Strawberry jaffa cakes

Method

• step 1

  Brush a 22cm-square tray with sunflower oil, then line it with clingfilm. Dissolve the jelly cubes in 200ml of boiling water – stirring until fully dissolved. Whizz the strawberries to a purée, then press through a sieve to remove the seeds and discard. Mix the purée with the jelly, pour into the prepared tray and chill until firmly set.

• step 2

  To make the sponges, heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and use a little oil to brush 12 large muffin tin holes, then line the bases with circles of baking parchment (or use a silicone muffin tray if you have one).

• step 3

  In a big bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale and frothy, then mix in flour, almonds, 2 tbsp sunflower oil and vanilla extract. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form. Mix one-third of the whites into the yolk mixture to loosen it, then gently fold in the rest with a big metal spoon or spatula. Spoon between the muffin holes, tap the tin firmly, once, to pop any big bubbles, then bake for 10-12 minutes until risen and springy to the touch.

• step 4

  Release the cakes around the edges and carefully turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

• step 5

  When the cakes are cool and the jelly set, put the chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl and melt gently over a pan of steaming water. Leave to cool while you assemble the bases (hot chocolate will melt the jelly).

• step 6

  Find a round cutter a shade smaller than your cakes, stamp out 12 circles of the jelly and sit one on each sponge. Spoon some chocolate over each jelly and leave to set before eating.