Mar 30 2013

Typically British: The Victoria Sponge

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Serves: Makes ~8-10 slices
Cost: ~€1.80
Preparation and cooking time: ~30 minutes
Calories: ~282 per slice

Hi again everyone, I’ve been busy in my parents’ kitchen and I wanted to make something typically British to commemorate my vacation here. This is a bit of a continuation from my Swedish sockerkaka recipe. I wrote there about many countries having their own basic “sponge” cake. Sweden has the aforementioned sockerkaka, North America has the pound cake and then good old England has the Victoria Sponge. Since the Brits are so fond of afternoon tea, and there really is no other more quintessentially British cake than this, to be consumed after the crust-less cucumber sandwiches at high tea on a Sunday afternoon, then this seemed like the perfect think to make.

The traditional Victoria Sponge should be sandwiched with raspberry jam and dusted with caster sugar. If you start fiddling about with fillings and toppings it is apparently no longer a Victoria Sponge – rather just a sponge… a “Victoria Wannabe” if you will. I must admit, I do like adding a buttercream filling to my cakes so mine aren’t always completely traditional, but they’re good nevertheless.

I’m a terrible corner-cutter with sponge cakes and over the years it’s got to the point where they’ve become heavy cakes which dry very quickly. For this recipe it was back to basics. I wanted to do everything “the right way” once again, to ensure that the results were optimal. This even included going back in time a bit, from a equipment point of view, and using my parents’ slightly less than accurate kitchen scales. In this digital age I’m used to precision accuracy, down to the gram, but this older style scale certainly has its charm!

Despite being in an unfamiliar kitchen, using a gas-powered, non fan-controlled oven, and these balance-style scales the resulting cake was actually one of the best sponge cakes I’ve made in a long time. A fact confirmed by my wife who is so used to my rushed offerings, so this really does go to show that small acts in baking – sifting, folding and the like – can make a huge difference to the final product!

Before I get to the cake though, a few photos from my trip so far. Please forgive the grainy cellphone photos, the light wasn’t the best in a couple of them, but I thought I’d briefly show you about what I’ve been doing. My wife and I had a wonderful meal – alone. Just the two of us. That was absolutely fantastic and pictured is my starter of Guinea Fowl Terrine with Onion Bhaji:

My son has also been expanding his gastronomic horizons. On the menu today: “Table”!

We’ve also been out and about visiting a few places, although not quite as many as we’d have hoped. It’s been really cold and windy which makes going outside for any extended period of time less than a pleasure, sadly. Pictured below is a photo taken at the top of a (cold) hill called “Spread Eagle Hill” in Dorset. The arrangement of the hills and valleys here kind of look like an out-stretched eagle in flight, although it’s a little difficult to explain how from the Google Maps view.

There are great views from the top and we used to picnic near here as a family when I was younger. I have many memories of sitting in a car sipping tea and eating potato salad, as it was raining outside! That, in case you were wondering, is how the Brits do picnics; never put off by a bit of rain, we’ll happily sit in the car eating the food and, naturally, complaining about the weather!

I have two trips coming up so will duly take photos and share them with you soon, in the meantime though I hope you enjoy the rest of the post, and have a great day (and a very happy easter!). I apologise if I haven’t replied to your comments yet or been to any other blogs in a while – I’ll catch up with that shortly as well.

Victoria Sponge Cake

Ingredients

For the sponge

170g Butter, softened
170g Caster Sugar
170g Self-raising Flour
3 Eggs

For the filling

4tbsps Raspberry Jam
Plain Buttercream if desired

Instructions

Start off by preheating your oven to 190 degrees Celsius, and then grease two round 18cm sandwich tins, ideally lining the bases with a circle of waxed paper as well.
In a large bowl, place the softened butter and caster sugar. Beat the two together until creamy and pale in colour. Crack the eggs into a small jug and whisk until frothy, before pouring in, bit by bit, into the creamed butter and sugar – beating well between each addition, to prevent curdling. Finally, sift the flour into the batter and fold into the mixture using a metal spoon. Do not beat in the flour as you will take out all the air.
Divide the mixture equally between the two sandwich tins and spread out well. Place into the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Do not open the oven door until the time is up as this will cause the cakes to sink in the middle. Once the 20 minutes has elapsed and the cakes are looking golden brown on top then open the door and check one by running a fork or skewer into the middle. It’s done when the fork comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to sit in the tin for a few minutes before removing onto a wire cooling rack.
Once the cakes have completely cooled, sandwich together with the raspberry jam, and the buttercream if desired. Sprinkle the top with a little extra caster sugar and serve immediately!

