients
Strawberry-ginger jam
Ginger custard
Method
Main
1.For strawberry-ginger jam, combine strawberries, sugar, juices and ginger in a saucepan and stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil and stir frequently until reduced to jam consistency (8-10 minutes), refrigerate until chilled. Makes about 500ml.
2.For ginger custard, combine cream, milk, ginger, vanilla bean and vanilla seeds in a saucepan and bring just to the simmer over medium heat, cool to room temperature, then bring back to the simmer. Whisk yolks and sugar in a heatproof bowl until thick and pale (4-5 minutes), then add cream mixture, whisking to combine. Return to pan over medium heat and stir continuously until mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon thickly (4-5 minutes), strain through a sieve and refrigerate until completely chilled. Makes about 500ml.
3.Preheat oven to 180C. Triple-sieve flours and ginger into a bowl and set aside. Whisk eggs and sugar in an electric mixer until mixture is tripled in volume and holds a trail (4-6 minutes). Sift in flour mixture, in batches, folding in with a large metal spoon between additions to combine, then fold in butter. Spoon into two 12-hole buttered and floured gem-scone tins (see note), bake until light golden (6-8 minutes), cool in tins for 5 minutes, then remove and cool on a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar and serve warm or at room temperature with strawberry-ginger jam and ginger custard.
Note Gem-scone tins are available from specialist cookware suppliers. If unavailable, place heaped teaspoons of cake mixture onto baking trays lined with baking paper, allowing plenty of room for spreading.
Notes