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Victoria Sponge

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baked goods•british•vegetarian, contains gluten, contains dairy, contains eggs
95 minutes•8 servings•

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces unsalted butter – softened
  • 8 ounces caster sugar
  • 4 eggs – at room temperature
  • 8 ounces all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder (8g)
  • 1/2 cup raspberry jam
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream – chilled
  • 1 tbsp powdered sugar
  • caster sugar – for dusting (for serving)
Victoria Sponge

Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

  2. 2.

    In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and caster sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until very pale and fluffy, 3–5 minutes.

  3. 3.

    Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. If the mixture looks slightly curdled, beat in a spoonful of the measured flour to bring it back together.

  4. 4.

    In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the batter in two additions until just combined and no dry patches remain.

  5. 5.

    Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and level the tops.

  6. 6.

    Bake until well risen, golden, and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20–25 minutes. A skewer inserted in the center should come out clean.

  7. 7.

    Cool the cakes in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack, peel off the parchment, and let cool completely, 45–60 minutes.

  8. 8.

    While the cakes cool, whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar to soft peaks, 1–2 minutes; keep chilled.

  9. 9.

    Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread the raspberry jam evenly over the top, then spread the whipped cream over the jam.

  10. 10.

    Set the second cake layer on top. Dust the top with caster sugar. Slice and serve.

Victoria Sponge is a light, buttery two-layer cake sandwiched with jam and often a cushion of softly whipped cream. The crumb is tender yet sturdy, with a fine, even texture that comes from creaming butter and sugar before gently folding in flour. Its appeal lies in its simplicity: clean flavors of butter and egg, a bright layer of jam, and a delicate sugar-dusted top that pairs perfectly with tea.

Named for Queen Victoria, who reportedly enjoyed a slice with her afternoon tea, this sponge emerged in the 19th century alongside the rise of chemical leaveners. It became a quintessential British teatime treat and a benchmark for home bakers, often called a Victoria Sandwich. Over time, it inspired friendly debates—jam-only versus jam-and-cream fillings—yet the equal-weight sponge and straightforward method have remained central to its identity.