Pistachio and Lemon Yoghurt Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream

This is the birthday cake I made for my husband this year. I got the cake recipe from my friend (thanks Madonna!), and added to it lemon curd and a delicious white chocolate buttercream.

Recipe for Pistachio and Lemon Yoghurt Cake
(it tastes great on its own, or you can add lemon icing if you like)

Ingredients
130 g softened unsalted butter
240 g caster sugar
4 egg yolks
400 g self raising flour
370 g plain yoghurt
90 g chopped unsalted pistachio nuts
grated zest of 2 lemons

Method
1. Preheat oven to 170C.
2. Beat together butter, sugar and lemon zest till light and fluffy.
3. Add egg yolks one at a time until combined.
4. With a spatula, fold in the flour and yoghurt alternatively until combined, then add the pistachios.
5. Place into a baking pan and bake for approximately 35-40 mins or until firm to touch.

Recipe for Lemon Curd
 
Ingredients
grated zest and juice from 2 lemons
2 eggs
caster suger (to taste)
60g unsalted butter
1 tsp cornflour
 
Method
1. Whisk egges in a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat the mixture over medium heat. Whisk continuously until the mixture thickens.
3. Lower the heat and gently simmer the curd for about a minute, continuing to whisk.
4. Remove from heat and cool it in the fridge.
 
Recipe for Lemon and White Chocolate Buttercream

Ingredients
300g cream cheese
60g unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp lemon extract
1/4 tsp salt
100g white chocolate chips
4 egg white
grated zest of 2 lemons

Method
1. Beat egg white until soft peaks form.
2. Beat together cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, lemon extract, lemon zest and salt until light and smooth.
3. Melt white chocolate in a water bath. Add to the cream cheese mixture and beat to combine.
4. Fold in the meringue. Beat until fully combined and smooth.

Asembling the cake
1. Cut the cake into half.
2. Spead the lemon curd onto the first layer of the cake.
3. Put back the top layer of the cake.
4. Spread the buttercream on the top and the side of the cake.
5. Decorate your cake the way you like it!

And I just realised how much I have improved when I looked at some of the cakes I made in the past! :D