One Bowl Victoria Sponge Cake

This One Bowl Victoria Sponge Cake is a British baking classic. The recipe is simple enough for novice bakers and comes out light and sweet and irresistible.

I've had the privilege of living in several states across the US as well as two different countries. And I've eaten cake in every single one of them. I grew in the 80's and 90's in a household in Washington state that was very working class where a box mix cake was awesome. It wasn't until I moved down South to Oklahoma, then Tennessee, that I started getting interested in baking. Let me tell you, they're not afraid to indulgen down there.

In Taiwan, my American cakes were seen as over the top. It's a culture that just doesn't eat as much sugar, so their cakes tend to be on the dry side and sweetened with ingredients I had never heard of as an working class American girl. Here in the UK, they take cake very seriously, but it tends to be a bit more simple and austere than super indulgent American desserts. They like simple loaf cakes, or spongy cakes flavored with jam and (unsweetened) whipped cream. While America propered post-World War II, the UK was still dealing with food rations for years, so things stayed simpler here. I've learned to love it.

What makes this One Bowl Victoria Sponge Cake so awesome?

This One Bowl Victoria Sponge Cake is named for a Queen who definitely loved cake. It's simple, understated, demure. Two layers of fluffy but somehow also dense sponge cake are filled simply with jam, and sometimes cream. I like to make sweetened whipped cream and serve it on the side in case someone doesn't like cream. It also means you don't have to store the cake in the fridge. My go to is always raspberry jam because I like the tart brightness, but strawberry jam, or even other fillings like lemon curd, will also work.

This is the perfect afternoon treat. Elegant enough to be served at a garden party for royalty, it's also humble enough to be enjoyed in your home with a hot cup of tea or coffee. There's really never a wrong time to eat Victoria Sponge. It's buttery and rich without being overly sweet. You can cut nice big pieces without feeling deeply regretful at the end. It's a classic for a reason.

Magical Properties of Sugar

Sugar instantly brings to mind sweetness, so use it in your spells anytime you want nice, light vibes. It has powerful properties of attraction (how good are you at resisting a sweet treat?), so you can add it to any spell to sweeten the deal, especially if you're working with deities, fairies, or other similar entities. Tied to the element of earth and the planet Venus, sugar can also help you call in grace, love, and wisdom. (Source: The Kitchen Witch's Guide to Healing & Self-Care by Maggie Haseman)

For more on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this cake. The full details are in the recipe card below.

• Baking spread - This is a British product most similar to butter-flavored shortening or margarine. You can find an all-butter version of this cake here.
• Sugar - caster sugar or superfine sugar is ideal
• Eggs
• Self-rising flour
• Baking powder
• Jam - Use your favorite flavor but I like raspberry

An electric mixer is needed for this cake, whether that's a stand mixer or hand held. You'll also need a food scale to weigh out your ingredients. Just one big bowl for mixing, obviously, but you'll also need two round cake pans.

Tips for making One Bowl Victoria Sponge Cake

The level of simplicity is evident in the title. For this cake, all you have to do is add all the ingredients to one big mixing bowl and beat until smooth with an electric mixer. It couldn't be easier. Just make sure your batter is fully incorporated. Then divide them evenly between two greased round cake tins. Bake until beautifully risen and golden brown.

Let your cakes cool completely before sandwiching them with plenty of your favorite jam. A little tip to make your cake look a bit neater. I place the first cake on the plate upside so the flat side is up. Then spread your jam and place the next cake right side up so the two flat sides are touching.

You can't go wrong with a classic. Even if you're new to baking, you've just gotta try this One Bowl Victoria Sponge Cake. It's gonna be awesome.

Looking for more awesome cake recipes? Try this over the top Cinnamon Crumb Cake or a simple Flourless Chocolate Lime Cake with margarita cream.

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Recipe adapted from Fast Cakes: Easy Bakes in Minutes by Mary Berry.