A show-stopping dessert for the centre of your Christmas table

This is the white Christmas many of us dream of, but in cake form. Many prefer an alternative dessert at Christmas, steering away from the traditional dried fruit cakes and puddings and trifles. Personally, I like a little of each, the glutton in me can’t resist. Over the course of the Christmas period, it is often a good idea to offer an alternative option, for lovers of the unconventional. It spices things up, and your guests won’t expect it.

This is my perfect white chocolate Christmas cake, soft sponge layers laced with crystallised ginger, sandwiched with a slightly tart cranberry preserve, and finished with a white chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream. If that seems like a mouthful, and slightly too much faff to deal with over the festive period, I promise you it’s not. Every single element of this cake can be done in advance. The sponges can be baked and frozen and the cranberry jam keeps incredibly well for up to a week in the fridge. The buttercream can also be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for a few days.

The white chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream is a gamechanger. It is one of my favourite recipes and a beautiful frosting for any cake. While most classic buttercreams are quite sweet, this one is balanced despite the addition of white chocolate.

It is made using a Swiss meringue, where egg whites and sugar are whisked over a saucepan of simmering water until hot, then removed from the heat and whisked until cold. Soft butter is added little by little until completely emulsified, followed by melted white chocolate. The result is a luxurious, silky-smooth buttercream known for its stability and hold. Use a good quality chocolate here, it makes all the difference.

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly in Lapland: Johnny goes, ‘My daddy says we’re going to eat a reindeer’

---

Emer McLysaght: I am never more of a Complete Aisling than when I’m on holidays

---

Walk this way: On the trail with Dublin’s trekkers’ club

---

Emer McLysaght: My sparkling water addiction is getting out of hand

---

The finished cake is a show-stopping dessert and a perfect centrepiece for any Christmas table. Icing it does not require any special equipment, and whether it is slapdash or perfectly smooth, it will still look fabulous. Finish it with cranberries and little decorations from the tree for a spectacular dessert that is sure to impress.

Recipe: White Christmas Cake