In The Kitchen With Kanta : Victoria sponge

Victoria sponge is one of those beautiful cakes, which is easy and quick to make.  You will be sure to impress your friends and family with this simple, light and fluffy cake. Perfect for any occasion; BBQs, dinner parties or birthdays; it is definitely something you should try.

Inexperienced bakers needn’t run for cover; this recipe is so simple that even the novice bakers can pull it off.  So dust off your mixing bowls and spoons; put on your apron, blast on your favourite music, and have fun making this.  After all baking is supposed to be enjoyable and therapeutic

Preparation & baking time: 30 – 40 minutes

Serves: 8 people

Ingredients

For the cake

• 200g caster sugar
• 200g softened butter
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 200g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp milk

For the filling

• 200g butter, softened
• 280g icing sugar, sifted
• 2 drops vanilla extract (optional)
• Strawberry/Raspberry jam
• Icing sugar, to decorate
• About 2 handfuls of strawberries/or other berries e.g. blueberries, blackberries or raspberries (optional)

Method

Heat the oven to 170 ? C fan  / gas mark 5.

Butter two 20cm (8 inch) round cake tins and line them with baking paper.

In a large bowl, beat all the cake ingredients together until you have a smooth, soft batter.

Divide the mixture between the tins, and smoothen using a spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for about 20 mins or until golden and the cake springs back when pressed down.

Turn onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.

Make the filling. Beat butter until smooth and creamy; gradually beat in icing sugar and vanilla extract. Spread your jam over the bottom of one of the sponges.  Wash and cut a few strawberries in half and spread them over the jam near the edges of the cake.  Spread your buttercream filling; add the second sponge on top.

Spread your remaining buttercream over the top of the cake, and add your remaining strawberries (both chopped and whole).

OR

Simply dust the top of the cake with a little icing sugar before serving.

Serving

Its summer…well in Africa anyway, so as you enter the sweltering heat, indulge in this light and fruity cake with a gorgeous ice cold beverage; and for those of you in freezing climates…enjoy it with a hot beverage…like tea.

Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.

You can find her work on www.kantakakes.com.  Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.