Victoria sponge cake

The book Eat like a local London is packed with the loveliest hidden gems you mustn’t miss in London. This Victoria sponge cake is for all those moments when you’re at home but still want to pretend you’re in England for a little while.

The ultimate British cake, so delicious that it was named after a queen. Light, airy and perfect with a cup of English breakfast tea with a splash of milk.

Method

1. Grease two shallow 20 cm cake tins and line them with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.

2. Make the cake: beat the butter and caster sugar together with a wooden spoon. Beat in the eggs one at a time and add the vanilla extract. Sift the plain flour and baking powder over the mixture and stir them in; add a little milk if the batter is too thick to stir.

3. Divide the batter between the greased cake tins. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes; prick the cakes with a knife or skewer and if it comes out clean, the cake is done.

4. Make the filling: sift the icing sugar into a large bowl and beat in the butter until you have a smooth mixture. Once the cakes have cooled, remove them from the tins and spread the filling over one of them. Spread the jam over it. Place the other cake on top and serve.

Title: Eat like a local London
Price: €12.50
Publisher: Kosmos
Publication date: 26 February 2019