The Victoria Sponge Cake stands as a timeless British masterpiece. Venture into any café, bakery, or coffee shop across England, and you’re sure to encounter this elegantly layered, sugar-sprinkled confection. I lived in England for over a decade, and it was there that I fell in love with the Victoria Sponge. To this day, it’s my favorite sweet treat from Britain.
What Is Victoria Sponge Cake
The Victoria Sponge Cake is named after Queen Victoria, who was the queen of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901. During her reign, a new trend started where people would enjoy a slice of sponge cake with their afternoon tea. Queen Victoria was a big fan of this cake, so it was named in her honor. It’s a tradition that has carried on, making the Victoria Sponge a classic British dessert. It’s important to note that this Victoria Sponge Cake isn’t like the fluffy sponge cakes we have in America. This cake is moist, a bit more dense, yet still soft and tender. Filled with cream and jam on the inside, it’s a delicious dessert that’s too good to pass up.
The Great Debate
I’ve seen Victoria Sponge Cake in many variations – Some have raspberry or strawberry jam, whipped cream, buttercream, or even fresh fruit inside. When I first posted this recipe, I got some backlash for using buttercream instead of fresh whipped cream (in Britain, it’s commonly unsweetened). I was confused. Did I mess up? So, I asked an English baker friend, and she was clear – buttercream is the way to go! Apparently, there is much debate on this classic cake.
Buttercream or Whipped Cream?
If you google this, the results will be split! So, in an effort to please everyone, I created a second recipe for Victoria Sponge Cake with Whipped Cream. One thing is clear – they are both delicious.
Step by Step Instructions
Although this is an all-in-one cake, it’s a good idea to start by adding the butter and sugar to the bowl first, so they get a chance to cream together (2 cups of very soft butter and 1½ cups of granulated sugar). Then add 4 eggs, 2¼ cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and 6 tablespoons of milk. This method is great for when you want to bake but have little time to do it. It’s perfect for a last-minute get-together or surprise guests! Mix until blended and smooth, being careful not to overmix. Divide the batter between two greased 8-inch round pans. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes in the pans before moving them to a cooling rack. While the cakes cool, prepare the super-easy buttercream for the filling. Beat together ½ cup of softened butter, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, and ½ cup of icing sugar until creamy. Once the cake is cooled, trim off any hump on one of the layers to make it flat. Add it to a cake plate to assemble the cake, and spread the buttercream over the bottom layer. Followed by spreading on a ¼ cup of jam. Sandwich the second sponge on top of the layer of jam. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Serve and enjoy every last bite. Update Notes: This post was originally published in 2014 but was republished with new photos, content, and an updated recipe in 2023. Erren’s Kitchen is written and produced for informational intentions only. We are not certified nutritionists, and the nutritional information found on this site has not been assessed or authorized by a nutritionist or the FDA. The nutritional information found in our recipes is offered as an estimate and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. The estimated data is provided as a courtesy and calculated through a third-party online nutritional calculator, spoonacular API. Although we do our best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered rough estimates. Many factors, such as brands or products purchased and the nutritional fluctuations that naturally occur in fresh produce, can alter the effectiveness of the nutritional information in any recipe. Furthermore, various online calculators provide different results depending on their particular algorithms and nutrition fact sources. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
