5 effortless and praiseworthy cakes | delicious. recipes

From a chocolate and quince cake to one made with lemon and ricotta, these five cake recipes are a lot easier to make than you would think.

Lemon and ricotta work well together.

Four seasons, 52 cakes and plenty of tea.

In her new book, cook and photographer Tilly Pamment bakes her way through the year with simple yet elegant creations that are just begging to be shared – and devoured.

She has shared five of her effortless cake recipes with delicious.com.au. Enjoy!

Lemon and ricotta cake

“I was very pleased with myself when I first made this cake. So pleased, in fact, that I ate nearly half of it in one sitting. Always a good sign. The ricotta in the batter makes for a delightfully tender crumb and there is something very excellent about sugary, caramelised lemon slices and toasty almonds. It also happens to be gluten-free. Needless to say, since then this cake has been on high rotation in our house and for friends – best eaten with a generous spoonful of thickened cream.”

Malted caramel and banana cake

This is a variation on a traditional banana cake.

“A little while ago, I thought about cake (as I often do); and I decided that a caramelly banana cake was missing from my repertoire. This cake is the remedy to that. Malted milk powder and brown sugar make it satisfyingly sweet and sticky and, just for added joy, I’ve paired it with a malted caramel sauce – totally optional but highly recommended. You can also bake this recipe in a loaf (bar) tin if you like and call it banana bread, as I often do for my kids, who are mad about the stuff.”

Apricot, cardamom and chocolate cake

This cake is good for any occasion.

“This spiced apricot cake is a sturdy, wholesome number – one for the tastes better- than-it-looks club, but one of my favourites. It’s not the most attractive cake to be sure, but golly, does it deliver on flavour. Made with almond meal and cardamom and filled with tart dried apricots and nuggets of dark chocolate, it is satisfyingly dense: perfect served warm for morning or afternoon tea (or even breakfast with a cup of tea if you’re anything like me).”

Chocolate and quince cake

Quince and chocolate are a great combo.

“This is a cake of considerable charm – a gooey, dense, brownie-like cake studded with rosy jewels of baked quince. Not a children’s cake by any means, but actually one of my kids’ favourites. I have to watch my littlest, or he’ll strip the whole cake of quince slices while I’m looking the other way. I’m inclined to follow suit. Top the cake with a punnet of raspberries or more baked quince. Either way, serve with thickened cream and a bottomless pot of Earl Grey tea.”

White chocolate and coconut cake squares.

White chocolate and coconut cake

“I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply and, for a moment, I found myself on a far-flung island by a pool, the air thick and humid and deliciously full of the lingering scent of coconut. Then I opened my eyes and was immediately transported back to my bathroom at home, a dollop of coconut moisturiser in my hand, realising that I’d forgotten to put the exhaust fan on when I had a shower. Ah, well, it was a nice dream while it lasted. And there’s always these little white chocolate and coconut squares to console myself with when a tropical island is not on offer.”

* Tilly is a cook, photographer and stylist based in the Blue Mountains, Australia, with her husband and two small children.

Here, in between chasing kids around, she shoots food and flowers and writes seasonal baking recipes for her website and online store.

Her first book, The Plain Cake Appreciation Society, is available now.

For more food, travel and lifestyle news, go to delicious.com.au

Originally published as 5 effortless and praiseworthy cakes | delicious. recipes