Adorable Party Animal Celebration Cake

Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan/gas 4). Grease the base and sides of two deep 20cm cake tins with butter and line them with a double layer of baking parchment.

In a stand mixer or using an electric whisk, beat the salted butter and caster sugar together until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs, adding a spoonful of flour if the mixture begins to split. Sift in the remaining flour and add the vanilla extract, then gently fold everything together using a large metal spoon.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared tins and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the tins for 15 minutes before inverting them onto wire racks to cool completely.

Once cooled, use a serrated knife to cut each cake in half horizontally to create four even layers. Level the tops if necessary. Place the first layer on a cake board or stand, spread with a third of the fruit curd, and repeat the process, finishing with the final cake layer on top.