Recipe Of Gordon Ramsay Victoria Sponge Cake Food

VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and cream well. Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt and continue to mix well, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula occasionally. Fold in the sifted flour and pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch in the center, about 25 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack. Unmold and, using a serrated knife, slice the cake in half horizontally into 2 layers.
• To make Victoria Sponge Sandwiches: Dust your rolling pin and work surface with confectioners' sugar, and roll the marzipan into a disk the size of the cake. Using a knife, trim the marzipan to fit the circumference of the cake exactly. Spread the cut-sides of the cake layers with raspberry jam and sandwich the marzipan layer in between the jam-dressed cake layers. Press all the layers together; then cut into wedges, to serve. Dust the wedges liberally with confectioners' sugar.

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.

VICTORIA SPONGE LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Oil a 950g loaf tin (ours measured 19 x 9cm across the base) and line with a strip of baking parchment, leaving a little hanging over the edges - this will help you lift the cake out later. Heat the oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3.
• Put the butter and caster sugar in a large bowl, or stand mixer. Beat together using an electric whisk or the mixer until pale and fluffy - this will take a few minutes.
• Gradually add the egg, a little at a time, beating well between each addition until the mixture is smooth. Add a tablespoon or two of the flour if it's starting to curdle.
• Add the remaining flour, the milk and vanilla, and mix until there are no visible streaks of flour. Scrape into the prepared tin, then use a spatula to evenly spread it and smooth the surface. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 50 mins-1 hr, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If any wet cake mixture clings to the skewer, bake for 5 mins more, then check again. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then carefully transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
• Chop four of the strawberries into small pieces and mix with 1 tsp of the icing sugar. Set aside. Halve or quarter some of the remaining strawberries and leave the rest whole. Mix the remaining icing sugar with 2 tsp of the jam and all the lemon juice to make a thick icing - it should be thick enough to drizzle down the sides of the cake. Pour the cream into a bowl and whisk until it's just holding its shape - be careful not to overwhisk, as it will continue to thicken as you pipe it. Transfer the cream to a piping bag fitted with a fine star nozzle.
• Slice the cake in half lengthways through the middle using a sharp serrated knife. Spread a little of the remaining jam over the base layer. Pipe half the whipped cream over in a zig-zag pattern and top with the chopped strawberries and any syrupy juice from the bowl. Sandwich with the top of the cake. Pipe the remaining whipped cream over in the same way, then arrange the halved, quartered and whole strawberries on top. Drizzle over the icing to finish. Best served the same day, but will keep covered in the fridge for up to three days.