Peaches and cream butterfly cakes

from The Comfort Bake by Sally Wise

Makes 12

Peaches, lemon and vanilla cream marry together in these delicious little cakes – a tasty twist on the ever popular butterfly cakes. Make these anytime as a special treat for friends and family.

For the filling

400 g (14 oz) peaches, tinned or preserved, drained (reserving the juice)
3 teaspoons cornflour (cornstarch) mixed to a paste with 40 ml (1¼ fl oz) cold water
400 ml (14 fl oz) cream suitable for whipping
2 teaspoons icing (confectioners’) sugar
3 teaspoons lemon juice

For the cakes

1 egg
180 g (6½ oz) white (granulated) sugar
3 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
180 ml (6 fl oz) milk
225 g (8 oz) self-raising flour
60 g (2¼ oz) salted butter, melted
3 teaspoons icing (confectioners’) sugar, for dusting

To make the filling

Cut the peaches into 8 mm (3/8 inch) cubes and place in a saucepan with 100 ml (3½ fl oz) of the drained juice. Bring to the boil and gradually stir in enough cornflour paste to reach a thick custard consistency. Set aside to cool.

Using hand-held beaters or a stand mixer, whip the cream with the icing sugar until firm peaks form, then stir in the lemon juice.

Refrigerate while making the cakes.

To make the cakes

Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F). Line a 12-hole x 50 ml (1½ fl oz) muffin tin with muffin papers.

Using hand-held beaters or a stand mixer, whisk the egg, sugar and lemon zest together until light and creamy, then all at once, add the milk, flour and melted butter. Whisk until smooth.

Spoon the mixture evenly into the mu•n papers to three-quarters full.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until well risen and light golden brown.

Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.

To assemble

Cut a slice from the top of each cake and set aside. Place a generous spoonful of the peach mixture on each base, then pipe on a swirl of the cream.

Cut the lids in half and place decoratively on top of the cream.

Dust with the icing sugar.

Images and text from The Comfort Bake by Sally Wise, photography by Samuel Shelley. Murdoch Books RRP $39.99.