I need to bake a cake...

[TVR1]

Not my usual problem and I can do a lovely choccy cake but I've never been able to get to grips with a Vic Sponge. Advices please.

I have a May weekend coming up and promised the people I will be with to do one.

Only thing is, I do have to get a couple of 9 year olds involved...should be messy fun! But I do want a product at the end of it.

Advices and suggestions most welcome!

[parapaul]

3 large eggs - at room temperature. Crack them into a bowl and weight them then use equal weights of SR flour, sugar and Stork - also at room temp.

Whisk the eggs until they've tripled in volume. Still whisking, slowly add the sugar and Stork, then 1 tsp of vanilla essence.

Sieve (ideally 2 or 3 times to really aerate it) the flour, add 1 tsp of baking powder and fold it carefully into the mixture.

Filling is personal preference. I like buttercream and supermarket value jam. Others prefer whipped cream and sliced strawberries. Then ice, dust, whatver you choose.

[uncinqsix]

1) Find a good recipe from a trusted cookbook.
2) Follow it to the letter
3) Enjoy.


That's all you need to know to bake perfect cakes.

[freecar]

Mary Berry's recipe for victoria sponge has never netted me any complaints!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mary_berrys_perf...

[Mobile Chicane]

Accurate oven temperatures are important in cake baking.

Invest in an oven thermometer, since what's on the dial may bear no relation to the temperature inside - as I've found to my cost.

Once it's in the oven, resist the urge to open the door before time's up, or the cake will sink.

Good luck!

[freecar]

Mobile Chicane said:

Accurate oven temperatures are important in cake baking.

Invest in an oven thermometer, since what's on the dial may bear no relation to the temperature inside - as I've found to my cost.

Once it's in the oven, resist the urge to open the door before time's up, or the cake will sink.

Good luck!

Good point, I found my ideal temperature by doing a few cakes until I got it right, if you've not got the time to do that a thermometer is a very wise investment!

If its a few degrees one way or the other, you can't properly compensate by leaving it longer or giving it less time it'll either turn out dry or soggy.

And yes, the door, leave it well alone!