Victoria Sponge Cake

Victoria sponge is probably the first cake I ever made, it's a traditional family favourite and it's pretty easy to make. The recipe I use is in my Good Housekeeping cookbook that I had for Christmas in 1976, it was from my Aunt. I wonder if she knows I still have it.
For a Victoria sponge you will need the following ingredients:
In the book the basic recipe says
4oz butter
4oz caster sugar
2 eggs
4oz plain flour
1/2 level tsp baking powder
A little milk if necessary.

I make a BIG cake it lasts longer, so I've times the ingredients by four

Line 2 sandwich tins with baking/greaseproof paper (I ran out so I greased and floured the tins.

In a bowl place the butter and sugar and cream together,

Until it is light and fluffy

Most recipes say add the egg first, then the flour. I was once told that if you add an egg with some of the flour it stops the mix from curdling, so that is what I do.
I added 2 eggs with about 4 spoons of the flour & baking powder, and mixed.

Repeat until all the ingredients are mixed together

Divide the mixture equally between the two tins. I always put a little well in the middle because the cake always rises quite high in the middle, this helps to keep the cake more even

Bake in the oven at 170-180degC,gas mark 5 for about 25 mins
For the filling I use jam and make a butter icing

For butter icing you will need:
3oz butter
6oz icing sugar
One or two drops of Vanilla essence
1 or 2 tblsp Warm milk or water to mix
Cream the butter until soft, add sieved icing sugar and vanilla essence.

When baked remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool in the tins for about 10 minutes

Then carefully remove from the tins and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack

When cool spread butter icing on one half and jam on the other. Traditionally just raspberry jam is used. I've used home made plum jam.

Place teh two halves together and dust with icing sugar.

Look how lovely and yellow the sponge is! That's free range eggs for you!

It didn't take long for someone to start on it!