The royal family’s pastry chefs reveal how to make perfect Victoria sponge cake

From Red Online

Is there anything more British than a big pot of tea and a slice of cake? What about if that cake in question was a Victoria sponge cake made using the Royal Family's own recipe?

Well now it can be as the royal pastry chefs have revealed the recipe they use to bake the nation's favourite buttery cake for the Queen and her family.

The Royal Family’s expert bakers shared the recipe for how to make the ultimate Victoria sponge cake – aptly named after Queen Victoria – and it’s the same recipe used for the cakes served at Queen Elizabeth II’s own garden parties.

That’s right, it's a cake fit for a Queen – our Queen, in fact. The recipe was shared on the Royal Family’s official Instagram account with instructions by Buckingham Palace’s pastry chefs, and it’s actually super easy to make.

Royal Victoria sponge cake recipe

Ingredients

• Three eggs

• 150g caster sugar

• 150g unsalted butter

• 150g sieved self-raising flour

• 1/2 tsp of vanilla essence

• 100g jam (strawberry or raspberry)

• 150g softened unsalted butter

• 220g sieved icing sugar

• 1/3 vanilla pod or vanilla essence

Method for the sponge

Here are the complete instructions on how to make Victoria sponge cake, according to the Buckingham Palace’s pastry chefs:

1. Reheat the oven to 180C (375F, gas mark four). Grease and line two eight-inch cake tins (if you only own one tin, you can bake the sponge and slice in half).

2. Cream the caster sugar, vanilla essence and softened unsalted butter until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl whisk the eggs.

3. Gradually add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, to avoid the mixture curdling. Sieve the flour and fold into the mixture.

4. Divide the cake mix between the two cake tins and smooth. Place on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the cake appears golden brown.

5. Insert a skewer and ensure it comes out clean. Remove the sponges from their tins and leave to cool.

Method for the icing

1. Cream the softened butter with the sieved icing sugar and seeds from the vanilla pod (or vanilla essence).

How to put the cake together

1. Ensure that both sponges are completely cold before spreading a layer of jam onto the surface of one sponge.

2. Spread a thick layer of buttercream on top of the jam ( if you prefer, this can be done first).

3. Gently place the second sponge on top and gently press down.

4. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with a pot of fresh English tea.

If sponge cake isn’t quite your jam, the Royal Family’s pastry chefs have also shared a recipe for garden party scones and chocolate cupcakes.

Subscribe to Red now to get the magazine delivered to your door. Red's June issue is out now and available for purchase online and via Readly or Apple News+.

Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.

SIGN UP

You Might Also Like

• Flattering summer dresses

• 15 trainers you'll want to wear every day

• This high street moisturiser is sold every 18 seconds