Best Victoria Sponge Cake

Victoria sponge cake, a much loved English layer cake, is perfect for any occasion! This foolproof recipe sandwiches two tender cakes with a layer of strawberry jam and buttercream, but you can use sweetened whipped cream. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners' sugar for a beautiful presentation.

Ingredients :

1. 1 ⅓ cups self-rising flour
2. ¾ cup white sugar
3. ¾ cup margarine
4. ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
5. 3 eggs
6. ¾ cup confectioners' sugar
7. ¼ cup butter
8. ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
9. ½ cup strawberry or raspberry jam

Directions :

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 7-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper.

2. Sift self-rising flour into a bowl; add sugar, margarine, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Crack in eggs; beat with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Divide batter between the cake pans; smooth the tops with the back of a spoon.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.

4. Sift confectioners' sugar into a bowl; add butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until frosting is light and fluffy.

5. Spread jam over 1 cake layer; cover jam with frosting. Place second cake layer on top.