Comments

The Wife says
March 30, 2013 at 09:25

This was amazing; light and airy and absolutely perfect. For Christmas I'm getting you one of those flour sifter thingamajigs!

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 00:51
  
  What's this - more kitchen gadgets? Don't mind if I do... and an ice-cream maker plixplox!
  
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Hotly Spiced says
March 31, 2013 at 05:07

I love the old-fashioned scales and I'm not surprised they served you well with this sponge. I buy that brand of jam too and it would be just the perfect choice with this sponge. I love sponge cake and yours looks so yummy and yes, just perfect for a British afternoon tea. Does England ever have good weather? xx

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 00:59
  
  Hi Charlie - they're certainly not convenient if you want to get the weight of something... like say you wanted to find out how heavy a potato was, but to weigh out flour and the like for a cake they're surprisingly effective :). England does have some ok-ish weather sometimes... sadly the weather seems all kinds of screwy right now so I think we'll need to wait a bit for the next batch of good weather here :D
  
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mjskit says
March 31, 2013 at 05:56

So was William watching you making this gorgeous cake and couldn't wait so he started on the table. :) He's SO cute! This cake looks so light and moist and love the jam AND buttercream! So good!

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:01
  
  Hi MJ - I just couldn't get over how cute he is like that... it makes me want to scoop him up and give him a big ol' cuddle!
  
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Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
March 31, 2013 at 18:03

Table, no salt or pepper required. He's so cute! You two must be having the time of your lives and your parents would be in heaven having him there. I made my first Victoria sponge last year. It's really good :)

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:04
  
  Hehe, absolutely Maureen :). My parents are loving seeing the little guy... they're going to be SO sad when we leave I think - as are we! :(
  
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sara says
April 1, 2013 at 01:08

This cake is so pretty! I love that jam layer in the middle. :)

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:04
  
  Thank you Sara, and thank you for visiting here :)
  
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Amira says
April 1, 2013 at 05:05

Your cake looks so sweet and delicious,but your son is so much sweeter. I really enjoy seeing his sweet and innocent face.

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:07
  
  Hehe, thanks Amira - I would certainly choose my son over cake any day!
  
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Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
April 1, 2013 at 18:31

What a lovely cake, the raspberry jam filling is perfect for spring!

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:08
  
  Thanks Laura - my wife even said it was one of the best I ever made... how's that for an endorsement! :)
  
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Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
April 1, 2013 at 19:46

William is so cute, I can see that he could not wait for a cake so he started to eat a table :)

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:09
  
  Hehe, if he prefers table that's his loss... more cake for me instead :D
  
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[email protected] at Marina says
April 2, 2013 at 01:45

Charles, the cake is amazing! Makes me wonder if I should switch back to balanced scales?! :) Your adorable son was eager to taste even table before you made that cake! Did he get a piece?

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:11
  
  Hi Marina - I do like the precision of digital scales, but I really appreciate the "old world charm" of balances... not so keen on measuring in pounds and ounces though. Give me grams any day!
  
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Kristy says
April 2, 2013 at 04:04

I am not a big cake fan as you know Charles, but this one looks downright delicious to me! It looks so moist and that filling alone is to die for. Mmm! I'm so glad you are enjoying your visit. The photos are great - especially William eating the table. I would love to explore England more one of these days. I was in London for a few days after college and loved it, but I would really like to see the countryside. And I think it's so cool you got to use that scale - it is just gorgeous! It looks like something you'd see in a store for an outrageous amount of money. So fun! :) Looking forward to more. (And glad you had a great date night too!)

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:15
  
  Hi Kristy, the English countryside is gorgeous... I do miss it a lot. I'd hoped to take many more photos but it's hard... the weather was freezing, William was teething and almost any car journey longer than 20 minutes resulted in him wailing so much he started to cough and choke so we had to stop, calm him down, and carry on for a bit, before repeating until we finally got home. The tooth in question has finally cut through now so hopefully the journey back to France should be... slightly easier!
  
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[email protected] says
April 2, 2013 at 04:45

Such a beautiful, light, airy cake!!! And you have an adorable son!! I haven't been here in a while,I apoligise for that. It's good to visit again.

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:16
  
  Thank you so much Minnie :) Nice to see you!
  
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Chica Andaluza says
April 2, 2013 at 16:32

The first thing my grandmother taught me to bake - and no electric beater for me, it was all elbow grease! Your son is looking adorable :)

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:19
  
  Hi Chica, I think it was one of the first things I learnt too... along with some curious cookies called "Bumblies" I think :)
  
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Shirley says
April 2, 2013 at 17:23

Call me un-American, but I'd choose the Victoria sponge over a pound cake in a heartbeat any day! Looks wonderful, and beautiful scale.

