Summer Sunshine Cake

Step 1

Whisk together egg yolks, orange juice concentrate, orange zest and sugar in a small saucepan.

Step 2

Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.

Step 3

Remove from heat and whisk in the butter, one piece at a time until smooth.

Step 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.

Step 5

Chill completely before using to fill the cake layers.

Step 6

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.

Step 7

Cream together the butter and sugar until very well until light and fluffy.

Step 8

Add, the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until light and fluffy:

Step 9

Add the vanilla extract.

Step 10

Sift together the flour and baking powder.

Step 11

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.

Step 12

Bake at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Rely on the toothpick test to ensure that it is properly baked.

Step 13

Let the cake cool in the pans for 10- 15 minutes before cooling completely on a wire rack.

Step 14

To the bowl of an electric mixer add:

Step 15

8 ounces cream cheese

Step 16

8 ounces mascarpone cheese

Step 17

1/2 cup icing sugar (i.e. powdered sugar)

Step 18

2 tsp vanilla extract

Step 19

3/4 cup whipping cream

Step 20

Beat together the cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract until very well until light and creamy

Step 21

Whip the 3/4 cup whipping cream to firm peaks.

Step 22

Fold it in to the cheese mixture by hand using a rubber spatula.

Step 23

Finally fold in 2 cups chopped fresh strawberries ( I cut them in quarters)

Step 24

Cut both cake layers horizontally to create 4 layers.

Step 25

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.

Step 26

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.

Step 27

Add the top layer of cake and garnish with a dollop of the orange curd and extra berries.