The Victoria sponge cake was named after Queen Victoria, who ate a slice of sponge cake with her afternoon tea. It is usually called simply sponge cake. A traditional Victoria sponge cake has raspberry jam and whipped double cream or vanilla cream.

Queen Victoria and the Victoria Sponge As we mentioned earlier, Queen Victoria quickly became an ardent fan of afternoon tea. That is, two sponge cakes which are filled with cream and jam then dusted on top with sugar. This explains how the cake is also often referred to as a Victoria sandwich cake.

1615

The cake itself actually originated in Spain (we have a lot to thank them for), and is dated back to the Renaissance era. Whilst we now have the addition of the miraculous baking powder, making a delicious Victoria Sponge however is still a real talent.

Victoria Sponge Cake is a two-layer sponge-like airy cake that is filled with a layer of jam and whipped cream. It is cut into small “sandwiches” and served in a similar manner. Also know as Victoria Sandwich and Victorian Cake. Victoria Sponge Cake is considered the quintessential English teatime treat.

Victoria sponge cake, also known as the Victoria sandwich, and is one of ours and the UK’s most popular cakes! Our award-winning Victoria Sponge Cake is perfectly light, filled with raspberry jam and vanilla buttercream.

Here Adam reveals all…

1. Ingredients at the ready! Have all ingredients prepared and weighed out before before starting to mix.
2. Room temperature. Keep all ingredients at room temperature (butter nice and soft, eggs not too cold!)
3. Mix it up.
4. Gently does it.
5. DON’T over-mix.
6. Add milk.
7. Keep it real.
8. Grease up.

While both products appear similar, they’re certainly not the same. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which requires an acid and a liquid to become activated and help baked goods rise. Conversely, baking powder includes sodium bicarbonate, as well as an acid. It only needs a liquid to become activated.

Can I use bicarb soda instead of baking powder? Bicarb soda has 3 to 4 times more power than baking powder, so if you need baking powder and only have bicarb soda on hand, you will need to increase the amount of acidic ingredients in your recipe to offset bicarb’s power.

If you swap in an equal amount of baking soda for baking powder in your baked goods, they won’t have any lift to them, and your pancakes will be flatter than, well, pancakes. You can, however, make a baking powder substitute by using baking soda.

But you can’t use bicarbonate of soda/sodium bicarbonate/baking soda instead of baking powder – baking soda by itself lacks the acidity to make a cake rise – but you can make your own: just mix two parts cream of tartar with one part baking soda.

Bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda, is an alkali which is used to raise soda breads and full-flavoured cakes such as gingerbread, fruit cake, chocolate cake and carrot cake. It needs an acid (as well as moisture) to activate it so is often combined with cream of tartar, yogurt, buttermilk or milk.

Too much baking soda will result in a soapy taste with a coarse, open crumb. Baking soda causes reddening of cocoa powder when baked, hence the name Devil’s Food Cake.

Here are 10 great substitutes for baking powder.

1. Buttermilk. Buttermilk is a fermented dairy product with a sour, slightly tangy taste that is often compared to plain yogurt.
2. Plain Yogurt.
3. Molasses.
4. Cream of Tartar.
5. Sour Milk.
6. Vinegar.
7. Lemon Juice.
8. Club Soda.

The best baking powder substitute is a mix of baking soda and cream of tartar. The cream of tartar adds acidity to the baking soda—it’s basically homemade baking powder. If a recipe calls for 1 teaspoon baking powder, add ¼ teaspoon baking soda with your dry ingredients and ½ cup buttermilk with the wet ingredients.

Baking powder is considered nontoxic when it is used in cooking and baking. However, serious complications can occur from overdoses or allergic reactions.

If you are baking bread or cake and want a little extra leavening power, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder for every egg.