ingredients

150ml Marsala, madeira
or medium-sweet Sherry
2 x 300g packs cream cheese
600ml double cream
50g icing sugar
sifted
2 x 250g packs gingernut biscuits
2 x 200g punnets of raspberries

Method
step 1
Put 50ml of the alcohol in a bowl with the cream cheese and beat with an electric whisk until smooth. Add the cream and sugar and beat again until well mixed and softly whipped.

step 2
Using a pastry brush, quickly brush a gingernut biscuit with a little of the remaining alcohol. Stack, brushed-side down, on a cake plate or stand, then repeat to make a large round base of biscuits. Spread over a layer of cream, squish in some raspberries, then repeat with another layer of biscuits, pressing down slightly to stick. Repeat layers, finishing with a fourth layer of cream and raspberries. Cover with an upturned mixing bowl, or very loosely with cling film, then chill until ready to serve. It’s good after 2 hrs, but could be made the day before, too. Serve with a sprinkling of crushed gingernut biscuit.