A classic simple Victoria Sponge cake using the creaming method. A straightforward and easy bake for children keen on getting involved in the kitchen.
Today’s blog post is for a classic simple Victoria Sponge. The recipe comes courtesy of our guest blogger, my 10 year old daughter Anna. Last Saturday I decided to do a spot of baking with Anna who loves to bake. “What do you want to bake?” I ask, to which Anna replies ” a Victoria Sponge, like the Great British Bakeoff.” A lovely Victoria sponge she bakes too, it has a great rise on it. She’s so happy with herself that I take a photo of her and Instagram it out #proudmum.
The photo of her classic simple Victoria Sponge gets lots of likes. One lovely blogger Christina’s Cucina takes the time to like the post and give Anna some lovely praise. She also asks if she can share Anna’s photo on her page as she loves to see kids baking. I mention that Anna will be most impressed to think that someone in Los Angeles has liked her cake. Christina kindly shares the post, asking people to like the photo and comment on where they are in the world.
Anna was utterly delighted when she woke on Sunday morning to see the wonderful comments from all around the world. These comments gave praise and encouragement and many asked Anna for her recipe. What none of you who commented will know is that my daughter is a quiet and shy girl. By taking the time to comment you have given her confidence in what she can do well. What better inspiration and for something as cool as baking. So enough from this mother, over to Anna!
Anna (baker, cook, roller skating, hockey playing, artist):
Hi everybody, thank you so much for liking my classic simple Victoria Sponge photo. I was really excited when I woke up last Sunday to learn where you all live and I wish I could send you all a slice of my cake. Cooking is great fun and I have been cooking with Mum since I was a little girl. When I was 3 years old I started to cook and bake, Mum is very strict with knives but I can now use a knife properly because she’s taught me. Sometimes I just help out, but other things I can make all by myself, like a Victoria Sponge.
I line the tins, put on the oven, set up the mixer, weigh out my ingredients, mix it altogether. Now that I’m tall enough I’m even allowed to put the cake in the oven. Other things I like to bake are chocolate and pecan nut brownies and Sicilian orange cake. I’m not keen on lots of icing and my favourite filling for Victoria Sponge is fresh cream and strawberries.
Some photos of me hard at work!
I like to cook and have a few cook books that I read, but not as many as my Mum who has lots! I like to cook dinner for my family and recently I’ve made lamb koftas with yoghurt dip and salad and chicken curry. I have always been a really adventurous eater and I will try all foods. Mum and Michelle say they love to cook for me because I will try anything. Other than cake, my favourite things to eat are scallops, prawns, steak (medium-rare), ribs, avocado, tomatoes, curry and risotto. My Mum has written up my recipe to share with you and I hope you enjoy baking it. Thanks again to everyone for all your great comments. Love Anna xx
Another recipe using the simple creaming method is our Blood Orange Cake, another easy bake for kids.
A simple Victoria Sponge cake using the creaming method. An easy bake for children who are keen on getting involved in the kitchen.
- 250 g caster sugar
- 250 g stork margarine
- 250 g self raising flour
- 250 g egg beaten
- 1 level tsp baking powder
- 3-4 level tbsp raspberry jam
- 200 g icing sugar
- 65 g unsalted butter soft but not runny
- 1-2 tbsp milk
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Using a mixer cream together the sugar and Stork until completely combined and very pale in colour. Add in the beaten egg and mix gently to combine.
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Sieve the flour and baking powder into the mixing bowl and beat together until well combined.
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Line two 25cm loose bottomed baking tins with grease-proof paper and spoon the cake mixture evenly between the tins.
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Bake on the middle shelf of an oven at 150CFan for 40 minutes. After 40 mins insert a skewer into the centre of each sponge and it if comes out clean the sponge is baked, if not return to the oven until done.
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Leave the sponge cake in the tin to cool for 5 minutes then remove from the tin and place on a wire rack to to cool completely.
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To make the butter icing put the soft butter in a mixing bowl and beat with a whisk until very creamy and light in colour. Sift in the icing sugar and add the milk, gently beat together until very smooth.
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Once the cake is cool spread one cake with a layer of raspberry jam and place this jam side up on a plate. Take the other sponge and spread over the butter icing before sandwiching together.
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Finally, dust the top of the sponge with a light sprinkling of icing sugar to decorate and serve.
Always weigh out your eggs when making sponge cake.
My Mum and I have tried using both butter and Stork margarine for baking sponge cake, however we found the Stork always gives you a lighter sponge so we only use that.
My Mum also says that flours differ greatly between different countries. Michelle is Canadian and there are things that she can bake at home in Canada that turn out differently when she bakes them here in the UK.
Well done Anna! What a lovely post! I remember fondly baking with my mum when I was your age but my mum says I wasn’t very good at the tidying up!
Thank you! Anna loves to bake and it’s a great way to spend time together. She’s actually really good and tidying up! Hope that lasts!
Thank you Anna, for sharing your baking skills. It seems that every time I bake, which is several times a week, I learn something. Your suggestion to weigh the eggs is new to me and I’ll try that. I like to keep an open mind to new ideas.
Thank you for the comment. That’s so nice to hear!
What a simply wonderful blog post, Anna! I love seeing you in action, baking your sponge and the one of you on the counter when you were younger is adorable!
I’m delighted to know that you were so happy to read all the lovely comments from all around the world, but you must know that you were deserving of each and every one! You baked a gorgeous sponge and we could see how proud you were of your bake!
Fabulous job and I hope you continue to cook and bake, and encourage others to do so, too!
Best wishes from California! xx
Thank you so much for the comment Christina! Anna has loved helping in the kitchen since she was a wee toddler. I think allowing kids in the kitchen from an early age allows them a chance to want to cook & bake for themselves.
She was definitely overwhelmed with the response from all over the world and has helped her grow in confidence. Thank you!