Victoria sponge cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 8-10 slices

Description

The Victoria Sponge Cake is a timeless British classic, named after Queen Victoria herself. This light and fluffy sponge cake is filled with strawberry jam and whipped cream, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. It’s ideal for afternoon tea, birthdays, or any special occasion.

Ingredients

For the Sponge Cake:

• 200g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened

• 200g (1 cup) caster sugar (superfine sugar)

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 200g (1 ⅔ cups) self-raising flour, sifted

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp milk (optional, for a softer texture)

For the Filling:

• 100g (⅓ cup) strawberry jam (or raspberry jam)

• 150ml (⅔ cup) heavy cream (double cream), whipped

• 1 tbsp icing sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven & Prepare the Pans

• Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F, Gas Mark 4).

• Grease and line two 20cm (8-inch) round cake tins with parchment paper.

2. Make the Sponge Batter

• In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes).

• Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. If the mixture curdles, add a spoonful of flour to stabilize it.

• Fold in the sifted flour, baking powder, and vanilla extract gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.

• If the batter is too thick, add 1-2 tbsp milk to loosen it slightly.

3. Bake the Cakes

• Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake tins.

• Smooth the tops with a spatula and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean.

• Let the cakes cool in the tins for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Prepare the Filling

• Whip the cream until soft peaks form.

• Spread the jam evenly over the top of one sponge cake.

• Spread the whipped cream over the jam layer.

• Place the second sponge cake on top and press gently.

5. Decorate & Serve

• Dust the top with icing sugar before serving.

• Slice and enjoy with a cup of tea!

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Tips for the Perfect Victoria Sponge

✅ Use room-temperature ingredients for a smoother batter.
✅ Do not overmix—this keeps the sponge light.
✅ Let cakes cool completely before assembling to prevent melting the cream.
✅ Try different jams like raspberry or blackcurrant for variation.

Enjoy baking this classic Victoria Sponge Cake—a delightful treat that never goes out of style! 🍰