This cake should be made in several stages over 2 days. Give yourself plenty of time, this extra special cake is worth it.
Raspberry Jelly:
Raspberries – 225g x 2
Sugar – 2tbsp x 2
Water – 225g x 2
Gelatin – 10g or 6 leaves x 2
Pistachio Sponge:
Pistachios (unsalted, de-shelled and peeled) – 75g
Flour – 110g
Sugar – 150g
Eggs (large) – 6
Butter (melted) – 35g
Green gel food colour
Lemon zest – 1
Chopped pistachios (unsalted, de-shelled and peeled for decoration)
Cream Mousse:
Powder gelatin (bloomed in 90ml of water) – 15g
Double cream (cold) – 450ml
Cream cheese (room temperature) – 375
Icing sugar – 4 tbsp
Equipment:
Biscuit cutters with a diameter of 9.5, 7 and 5 cm. One side of each covered in clingfilm.
Spring form tin with a diameter of 23cm with the bottom covered in clingfilm – for jelly.
Spring form tin with a diameter of 25cm with acetate lining the sides.
Instructions Jelly:
Make the jelly in 2 batches. Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water.
Mush the raspberries and sugar with a blender. Add the water and heat on the hob, but do not boil. Squeeze the water out of the gelatin, add into the raspberries, and mix with the blender again to get rid of any lumps.
Sieve into the 23cm tin and also put a little bit into the 5cm cutter. Place into the freezer, and make sure it is fully frozen before removing. Repeat again to make the second batch and fill the 9.5cm mould.
Keep in the freezer wrapped in clingfilm until ready to assemble the whole cake.
Instructions Sponge:
Preheat oven to 160 C Fan.
Grind the pistachios with flour in a processor.
Whisk the sugar and eggs in a stand mixer until ribbon stage, add the gel colour as the eggs are being whipped. Fold in the pistachio and flour mixture and the lemon zest. Pour the melted butter down the side of the bowl and fold in.
Pour into a 23cm lined tin and cook for 30-40 minutes (may need longer?).
Take out of the oven and wrap in clingfilm to cool over night. Then divide into 3 equal level layers.
Instructions Mousse and assembly:
Whisk the cold double cream until increased in size but not stiff. Add in the icing sugar.
In a separate bowl whisk the cream cheese. Melt the gelatin in the microwave in short bursts, being careful not to overheat. Add this into the cream cheese and whisk again. Then fold in the whipped cream.
Fill the 7cm biscuit cutter with some mousse. Put into the freezer.
Assemble the cake up side down in the 25cm tin lined with acetate.
Put 320g of the mousse into the bottom of the 25cm tin. Then put in the layers as follows: top sponge, 160g mousse, jelly, 160g mousse, middle sponge with 115g of pistachio paste spread on to it, 160g mousse, jelly, 160g mousse, bottom sponge.
Put into the freezer for a few hours until the mousse is set. Turn out of tin; you may need to use a hairdryer to loosen the bottom. Keep in the fridge. Decorate right before serving by stacking the jelly and mousse from the biscuit cutters, and scattering the chopped pistachios.
