Ultimate Victoria Sponge 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 VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and butter and base-line 2 x 20cm loose-bottomed sandwich tins with baking paper. Put the butter and golden caster sugar into a large bowl and use electric beaters to beat the mixture for at least 5 minutes until it turns pale creamy white. Add the eggs 1 at a time, along with 1 tbsp of flour with each egg, and beat for 1 minute between each addition. Continue to beat until tripled in volume and very light and airy. Beat in the vanilla paste.
• Sift the remaining flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a separate bowl. Add half into the batter and use a large metal spoon to gently fold it in, being careful not to knock out any air. Add the remaining flour mixture and gently fold in. The mixture should drop off the spoon easily - if not, add 1 tbsp of milk and gently fold again. Divide equally between the tins and bake for 20-25 minutes or until risen, golden and a skewer poked into the centres come out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in their tins, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Whip the cream, icing sugar and vanilla to soft peaks. Put the jam into a bowl and add 1 tbsp of boiling water to loosen to a drizzle-able consistency. Put one of the sponges onto a serving plate, then spoon over the cream. Scatter the raspberries evenly all over, then drizzle over the jam. Put the other sponge on top, then dust over icing sugar and serve.

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.

CLASSIC VICTORIA SPONGE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C.
• Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Then, add eggs, baking powder, vanilla and flour and mix well.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through and fluffy.
• To make buttercream, cream together icing sugar and butter and mix well.
• Once the cake has cooled, slice into two equal halves. Spread jam on the bottom and top with piped buttercream. Top with second cake half and a dusting of powdered sugar.

TRADITIONAL VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 7-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper.
• Sift self-rising flour into a bowl; add sugar, margarine, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Crack in eggs. Beat with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Divide batter between the cake pans; smooth the tops with the back of a spoon.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Sift confectioners' sugar into a bowl; add butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until frosting is light and fluffy.
• Spread raspberry jam over 1 cake layer. Cover jam with frosting. Place second cake layer on top.

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.