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September 21, 2024
Bit odd really, our boys. I asked them what they wanted for their birthday cake, expecting a request for something themed with wheels, swords or guns, and they asked for a tiered Victoria Sponge!
Ingredients:
Cake:
500gms unsalted butter
500gms caster sugar
10 eggs
500gms self-raising flour
2¼ tsp baking powder
4½ tbsp milk
Filling:
250gms unsalted butter (room temp)
350gms icing sugar
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
370gms strawberry jam
Strawberries to decorate
Method:
Preheat oven to 160c. Line and grease two 20cm round sandwich tins, two 16cm and two 8cm tins. Alternatively, use one cake tin per layer but remember cooking time will increase.
Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each one, then add remaining ingredients and mix until all incorporated, (don’t overmix).
Divide the mixture between all 6 tins and bake for appx 20 mins, appx 16 mins for the smallest cake, until cakes are golden on top and spring back when pressed. Once ready allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
For the filling, beat the butter, icing sugar and vanilla together until you have a smooth, light buttercream.
For the bottom layer of the cake, you may need to level off the top. Spread the jam on the top of the bottom cake, spread the buttercream on the base of the top cake, and then sandwich together. For the next layer, place a little butter cream on the base of the cake then put on top of the iced cake, repeat the jam and icing stage, then repeat again with the top layer of cake.
Dust with icing sugar, then decorate with strawberries.
Enjoy.
Gaby Van Clarke
July 09, 2025
Our kids often ask for a cake or biscuit etc, but I’m very conscious of not letting them have too much sugar. Would you believe they still willingly hand their party bags in to me so I can decide which sweets they can have, rationed over as long as I can get away with! So...
July 08, 2025
July 04, 2025
Cherries are in peak season now. Huge shiny ripe ones at our local farmers market sell out in the first hours. This simple classic French dessert of fruit traditionally uses black cherries, baked in a light custard and served warm or cold. Perfect for summer.