Victoria Sponge

Serves 6

Named after Queen Victoria, this English dessert is perfect for afternoon tea. Victoria sponge cake, tastes its best when it is full of lashings of cream and jam, so make sure you are generous. If you haven’t done much baking this is the place to start, there are so few ingredients and it is simple. So long as you follow the instructions and don’t open the oven too early it will be perfect. 

Ingredients

• 280g flour, self raising
• 280g butter
• 280g caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 300ml double cream, whipped
• Jar of strawberry jam

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C or gas mark 6.
2. Put the butter into a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until softened.
3. Add the sugar and mix.
4. Add the 3 eggs and the flour to this and mix until smooth.
5. Divide the mixture between two 20cm greased circle pan.
6. Bake in the oven at 200°C or gas mark 6 for 30-40 minutes until firm to the touch.
7. Leave to cool.
8. Turn one upside down and spread jam and cream over it and place the other on top.