No‑bake summer cake with blueberries: Perfect for garden parties

It's easy to self-admire after preparing, and perhaps even creating, such an extraordinary no-bake cake like this. All you need is a selection of your favourite fruits, a bit of imagination, and a few free moments.

Baking cakes in hot weather, when it's scorching outside and the air in the kitchen is thick enough to cut with a knife, is not a beloved activity. That’s why we tend to favour no-bake cakes, which fit perfectly with the summer atmosphere since they are served cold. One of my favourite recipes for such a dessert is a cake with blackberries and blueberries. The fruit layer is so fluffy that you can't help but fall in love with it.

It's not just the fruit layer that deserves praise because the base also outshines all others. First, it doesn’t require baking. And second, it has a flavour reminiscent of your favourite store-bought bars, yet you won't find any sugar or chocolate in it. Just grab the recipe and make this delicious no-bake cake.

The dessert contains agar, which is slowly but steadily entering our kitchens. Agar is derived from seaweed, appearing as a white or yellowish-white, odourless powder, and is a vegan substitute for gelatine. Agar needs to be dissolved in a hot liquid. It sets faster than gelatine and does not need a cold environment—dishes with agar will set even at room temperature. Agar works well in dishes served in the heat because they don't "melt" when left in the sun. Therefore, if you plan to serve this no-bake cake with a fruit layer at a garden party, using agar is safer.

Ingredients:

BASE

• 200g of your favourite nuts or a mix of nuts,
• 200g of dates,
• 60g of shredded coconut.

FRUIT LAYER

• 200g of blackberries,
• 450g of blueberries,
• 400g of coconut milk,
• 3 tablespoons of agar,
• 2 tablespoons of any sweetener.

Preparation:

1. Start by preparing the base. Blend the nuts, shredded coconut, and dates, then press the mixture into the bottom of a baking tin or springform tin. You can line the tin with parchment paper or cling film beforehand.
2. Wash and dry the fruits, then blend them into a smooth mixture. Optionally, you can strain them through a sieve. Mix the prepared fruits with any sweeteners to taste.
3. Heat the coconut milk, then dissolve the agar in it. Add the fruits to the milk mixture. Stir everything together and pour it over the prepared base.
4. Place the cake in the fridge to set.
5. Decorate with fruits and sprinkle with cocoa powder or grated chocolate.