Biscuit and cream cake

Sun shine, half term, finished writing reports...and relax :) I was looking through some recipe books and realised that I hadn't made a proper cake for a while. I have used a hummingbird bakery recipe but adapted it slightly. Hummingbird use three layers of cake but (as I have a cold and am not cycling at the moment) I have opted for two layers. They also use cookies but I thought it might be fun to try Twix bits instead. (Ok, they were supposed to be Maltesers but Tesco ran out.) Due to illness and not spreading my germs, this cake is just for me and T so I halved all of the recipe below and made a half cake. 

Cake

110g unsalted butter softened

380g caster sugar

320g plain flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

320 ml buttermilk

3 eggs

1/2 large packet of twix mix

Frosting

1kg icing sugar, sifted

320g unsalted butter softened

500g mascarpone

1/2 large packet of Twix mix

1. Preheat the oven to 170C and line the cake tins with baking paper. Using a freestanding electric mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the butter, sugar and dry ingredients until there are no lumps of butter.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs and buttermilk by hand. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients while the mixer is on a medium speed. Scrape down the sides and mix again. 

3. Chop the Twix bits in half and stir into the mixture. Pour into two lined cake tins and bake for 35 minutes until the sponge bounces back when pressed. Leave to cool on a drying rack. 

4. When the cake is cool, make the icing. Using the free standing electric mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the icing sugar and butter on a low speed. Add one third of the mascarpone and combine until smooth. Gradually add the test of the mascarpone and until fully mixed then turn to a high speed until it is light and fluffy. 

5. Put some of the mixture on one of the cakes and sprinkle some more twix bits cut in half. Put the second cake on top. Using a palette knife, spread the rest of the frosting on top and around the sides of the cake. Finish with whole Twix bits on top.