French Gâteaux Recipe (Layered Fruit and Cream Cake)

Step 1: To begin making the French Fruit Cake (Gateaux) recipe, we will first prepare the lemon pound cake according to the instructions

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 180 C

Step 3: Butter and flour a 10" loaf, square, or a bundt pan

Step 4: I like using a loaf pan as the cake slices nicely

Step 5: Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and keep aside

Step 6: Using the large bowl or a KitchenAid Stand Mixer bowl, beat together the (butter) oil, sugar and vanilla essence, add in the eggs (eggless: Flax Eggs) and milk (Vegan: almond milk) and beat until well combined

Step 7: Finally add in the flour mixture and beat until well combined

Step 8: Pour the batter into the prepared greased pan and bake until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean, about 45 minutes to 1 hour

Step 9: The baking time will vary from oven to oven, so take care too look at it after 30 minutes

Step 10: Allow the cake to cool completely

Step 11: Bake the pound cake recipe in a round spring foam pan

Step 12: First, prepare the sugar syrup

Step 13: Combine all the ingredients for the syrup, stir well until the sugar dissolved

Step 14: Keep this aside

Step 15: Next, we will prepare the cream frosting

Step 16: In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the cream along with the sugar until it becomes light and fluffy and forms soft peaks

Step 17: Once the cream forms soft peaks, add in the mascarpone cheese and whisk until just about combined

Step 18: Keep this aside

Step 19: Now we will begin to make the cake in layers

Step 20: Slice the cake horizontally into half

Step 21: Carefully lift the top later and place it down

Step 22: Drizzle the sugar juice syrup to both the cake halves

Step 23: This makes the cake moist and juicy

Step 24: Place the bottom layer on a cake platter or a serving plate

Step 25: Using a cake spatula, apply the frosting mixture and spread evenly on the bottom half of the cake

Step 26: Lay the chopped fruits like kiwi, pineapple, oranges generously on this layer of cream

Step 27: Next place the second half the cake over the fruits and lightly press it down with your palms

Step 28: Spread the remaining frosting smoothly with a palate knife or a back of a spoon all round the cake including the sides

Step 29: Using the back of the spoon, give the cream frosting a little spike by pulling the spoon away from the frosting

Step 30: This gives a neat and yet uneven look to the cake

Step 31: Finally lay the remaining fruits on the top of the cake and just splash the almond slivers to the sides of the cake

Step 32: The French Gâteaux Recipe (Layered Fruit and Cream Cake) is now ready

Step 33: Refrigerate the cake for a couple of hours or over night or until the next day for your parties