Yesterday morning I baked a cake. I gave in to a terrific urge to make a proper, grown-up Cakey type cake as opposed to the child-orientated buns/cookies/flapjack that I usually bake. I love it when this sort of baking desire strikes, cos it's usually a fairly easy desire to fulfill, and the satisfaction rate is beautifully High.
The object of my desire yesterday was Victoria Sponge. Nothing else would do. It absolutely, completely, totally had to be this exact cake. Now I'm not sure, but I honestly don't think I've ever made a Victoria Sponge before, excepting maybe at school in cookery class. Although it's a very traditional, classic English cake, it has a reputation for being a little bit tricksy to get right. In fact I think it's entirely possible to make a very bad Victoria sponge (too heavy, too dry, burnt around the edges, uncooked and sunken in the middle etc etc), and not at all easy to achieve the light, airy, moist and golden Object of my Desire. But I took on the challenge and gave it a go anyways.
This is my recipe, adapted from my old never-fail bun recipe::
150g caster sugar, creamed with 150g margarine.
2 beaten eggs with a tsp vanilla essence and a splash of hot water. Whizz it all up furiously until light and fluffy.
150g self raising flour, folded in gently.
Divide mixture between 2 well greased or lined 8" tins, and bake at 180/350/gas 4 for 30mins until risen and lightly golden. The cakes should be slightly springy to the touch.
Turn out of the tins very carefully (my tins have a loose bottom which is very handy for this) and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
For the filling I made butter cream icing (50g unsalted butter creamed with 100g icing sugar) and added a good spreading of strawberry jam. Sandwich it all together and dust the top lightly with icing sugar.
The resulting cake was quite honestly incredible.
In-CRED-ible.
It was light, oh it was so-so-so light. It was moist and fluffy and sweet and just absolutely scrummy. It looked lovely on my cake stand, all sugar dusty on top with butter cream and jam oozing out from the middle. But truthfully the look of it was nothing compared to the experience of stuffing it sweetly into my mouth.
Incredible I tell you.
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That looks really yummy. If we didn't still have lots of gingerbread men, shortbread, coconut macaroons and other cakes and cookies left over from Christmas I would bake it right now.
Posted by: Karen | January 08, 2012 at 10:43 PM
That's so funny that you made a Victoria sponge because when you said at the end of your last post that you were going for a cup of tea and some cake I started yearning for a cake, and a Victoria sponge was just what I was picturing. Looks divine! Thanks for sharing once again!
Posted by: Louise | January 08, 2012 at 10:47 PM
looks like a recipe I will need to try in a few weeks, trying to be good & lose some weight, but I think that cake will be a nice reward at some point!!! Thanks for posting! Have a great week!
Posted by: Patti, Pa (USA) | January 08, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Now that looks delicious, I may need a wee slice of cake to take the edge of my new craving! I am really partial to a slice of banana/fruit loaf, yum!
Posted by: Deco Cat | January 08, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Judging from the photo this cake must be really delicious! In my basement there are so many jars of jam made by me and someone will end in Victoria sponge o)
Posted by: Maria | January 08, 2012 at 11:15 PM
Now look what you've done...you've made my mouth water, and it's 11.45 PM and there's nothing I can do about it. True cake porn.
Posted by: Karima Kerby | January 08, 2012 at 11:45 PM
VERY good- hugely impressed.My many attempts over the years at an edible Victoria sponge have,without fail,resulted in dustbin moments.
Posted by: Kate | January 09, 2012 at 12:04 AM
I love your blog, I discovered it today by chance,
I am in the USA and gladly will try the Victoria sponge cake, thanks for sharing your recipe :))
Posted by: Allie | January 09, 2012 at 12:41 AM
Bravo, Lucy!
I tried to make a Victoria Sponge a while ago. It looked okay, but it was heavy and hard, a total disaster. When I blogged about it, my kind UK friends gave me some great tips. I must try again!
Posted by: Pom Pom | January 09, 2012 at 01:00 AM
The cake looks great.
Posted by: Rural Tennessee, USA | January 09, 2012 at 01:29 AM
Yum, yum - you've totally put me in the mood for Victoria Sponge now!
Posted by: Katie | January 09, 2012 at 02:09 AM
Hmmmm....I've been on a bit of a baking binge -- must be the cold weather and the desire to have some comfort food. I'm going to let those lovely photos percolate in my brain until next weekend, and then if I can convert the recipe to American measurements (and ingredients), I just might give it a try. I even happened to have strawberry jam on tomorrow's grocery list!
Posted by: WendyBee | January 09, 2012 at 02:17 AM
Looks terrific. I live (and bake,crochet, garden, etc.) in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Where can I find an American version of this recipe? I've tried converting European recipes without success.
Posted by: maryann witalec keyes | January 09, 2012 at 02:27 AM
my mouth is watering!!! I don't think I've EVER had Victoria Cake... so I believe that will be next weekend's recipe to try!!! lovely!!!
Posted by: CTalina | January 09, 2012 at 03:03 AM
oooh yum! That looks positively scrummy - where's my bit? Just learned to make one of these myself after being introduced to them by my cousin who lives across the pond as we say. Delish! I filled mine with homemade raspberry jam as it was all that was in the pantry at the time, but strawberry sounds lovely too...must try it.
Posted by: Marisa | January 09, 2012 at 03:12 AM
Can I just say I am totally in love with your bloga nd it is almost my last read before I hit the sack every night. Your work is inspiring and the ideas are simple. Keep up the good work :) It's really swell :)
Posted by: Maddy | January 09, 2012 at 04:52 AM
That looks absolutely delicious!! I will defiitely have to try this recipe!
Posted by: molly | January 09, 2012 at 04:53 AM
On my...my...MY. This looks just beautiful and soooo scrumptious. :}
Posted by: Launi | January 09, 2012 at 05:55 AM
You win the 1st prize rosette for the 'make my mouth water' category this morning, i could just eat a piece of that right now.
Have a lovely week!
Posted by: Julie | January 09, 2012 at 09:45 AM
Oh my word, I am so coming to yours for coffee & cake on a Sunday afternoon!
Posted by: Wendy | January 09, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Yummy. Last time I made Victoria sponge cake I was in school, UK. Have you ever made brownies, would love to see a post on this, I have been wanting to have a try for ages. My first try came out flat, and have no idea why?
Have just printed out your ripple blanket pattern, and plan to have a go really soon, thanks.
Posted by: Ginny | January 09, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Mouth watering. Making me drool. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Donna | January 09, 2012 at 11:01 AM
It looks really scrummy.
I have avoided cooking Victoria sponges since the disaster in Domestic Science decades ago.
Posted by: Wendy | January 09, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Looks yummy! I hate a bad Victoria sandwich. :)
Posted by: idiosyncratic eye | January 09, 2012 at 11:49 AM
oooh, i have the girls coming over on sunday for a day of crochet, and i just might have to whip this up! looks delish, and thanks for the recipe x x x x x
Posted by: anissa | January 09, 2012 at 11:56 AM