Raspberry Cake Day  

Raspberry Cake Day is celebrated on Wednesday 31st July and is the perfect opportunity to enjoy this mouth-watering treat; including the sweet tartness and seedy interior of the fantastically versatile raspberry.

In our blog this week, we learn more about the origins of this fabulous fruit and feature a ravishing Raspberry Loaf Cake recipe.

So Berry Good!

They’re delicious and juicy and beloved of gardeners, they’re also a great favourite on summer drinks menus and for adding some zing to a summer fruit salad. But, how much do you really know about the humble raspberry?

Raspberries are an economically significant crop throughout much of northern Europe, as well as the United States and Canada. Originating to prehistoric times, they began to be cultivated in England and France in the 1600s. Thanks to our modern food systems, the fruit is available in-store virtually all year round – both in the produce aisle and as frozen berries.

Raspberries are a great source of dietary fibre and minerals such as manganese and magnesium. They also contain vitamins C, E and B9 (folic acid). Phytonutrients from raspberries can be an effective treatment for high blood pressure and inflammation of the joints. They’re also beneficial for the normal functioning of the liver.

These little red wonders are synonymous with kindness and good fortune. In the Christian religion, the red juice is seen as the blood running through the heart, where kindness originates. In the Philippines, evil spirits are said to be deterred by hanging a raspberry cane outside your home. In Germany, raspberry cane has also been said to help tame bewitched horses

Raspberry Facts

• Russia is the greatest manufacturer of raspberries in the world. It produces 125,000 tonnes of raspberries per year
• Each raspberry consists of approximately 100 individual tiny fruits, called drupelets, filled with one seed
• A single raspberry plant can produce a few hundred raspberries per year
• Raspberries can be red, purple, golden and black in colour, depending on the variety

Raspberry Loaf Cake Recipe

Why not celebrate Raspberry Cake Day with a homemade treat? This recipe is quick and easy, and a delicious idea for a summer’s day.

Ingredients

175g Golden Caster Sugar
175g Unsalted Butter
3 Eggs, Beaten
175g Self Raising Flour
200g Raspberries

For the Icing:
300g Icing Sugar, Sifted
150g Unsalted Butter
Additional Raspberries to Decorate

Serves 12

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Line the base and sides of a 900g loaf tin with greaseproof paper.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then gradually add in the eggs and mix well. Fold in the sifted flour. Gently fold in the raspberries.
3. Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin and bake in the centre of the oven for half an hour. Cover the top of the loaf with foil and continue to bake for a further 20 minutes. The loaf should be risen and golden.
4. Leave the cake to cool. Meanwhile, make the buttercream icing by combining the icing sugar and the butter. Spread this over the cooled cake, adding some raspberries for decoration.

Serve and enjoy!

Trevor Mottram

Trevor Mottram has been a name at the heart of The Pantiles for over 40 years. The cook shop stocks everything a baker could need. From mixing bowls to loaf tins and utensils to crockery, the shop is well equipped with the perfect paraphernalia to ensure Raspberry Cake Day is a lip-smacking success!

To find out more about Trevor Mottram, click here.