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:20
  
  Hi Shirley, I must admit I don't think I ever had a "traditional" pound cake. I should give one a try some day! A good Victoria sponge is fantastic though, I do agree :)
  
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Anneli (Delicieux) says
April 2, 2013 at 18:34

Hey Charles, your sponge cake looks just stunning. You can't beat the classics. My mouth is now literally watering at the thought of a lovely chunky slice and a cup of strong tea. How very British :)

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:22
  
  Hehe, thanks Anneli. Speaking of tea, I managed to get some Keemun tea... I haven't had it in absolutely years! Have you tried it?
  
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betsyb says
April 2, 2013 at 20:39

Ah, there's the sponge, and how light looking and pretty it is. It really does look much lighter than our American, or at least southern American pound cake does. Much more open crumb...just delicious looking. And it's nice to know that young William already has such a broad palette! Glad you're enjoying the trip, Charles. :)

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:23
  
  Hi Betsy, I will admit I never tried a pound cake - I should really have a look into making one sometime. A good Victoria Sponge is fab though - so light!
  
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A_Boleyn says
April 3, 2013 at 00:40

The cake looks so light and tender. And very simple to make.

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- Charles says
  April 3, 2013 at 01:24
  
  Thanks A_ :)
  
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  - A_Boleyn says
    April 9, 2013 at 15:36
    
    I just noticed that we both used a Bonne Maman brand preserves. I used the cherry ones for my last sponge roll. Great stuff.
    
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Eva Taylor says
April 3, 2013 at 02:32

This type of cake is really my favourite, so light and fluffy and that gorgeous pairing with the jam and cream, very beautiful and tasty looking for sure! I'm sorry your weather isn't great, it sucks to have lousy weather on vacation (like ours last fall). But at least you get to spend some wonderful quality time with your parents. And the time William gets to spend with them is something really special. And how generous of your mom to let you cook in her kitchen. Now William sure makes that table look delicious! I do hope your weather turns around Charles; it's still darn bitter cold here in Toronto, spring can't come soon enough.

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:31
  
  Hi Eva, typically the weather got really nice the last couple of days we were there. At least we got to enjoy a few moments of warm sunshine (although there was still an icy wind at times).
  
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Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
April 3, 2013 at 06:30

The thing about you having a little boy now.. is that I am shocked when I've been away and not visited your blog often enough.. for he is no longer a tiny baby! Where did the time fly and where have I been? William's a sweetheart! And I love your Sponge (being Canadian and pseudo British) I have fond memories of Sponge but I think my mom may have made us the wannabe version because I don't remember jam? But lemon curd for some reason??

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- Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
  April 3, 2013 at 06:33
  
  btw.. I love your blog look as well.
  
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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:33
  
  Hi Barb, I know - he's 10 days off being 8 months old!! I can't believe it, really I can't! Lemon curd is a common filling in this cake too - it's pretty good I must say, but you can't beat jam in my opinion. I'm not that well-versed in other sponges... I really want to make a chiffon cake, and also a génoise, so that's something I will work on soon.
  
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GourmetGetaways says
April 3, 2013 at 07:05

Oh I love the look of your sponge with the lush red jam and gorgeous cream!! My mum used to make this when I was a child but it has been years since I had a good sponge cake. Love the pic of your son eating the table... so cute :)

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:35
  
  Hi GG - it was so typical, the one I made in England... with the inaccurate balance scales was, apparently, according to my wife, the best sponge cake I've ever made. I tried again to make it on Sunday, and what do I end up with? A dense, much more compact cake. Sigh... I can't win :p
  
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Bam's Kitchen says
April 3, 2013 at 13:14

Hello Charles, dont you feed that boy, he has to naw on tables to get that extra fiber in his diet? LOL...Too cute! Love high tea and love this very light and delicate cake is just beautiful. So pretty I could picture that being served in the Peninsula hotel in Kowloon for high tea. Really love that old scale.

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:37
  
  Hehe, nah, he only gets table for dinner when he's bad! Normally he can have some real food. As you can see, he must have been very bad indeed on this particular day, hence why he's eating the table so hungrily :D
  
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Kitchen Belleicious says
April 3, 2013 at 20:54

that filling is just enough to do me in. I must make this soon!

