Cake is a mouthwatering dessert by itself but when you add filling, it makes it even more special. Fruit fillings in particular have a special affinity for cake. Most aren't difficult to make but can take your cake to a new level of deliciousness.
Fruit Filling Recipes
Each of the following recipes can be used as a filling in a layer cake. They work well with an array of cake and icing flavors, so you can be creative in your baking creations.
Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a classic cake filling. It works well with white and lemon cakes and frostings. It's also delicious in a coconut layer cake. This version is intensely lemony. While you can use any types of lemons you like, Meyer lemons are particularly delicious.
Ingredients
1 large egg plus 3 large egg yolks
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
Finely grated zest from 2 lemons
Dash salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into two or three pieces
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Method
Whisk together egg yolks and whole egg until well combined.
Add sugar and whisk to combine.
Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Pour mixture into small saucepan and add butter.
Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until mixture thickens, about five minutes. The temperature should be 170 degrees.
Strain the lemon mixture into a medium bowl. Stir in cream.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Use cooled curd in cake.
Raspberry Cake Filling
Raspberry cake filling is equally delicious in chocolate and white cakes. It also makes an interesting filling for a lemon cake.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups raspberries, fresh or thawed from frozen
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Method
Place raspberries and sugar in a small saucepan and stir to combine.
Whisk cornstarch into lemon juice. Add to raspberry mixture.
Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Cool completely before using in a cake.
Apple Filling
This filling is delicious in sponge cake or spice cake. It is also a delicious filling for a caramel layer cake.
Ingredients
2 Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Method
Put apples all ingredients in a small saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until apples are completely cooked and tender.
Allow to cool completely before spreading on cake.
More Flavorful Cakes
If you've never used a fruit filling in your cake before, give it a try. The fillings add flavor to the cake, while also making it moister. Once you've filled a cake with a delicious and easy to make filling, you'll wonder why you never did it before.
