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.

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.

VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch springform pan.
• Sift the flour and baking powder into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in vanilla. Pour in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing until just incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• This cake can be served as is, just dusted with confectioners' sugar. Alternately, cut the cake in half horizontally and sandwich the layers together with jam or custard.

VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
• Grease and line 2 x 18cm/7in cake tins with baking paper.
• Cream the butter and the sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs, a little at a time, and stir in the vanilla extract.
• Fold in the flour using a large metal spoon, adding a little extra milk if necessary, to create a batter with a soft dropping consistency.
• Divide the mixture between the cake tins and gently spread out with a spatula.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden-brown on top and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and set aside for 5 minutes, then remove from the tin and peel off the paper. Place onto a wire rack.
• Whip the cream with a whisk or electric handheld mixer until it forms soft peaks when the whisk is removed.
• Sandwich the cakes together the whipped cream and berries. 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.

EASY VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180c. Add the butter and sugar into a bowl and beat until light, pale and fluffy.
• Pour the beaten eggs in little by little, stirring in-between. TIP: If it begins to curdle, add a little flour.
• Add the vanilla extract and mix.
• Sift the flour and baking powder in and mix.
• Divide evenly between two greased 20cm cake tins.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes.
• Allow to cool and remove from tins.
• Sandwich both together with the cream/butter cream and jam in the middle.
• Dust with icing sugar.
• Ta da! Ready to eat!

VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• you will need: 2x19cm (71/2 in) diameter, 4cm (11/2in) deep sandwich cake tins, greased and bases lined with baking parchment.
• Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C fan, 350F, gas mark 4.
• Prepare the cake tins, weigh ingredients and sift the flour 3 times to give it a good airing.
• Make sure the butter and eggs are at room temperature.
• In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a hand held electric whisk until pale and light- about 10 minutes.
• Mix the eggs and vanilla with a fork.
• Gradually whisk the eggs into the creamed mixture- in about 5 parts.
• Beat each addition of egg in well before adding the next.
• Add a little of the sifted flour with the last addition of egg if the mixture looks like it is separating.
• When all the egg has been beaten in, lightly fold in half the flour using a metal tablespoon.
• Then fold in the remaining flour until combined.
• Divide the mixture between the cake tins and spread level.
• bake in the centre of the oven for 20-25 minutes.
• Touch the centre of each cake with your fingertips if they fell springy and no imprint remains, they are done.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tins for 2 minutes, then turn out on to a cooling rack.
• Sandwich the layers together with jam or curd and dust with icing sugar.

BLACKBERRY VICTORIA SPONGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Use a pastry brush to brush two 20cm round cake tins with a little butter, then line them with baking parchment (see How to Line a Cake Tin).
• Place a clean cloth under a large bowl - this will keep it steady as you mix. Weigh the butter, caster sugar and vanilla extract into the bowl.
• Make sure the whisk attachments are fitted securely in your hand whisk, then plug it in. Turn the whisk on to a medium speed and use it to whisk the ingredients together for 2 mins, or until they look smooth and creamy. Make sure you keep your fingers away from the whisk while it's turned on.
• Crack the eggs into a small bowl. Continue whisking the butter and sugar and use your other hand to tip in the eggs, one at a time. Mix for 1 min more or until smooth.
• Weigh the flour and add it to the bowl. Use a spatula to fold the ingredients together until there are no pockets of flour and the cake mixture is smooth.
• Use your spatula to divide the cake mixture evenly between the cake tins, then spread the mixture to the edges and smooth the surface.
• Use oven gloves to place the tins on the middle shelf of the oven and set a timer for 22 mins. When the timer beeps, use your oven gloves to pull the oven rack out of the oven slightly but leave the cakes inside, they should be risen and golden brown. Insert a skewer into the centre of the cakes to check if they're cooked: if the skewer comes out dry, they're cooked; if there is any wet cake mixture on the skewer, the cakes need a little longer in the oven. If this is the case, return them to the oven and bake for another 5 mins, then check again.
• Use your oven gloves to carefully remove the cakes from the oven, place them on a cooling rack and allow to cool for 15 mins in the tin. When cool enough to handle, turn the cakes out onto the rack and remove the baking parchment, then leave until completely cool.
• Measure the double cream in a jug and pour it into a large mixing bowl. Measure the icing sugar in a measuring spoon and add it to the cream. Use your electric hand whisk to whip the cream until it is softly whipped, like clouds.
• Place one of the cakes on a plate or cake stand, then use a spatula or palette knife to spread the cream over the cake in an even layer. Put the blackberries on top of the cream, then put the other cake on top. Use a sieve or icing shaker to dust the cake with a little icing sugar. This is best served straight away but will keep in the fridge for two days.

VICTORIA SPONGE (CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350*.
• Cream butter and sugar, add the vanilla and then the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour between each one. Fold in the rest of the flour and cornstarch and enough of the milk to create a mixture that is a soft, dropping consistency.
• Alternatively, put all ingredients except milk in a food processor and process to a smooth consistency. Then add milk slowly and pulse to reach soft, dropping consistency.
• (Only include the baking powder if you're using the processor method.).
• Pour and scrape the batter into 2 - 8" round cake pans that have been buttered and lined with parchment or wax paper. Bake for about 25 minutes, until cakes are beginning to come away from the edges, are springy to the touch on top and a cake tester comes away clean. Leave the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 min before turning out and leaving to cool completely.
• When ready to eat the cake, put one layer on a plate, right-way up, spread with jam and scatter fruit on top. Spread a layer of whipped cream on top of frit. Sit the other cake on top and sprinkle with a tbsp or so of sugar.

VICTORIA SPONGE BUTTERFLY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• You will need: 1 bowl, 1 wooden spoon or electric mixer, 1 sieve 1 12-hole cupcake tin lined with paper cases, a skewer or toothpick, a metal/plastic spoon, and a wire rack for cooling.
• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 180oC (350oF) Gas 4.
• Beat the butter and caster sugar together until pale and fluffy, then beat in the eggs, one at a time. Combine the flour and baking powder and sift into the mixture. Fold in, then stir in the vanilla extract.
• Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and bake in the preheated oven for about 17 minutes, until risen and golden and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• For the buttercream: Cream the margarine, and gradually sift the icing sugar into the mixture, and cream together. Add the vanilla extract, and stir.
• Carefully slice the top off each cake, then cut each top in half. Spoon a dollop of jam, and then buttercream into the middle of each cake. Then top with the two halves, setting them at an angle to resemble wings. Dust with icing sugar if you wish, and serve.