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:35
  
  Hi KB - I hope you get a chance to enjoy it :)
  
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Sissi says
April 3, 2013 at 23:00

Gorgeous! I am usually not a big fan of sponge cakes, but this one looks amazingly attractive. Soft, light and the jam, at first sounding so simple and basic, here seems to be a sophisticated necessary touch to make the cake perfect. I can well see it served with excellent British tea. Congratulations! It's good to hear that in spite of the weather Britons don't give up such activities as picnics. A car is as good as grass, isn't it? Especially if there is good potato salad... I hope you have had wonderful time with your family. PS On certain French markets people still use such scales (not as beautiful though, but the same old method).

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:40
  
  Hi Sissi - my wife was very impressed. She's normally not a fan at all of the English sponge cake (probably because I cut corners so much and they're more dry and compact than they should be). This one really was a wonderful cake, though I tried to make it again on Sunday and it was, once again, compact and dry, even though I tried my best to make it as I did in England :( I must say - for me, a car is even *better* than grass. There seem to be bugs *everywhere* in the grass around here and I can't relax knowing there might be something crawling in my clothes at any moment! On the subject of the scales - our pediatrician has a balance-style scale which he uses to weigh babies. That's what I call old-school! :D
  
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Jean | Delightful Repast says
April 4, 2013 at 19:58

Charles, it's a beauty! I love a good Victoria sponge. I make mine a little differently, using less batter (but same proportions) in one 7-inch tin and splitting it into two layers, and rather than buttercream I spread a layer of whipped cream over the jam. But I would like yours too! And I love your parents' scale. In fact, I am coveting it!

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:43
  
  Hi Jean - I've been churning out some real rubbish sponge cakes, so I was delighted that this one turned out so well. It's definitely something that needs to be eaten quick though. After a day or so it does start to get rather dry and crumbly sadly... in my experience at least.
  
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Barb @ Profiteroles & Ponytails says
April 5, 2013 at 03:24

Charles, you have a way with cakes! I'm sitting here thinking about how I want to make your apple cake (especially after seeing Eva's version too) and now this -- but I don't currently have an occasion to make one of them for. I guess I just need to organize a dinner party toute suite! Now about that William...who gave him permission to grow up so fast? What a cutie! Glad you were able to sneak in a dinner for two on your travels. Those moments are to be cherished, aren't they?

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:45
  
  Hi Barb - ah, it was fantastic, having the dinner together. William seems to have now learned how to crawl (and he can even pull himself up to standing, though soon topples over) and my God he can move fast. He was zooming over the floor to me today, and if he's next to you, you'd better not look away because if you blink that's it... he's off somewhere :D
  
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Kelly @ Inspired Edibles says
April 6, 2013 at 18:29

Wait a minute... that *cannot* be William?! Is he graduating from college next week? The size and depth of personality ;-). Wow. Ça va vite mon ami. I have never made sponge cake, though have always liked the idea, and what better place to start than a traditional British recipe. I also happen to be a fan of Bonne Maman jam :). Fun seeing it here. What a photo of the English countryside Charles and the lovely memory of sipping tea as a youngster in the car; my boys love tea too - it's a wonderful tradition.

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- Charles says
  April 9, 2013 at 00:49
  
  Hi Kelly, it's crazy isn't it? He suddenly seems to be changing. When we went to England he had... I think 2 teeth? He now has 6... they all seem to be pushing through right now, but he's a little trooper. He cries horribly sometimes - it breaks my heart to hear it because the pain must be unimaginable - but in general he can be calmed quite quickly and will soon be laughing and smiling again. Not only that but since England he can now zoom around on the floor by himself and he can really move once he starts going. I was able to get two of my favourite teas in England from Twinings. Keemun and Rose Garden (which used to be called Rose Pouchong). Soooo good! Have you ever tried them?
  
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[email protected] chef in disguise says
April 9, 2013 at 21:31

The picture of your little prince is just precious. Reminds me of the time my daughter was almost two and decided to chew the corner off one of my hardcover books! I still have the book and she giggles at the story that comes with it The cake looks super fluffy and moist Charles,nothing short of perfect

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- Charles says
  April 15, 2013 at 00:17
  
  Hi Sawsan, you made me chuckle. We have a really cute book we read to William and we discovered today that during one of his many crawling adventures, he must have found the book and turned the back cover into a complete mess with his little teeth. It's all bent and broken now :D
  
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dedy oktavianus [email protected]_Chef says
April 29, 2013 at 23:55

lucky you my friend, i really love your ethnic weight scaller.. your sponge cake seems so moist and soft great job!

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- Charles says
  May 2, 2013 at 16:31
  
  Thank you Dedy :)
  
  Reply

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Typically British: The Victoria Sponge

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