How to Bake a Victoria Sponge: A Delightful Classic

There's something timeless and utterly delightful about a classic Victoria Sponge cake. Named after Queen Victoria, who favored this sweet treat with her afternoon tea, it's a cake that has stood the test of time with its simple elegance and buttery, light-as-air texture. If you're in search of a foolproof recipe for a quintessential English tea-time dessert, you've come to the right place. Below is a step-by-step guide to mastering this delectable confection.

Ingredients:

200g self-rising flour
200g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
200g caster sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp milk

For the Filling:

100g butter, softened
140g icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g strawberries, sliced
Strawberry jam

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C if using a fan oven) or Gas Mark 5. Grease two 20cm sandwich tins and line with baking paper.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until the mixture is pale and fluffy. An electric whisk can make this step faster and more efficient.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding a little flour with each to prevent the mixture from curdling. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Fold in the remaining flour, gently incorporating it into the batter. If the batter is too thick, add the milk to reach a dropping consistency.
Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins and gently smooth the surface with a spatula.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and the cake springs back when pressed lightly. Allow the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream by beating the softened butter with the sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Once the cakes are cool, spread the buttercream over the bottom layer, followed by a generous amount of strawberry jam. Arrange the sliced strawberries on top of the jam.
Place the second cake on top and sprinkle with more icing sugar for a decorative finish.

And just like that, you've created a mouth-watering Victoria Sponge cake perfect for any occasion. Serve it up with a pot of tea and enjoy the compliments that are sure to come your way!

Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be discouraged if your first attempt isn't flawless. Each time you bake, you'll get one step closer to the ultimate Victoria Sponge - and have a lot of delicious fun along the way. Happy baking!