Gingerbread tres leches cake

• flavourless oil

  for the tin

• eggs↗4

  separated

• muscovado sugar↗200g g
• vanilla extract↗1 tsp tsp
• plain flour↗200g g
• baking powder↗1 tsp tsp
• ground ginger↗1½ tsp tsp
• ground cinnamon↗1 tsp tsp

  plus a pinch

• milk↗100ml ml
• evaporated milk↗410g can g
• sweetened condensed milk↗200ml ml

  plus 2 tbsp

• double cream↗300ml ml

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil a 23cm springform cake tin that’s at least 6cm deep and line the base with baking parchment. Put the egg whites in a large bowl with a pinch of salt, and beat using an electric whisk until foamy, about 3 mins. Slowly add 150g of the sugar, a spoonful at a time, whisking continuously until thick and glossy.

2. 2

   Mix the egg yolks, remaining sugar and vanilla together in a second bowl for 2 mins, or until pale and foamy. Add the flour, baking powder, spices and milk, then fold together using a spatula.

3. 3

   Add a large spoonful of the whipped egg whites to the cake batter, beat to loosen, then fold through the remaining egg whites using a large metal spoon (don’t over-mix, or you’ll knock out the air) until smooth. Pour this into the tin, smooth the surface and bake for 40-45 mins until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Combine the evaporated and condensed milks with 50ml of the double cream.

4. 4

   Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10-15 mins, then carefully invert onto a serving plate or cake stand and remove the parchment. (Be sure to use a plate or stand with a slight lip to catch the excess milk.) Leave to cool for another 10 mins.

5. 5

   Poke holes over the cake with a skewer and, while it’s still warm, slowly pour roughly a quarter of the milk mixture over the top. Leave the cake to absorb this before adding more, then repeat until all of the milk mixture is used up – if the cake becomes saturated before you’ve used all the milk, pour what’s left into a jug and serve alongside the cake later for pouring over. This process could take a couple of hours, but as soon as the cake is cool, you should transfer it to the fridge. Once all of the milk has been absorbed, chill for another 2 hrs, or overnight, to chill and improve the texture.

6. 6

   Whip the remaining cream and the 2 tbsp condensed milk to soft peaks. Spoon over the chilled cake, then dust with a pinch of cinnamon. Will keep chilled for two days.