Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe: Classic British Tea Time Cake 2026

The Victoria Sponge Cake is a British classic: two light, buttery sponge layers sandwiched with softly whipped cream and sweet strawberry jam. It is the centerpiece of afternoon tea, elegant in its simplicity and impossible to resist with a cup of hot tea.

The cake takes its name from Queen Victoria, who was said to enjoy a sponge cake with her tea at the palace. Over time, the simple sponge evolved into the layered cake we know today, filled with jam and cream. Modern versions sometimes swap in lemon curd or orange marmalade, but the classic strawberry and cream combination remains the most beloved.

This recipe bakes the two sponge layers in separate 20 cm pans so they are ready at the same time, but you can also bake them one after the other if you only have one pan. With a 20-minute prep and 30-minute bake, it is a wonderfully approachable cake for any home baker.

Ingredients for Victoria Sponge Cake

Makes 12 servings

• 200 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 200 g sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
• 4 medium eggs
• 200 g all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 250 ml cold heavy whipping cream (at least 35% fat)
• 50 g powdered sugar (40 g for the cream and 10 g for dusting)
• 125 g strawberry jam
• Fresh strawberries for decorating (optional)

How to Make Victoria Sponge Cake Step by Step

1. Prepare the Pans and Oven

First, preheat the oven to 170 °C (340 °F) with top and bottom heat. Grease two 20 cm (8-inch) round cake pans with butter and set them aside. If you only have one pan, you can bake the first sponge with half the batter, then bake the second one afterward.

2. Cream the Butter and Sugar

Using an electric hand mixer, beat 200 g of room-temperature unsalted butter with 200 g of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste. Beat until the mixture is airy and pale in color.

3. Add the Eggs One at a Time

Add 4 medium eggs one at a time. Do not add the next egg until the previous one has been fully incorporated into the batter.

4. Fold in the Dry Ingredients

Sift 200 g of all-purpose flour together with 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Fold into the batter until it is smooth and homogeneous, with no streaks of flour remaining.

5. Bake the Sponges

Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and bake for 25–30 minutes at 170 °C (340 °F), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Cool the Sponges

Remove the pans from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes. Then turn the sponges out onto a wire rack and let them cool completely.

7. Whip the Cream

Once the sponges are cold, whip 250 ml of cold heavy cream with 40 g of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.

8. Assemble the Cake

If needed, level the sponges by trimming the domed top with a knife so they are flat. Place one sponge on a serving plate and spread the whipped cream over it.

9. Add the Jam

Spoon 125 g of strawberry jam over the cream and spread it gently with the back of a spoon.

10. Top and Dust

Place the second sponge on top and press lightly to seal. Sift 10 g of powdered sugar over the surface, or as much as needed, and decorate with fresh strawberries if you like.

11. Chill Before Serving

Refrigerate the cake for 1 hour before serving. You can make it up to 1 day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge so it does not dry out. Serve with extra fresh strawberries if desired.

Tips for the Best Victoria Sponge Cake

Use Room-Temperature Butter and Eggs

Let the butter and eggs sit out for about 30 minutes before starting. Room-temperature ingredients emulsify more easily, giving you a lighter, more evenly textured sponge.

Don't Overmix After Adding Flour

Once the flour goes in, mix just until it disappears. Overworking the batter develops gluten and can make the sponge dense instead of airy.

Chill Before Slicing

Refrigerating the assembled cake for at least an hour sets the cream and jam, so the layers stay neat and the slices hold their shape when you cut them.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Maybe you're a lot like me and like having a stash of cozy comfort dishes, tried-and-true international favorites, and desserts that please a crowd.

On nights when I'm after something indulgent and rich, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting dessert is calling my name, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

For mornings that need to be easy and meals on the lighter side, these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular at my house, along with a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe or these vibrant Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And when my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I'm happy to whip up.

If tapas and Mediterranean cooking are what I'm craving, I'll cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, a crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a smooth Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a bright Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more dressed up.

Come lunchtime or a cozy evening meal, these are the dishes I point people toward: a warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm in the mood for street food or party fare, and that's when I'll throw together this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, a crispy Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, I'll often serve dinner alongside this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works beautifully on the side, or I'll finish the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of testing and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on simplicity, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether I'm putting together a fast meal just for me or making something memorable for friends and family.

When dessert is on my mind, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to for those times I want something elegant without much fuss. The caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake, is another sweet favorite. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

On days when I want something light and fresh, I'll usually make the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For comfort cooking with more heft, the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe are ones I recommend often.

I'm also a big fan of passing along dishes from kitchens around the world, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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