Impressive Pistachio Saffron Cake with Orange and Cinnamon Cream

INGREDIENTS

a generous pinch of saffron

80g pistachio nuts + extra for garnish

250g ground almonds

250g  caster sugar

90g plain flour

7 whole eggs

6 egg whites

half a jar of orange curd

whipped cream (500g)

1 orange, zested

1 tbsp of icing sugar

2 tsp of powdered cinnamon

rose petals or buds to decorate

RECIPE

Start by preheating the oven to 180ºC and lining 3, 20cm diameter round cake tins with greaseproof paper.

Firstly steep the saffron in a small amount of boiling water, then whiz the pistachio nuts until they are as fine as can be. Combine the pistachios with the almonds, 80g of the sugar and flour in a bowl and whisk the eggs in one at a time followed by the saffron and its liquid.

Next pour the remaining sugar and egg whites into a separate bowl and whisk until it has soft peaks. Fold the egg whites into the mixture gently in 2 separate batches. Pour the mixture into the lined cake tins evenly and back for 25 minutes, then set aside to cool.

Whip together the cream with the orange zest, icing sugar and powdered cinnamon. Spread Orange Curd over two of the cooled sponges and the cream mixture. On the third layer of sponge, spread over the whipped cream mixture and scatter with extra pistachios. Stack all three tiers on top of one another making sure the sponge with pistachios is on top, and serve.