Duck Egg Victoria Sponge Cake Food

DUCK EGG SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease then line 2 x 20cm cake tins with baking parchment and grease the parchment too.
• Crack the duck eggs into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar and whisk for about 5 mins until pale and fluffy. Keep whisking as you add the melted butter, a little at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
• Fold in the flour and baking powder with a large metal spoon until you can't see any pockets of flour. Divide the mixture between the two prepared tins and bake for 35 mins or until bouncy to the touch and a skewer poked into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Leave the cakes to cool in the tin, then turn out onto wire racks when cool enough to handle.
• To make the buttercream, tip the butter into a big bowl and whisk with an electric hand whisk. Add the icing sugar, 2-3 tbsp at a time, until it's all incorporated, adding the milk halfway through the process. Scrape the seeds out of a vanilla pod, add them in and whisk again. Transfer half the buttercream to another bowl and, if using, stir your food colouring into one of the mixtures. I used blue and a dash of green to create a classic duck egg shade.
• When the buttercream mixtures are ready and the cake is cold, level the cakes with a bread knife, cut each one in half through the middle and stick all the layers together with the uncoloured buttercream. Cover the whole cake with a thin layer of the coloured buttercream - this will seal in any crumbs. Chill the cake for 30 mins, then cover with the rest of the buttercream and use a palette knife or pastry scraper to make the buttercream flat.
• To finish, sprinkle about 1/4 tsp of cocoa powder onto the cake to create a speckled design. Repeat this in different sections of the cake, then top with a cluster of mini chocolate eggs and serve. Will keep for 2-3 days.

DUCK EGG VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees (355 fahrenheit) and grease and line two 20cm/8″ shallow cake tins with rounds of baking parchment.
• Weight the duck eggs still in their shells. You'll need margarine or butter, sugar and flour in the same weights as the duck eggs to get a perfect cake every time!
• In a large bowl and using an electric hand whisk whizz together the margarine or butter, and the sugar until light, fluffy and pale.
• Beat in the eggs one by one, along with the vanilla extract. If you're using duck eggs from a farm rather than a supermarket, crack each one into a small dish to check it is okay before adding it to the mix - I had a rotten one the other day and it was one of the worst things that had ever been in my kitchen!
• Beat in the flour until combined, followed by the two spoonfuls of just boiled water to create a smooth batter.
• Divide the mix between the two cake tins, making sure you have smooth tops for even baking. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes until the sponges are springy, golden, and if you insert the tip of a cake tester or a very sharp knife it comes out clean.
• Run a very sharp knife around the edge of each cake to help them come out of the tins later, and leave them to cool on wire racks. Once the tins are cool enough to touch, carefully turn out the cakes to cool completely. To get an even cake, choose the best looking sponge for the top and cool that one right way up, and leave the other to cool upside down.
• Meanwhile to make the buttercream filling, beat together the icing sugar, butter and vanilla extract until smooth. If you need to loosen the mixture a little to make it more spreadable, add a tiny splash of milk. Only do this bit by bit, however, because if you add too much at once it can cause your icing to split. (If this does happen, add a little more icing sugar, beat hard, and keep doing this until it comes good again!)
• Once the sponges are completely cool place the bottom sponge upside down on a cake stand or serving dish. Spread the top with the buttercream - I use a small pallet knife for this - just to the edges. Spoon a generous amount of raspberry jam on top and also spread it to the edges with the back of the spoon before popping on the lid. Using a sieve (I have a mini one for things like this) dust the top of the cake generously with icing sugar (though sometimes in our house we use vanilla infused caster sugar instead!) - this will help cover up any bubbles or imperfections in the finished sponge.

ULTIMATE TRADITIONAL VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line the base and sides of two 20cm sandwich tins.
• Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric whisk for 8-10 mins, or until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, and fold in using a large metal spoon. Add just enough of the milk to create a dropping consistency.
• Divide the batter between the prepared tins and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 mins, or until golden and firm to the touch. Leave to cool slightly in the tins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the macerated berries. Mix the sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and mint together until the sugar has dissolved. Gently stir in the strawberries and raspberries until coated in the mixture. Transfer to the fridge and chill for 30-45 mins until softened.
• To make the crème diplomat, put the custard, vanilla pod and sugar in a pan set over a medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Mix the custard powder with 3 tbsp water to dilute and stir until smooth. Whisk into the boiling custard, then reduce the heat to a simmer and continue whisking for 2-3 mins until thick. Put in a heatproof bowl and leave to cool slightly, then chill until cooled completely. Whisk the double cream to soft peaks, and when the custard is cool, remove the vanilla pod and whisk in the cream until the mix is thick enough to pipe.
• Drain the macerated berries, reserving the liquid. To assemble, spread half the crème diplomat over one of the sponges, then top with three-quarters of the berries. Invert the second sponge on top, so the flat base of the sponge is facing up, and dust with some icing sugar. Put the remaining crème diplomat in a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle and pipe rosettes around the edge of the cake. Dot the rest of the berries between the rosettes of cream, and serve with the reserved macerating liquid alongside - don't pour it over before serving as it will split the crème diplomat. Will keep in the fridge for up to three days.

GRANNY'S VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Grease and flour two 20cm sandwich tins.
• Place 200g softened unsalted butter, 200g caster sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract into a bowl and beat well to a creamy consistency.
• Slowly beat in 4 medium eggs, one by one, then fold in 200g self-raising flour and mix well.
• Divide the mix between the cake tins, place into the oven and bake for about 20 mins until risen and golden brown. The cakes should spring back when gently pushed in the middle.
• When ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 mins in the tin, before turning out onto a wire rack and cooling completely.
• Spread about 6 tbsp raspberry jam onto one cake and top with 250ml whipped double cream. Sandwich the cakes together and dust with icing sugar.

CLASSIC VICTORIA SANDWICH RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Butter two 20cm sandwich tins and line with non-stick baking paper.
• In a large bowl, beat 200g caster sugar, 200g softened butter, 4 beaten eggs, 200g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 2 tbsp milk together until you have a smooth, soft batter.
• Divide the mixture between the tins, smooth the surface with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
• Bake for about 20 mins until golden and the cake springs back when pressed.
• Turn onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
• To make the filling, beat the 100g softened butter until smooth and creamy, then gradually beat in 140g sifted icing sugar and a drop of vanilla extract (if you're using it).
• Spread the buttercream over the bottom of one of the sponges. Top it with 170g strawberry jam and sandwich the second sponge on top.
• Dust with a little icing sugar before serving. Keep in an airtight container and eat within 2 days.