Victorian Sandwich Recipes

CLASSIC VICTORIA SANDWICH RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Butter two 20cm sandwich tins and line with non-stick baking paper.
• In a large bowl, beat 200g caster sugar, 200g softened butter, 4 beaten eggs, 200g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder and 2 tbsp milk together until you have a smooth, soft batter.
• Divide the mixture between the tins, smooth the surface with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
• Bake for about 20 mins until golden and the cake springs back when pressed.
• Turn onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
• To make the filling, beat the 100g softened butter until smooth and creamy, then gradually beat in 140g sifted icing sugar and a drop of vanilla extract (if you're using it).
• Spread the buttercream over the bottom of one of the sponges. Top it with 170g strawberry jam and sandwich the second sponge on top.
• Dust with a little icing sugar before serving. Keep in an airtight container and eat within 2 days.

VICTORIA SANDWICH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease two 8" round cake pans.
• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until well combined and smooth.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl after each addition.
• Add the extracts, if you're using them.
• Add the flour, beating gently just until well combined.
• Divide the stiff batter evenly between the cake pans; there'll be 11 to 12 ounces of batter in each, depending on the size eggs you used.
• Bake the cakes for about 20 minutes, or until they start to pull away from the edges of the pans. Remove them from the oven, cool for a couple of minutes, and turn out of the pans onto a rack to cool completely.
• When the cakes are cool, place one layer on a plate. Spread with the jam of your choice.
• Whip the cream - 2/3 cup cream makes a medium-thickness layer of filling; 3/4 cup cream, a thick layer. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, or to taste, as you whip the cream until it's quite stiff. Stir in the vanilla at the end.
• Spread the whipped cream over the jam. Top with the second layer of cake.
• Brush the top of the cake with syrup, and sprinkle with coarse white sparkling sugar, if desired. Or sprinkle with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
• Refrigerate the cake until you're ready to serve it. It'll be at its best within 12 hours; but is still quite good up to 2 or even 3 days later. The difference will be the whipped cream, which will gradually settle/compact.

VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch springform pan.
• Sift the flour and baking powder into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in vanilla. Pour in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing until just incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• This cake can be served as is, just dusted with confectioners' sugar. Alternately, cut the cake in half horizontally and sandwich the layers together with jam or custard.

VICTORIAN DIABLE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Pour the oil into a small saucepan over a medium heat, add the shallot with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 mins until softened and beginning to caramelise.
• Tip in the wine, cook for a couple of mins until reduced by half, then pour in the stock. Leave to bubble for 15-20 mins until you have a thick gravy.
• Put the baguette in the oven for 5 mins to warm up and crisp, then cut in half lengthways. Spread one half with mustard and top with the roast beef.
• Add the parsley, capers and butter to the gravy, stirring until the butter has melted. Season to taste, then spoon the gravy over the other half of the baguette, scattering over some spinach leaves. Halve, divide between two plates, then eat straight away, with more gravy on the side.