A classic Victoria sponge is one of the best cakes you can make and enjoy. It's a soft vanilla sponge with fresh cream and strawberries. It's light, fluffy and you will always want more than one slice when you make this best Victoria sponge cake recipe.
Grease 2 x 6-inch cake tins then line the base of each tin with baking parchment/ greaseproof paper.
Cream together the butter and the caster sugar until light and smooth.
225 g unsalted butter, 225 g caster sugar
Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract.
4 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract
Sieve in the flour and baking powder into a large bowl and beat until thoroughly blended.
225 g self-raising flour, 2 tsp baking powder
Divide the mixture evenly between the tins and level out.
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Use a cake tester or thin skewer to gently poke the cake. If it comes out clean the cake is cooked.
Leave the cakes to cool in their tins for a few minutes then turn them out. Peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.
Assembling and decorating
When completely cold level off the cakes.
Whip up the double cream until it starts to thicken.
150 ml double cream / heavy cream
Spread the jam over the cake (best added to the sliced-off side of the cake as it can soak in more). Add your double cream on top of the jam.
4 tbsp strawberry jam
Add the remaining double cream to the top.
Slice the strawberries and add them to the top. (I leave the stalks on so they are easy to pick off and the green adds a lovely colour.)