Adaptrix
No fruit/other fruit
If cumquats aren’t your jam, you
can omit them. Small cubes of
slow-cooked quinces are an
autumnal favourite. Push some
slices into the buttercream layer
and  scatter some well-drained
slices  on top.

Nuts
As always, other nuts (except
peanuts, although I haven’t tested
them, but my ‘mind palate’ says no)
can jump in for the walnuts.

Place a middle tile on your cake stand and smooth all the buttercream
on top until it is a millimetre over the edges on all sides. Lightly press
the next middle meringue layer on top and smooth the crème fraîche
whip over evenly.**

With each layer, ensure the cream juts out just over the meringue. This is
important, as we will swipe the excess off at the end, making the line of the
meringue and buttercream equal – no gappy sides.

Hunch down often and assess the evenness so you don’t end up with a
sloped cake.

And finally, place the TOP meringue tile on and press lightly. Swipe
the sides with an offset spatula to tidy up the filling overhang. Wrap
with plastic and chill for a minimum of 4 hours, but ideally overnight.

The overnight chill is for nicer slicing: the meringue takes up moisture from
the cream layers, reinforcing the layered structure. As opposed to layered
buttercakes, I like the buttercream to have some chilled firmness for this
cake, as it sits next to crisp layers.

Make the poached cumquats by trimming the stems off them and
halving some, quartering others. Flick as many seeds out as you can,
taking care to retain the inner flesh. Place in a small, non-reactive
saucepan with the remaining ingredients. Stir to dissolve the sugar,
then simmer over a low heat for 15 minutes, until the cumquat pith
looks translucent and the syrup is viscous like oil. Scrape, syrup and
all, into a small bowl and chill overnight.

The cumquat syrup will thicken to a firm and powerfully flavoursome jelly
overnight. Warm to loosen it up, and keep any excess to glaze future tart tops.

The next day, make the dark chocolate ganache. Remove the plastic
from the cake and smooth the ganache over the top. Drain some
cumquats on pieces paper towel (keep the rest for future bakes).

Creatively place the cumquats over the top and add a sprinkle of the
reserved walnut crunch. If you like, you can also use some of the bay
leaves as a garnish.

* If you have cut your tiles a little unevenly, you can trim the edges after the
overnight chill.

** Cracked layers or any dips in the b aked meringue are easily jigsawed back
together on top of the buttercream or crème fraîche whip.