The Victoria Sponge Cake is a classic British cake, named after Queen Victoria, who was said to enjoy a slice with her afternoon tea. This cake is light, airy, and traditionally filled with jam and whipped cream or buttercream.
Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
For the Sponge Cake:
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (225g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups (225g) self-raising flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2-3 tablespoons milk (if needed for consistency)
For the Filling:
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream, whipped (or ½ cup buttercream)
- ⅓ cup (100g) strawberry or raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans.
2. Prepare the Sponge Cake:
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Sift the self-raising flour and baking powder into the bowl, and gently fold the flour into the wet mixture until just combined. Add milk if the batter seems too thick, so it drops off a spoon easily.
3. Bake the Cake Layers:
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cakes are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Assemble the Victoria Sponge:
- Once the cakes have cooled, spread the jam evenly over one of the cake layers.
- Whip the cream until soft peaks form, then spread it on top of the jam (or spread a layer of buttercream, if preferred).
- Place the second cake layer on top, pressing down gently.
5. Finish and Serve:
- Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.
- Slice and serve with tea for a truly traditional experience.
This Victoria Sponge Cake is perfect for afternoon tea or any special occasion. Its simplicity and elegance make it a timeless classic!