
Buckingham Palace pastry chefs share Victoria sponge cake recipe in honour of royal garden parties
By Heather Cichowski
The Queen's royal garden parties are cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Buckingham Palace pastry chefs want to make sure everyone has a little piece of the traditional event. So, they have shared their recipe for Victoria sponge cake!
The classic British recipe was posted on the Royal Family's social media accounts. It is a light sponge cake consisting of two layers of cake with filling in the centre. It is typically filled with strawberry or raspberry jam and cream. The Victoria sponge is not decorated, save for a possible dusting of icing sugar. And it is in fact named after Queen Victoria, who often had it with her afternoon cup of tea!
The monarch enjoyed the lovely weather at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 21, 2019. Photo: © Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images
"The Victoria Sponge was named after Queen Victoria, who regularly ate a slice of sponge cake with her tea, each afternoon!" explained the Royal Family's Instagram.
"To mark Royal Garden Parties, Buckingham Palace Pastry Chef's are delighted to share this traditional recipe with you."
The pastry chefs included a list of the ingredients and instructions as well as a video on how to make the perfect Victoria sponge cake at home.
The simple and delicious cake is a perfect treat to bake while isolating at home during COVID-19, especially to celebrate summer. The recipe uses pantry staples including eggs, sugar, unsalted butter and flour.
The royal pastry chefs' recipe suggests using ready-made strawberry or raspberry jam, but bakers can use whatever they have in the cupboard. Or, if they are feeling ambitious, they can make their own!
MORE: Former royal chef reveals the special treat the Queen likes to put on her toast
The Buckingham Palace pastry chefs recommend eating the Victoria sponge cake like Queen Victoria, by serving it with tea. Additionally, they encourage bakers to share their recipes using the hashtag #royalbakes.
Anyone for a slice? Her Majesty expertly cuts a cake during a visit to the King George VI Day Centre on April 12, 2018 in Windsor. Photo: © Eamonn M. McCormack - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The royal pastry chefs previously shared a recipe for chocolate cupcakes in celebration of Her Majesty's 94th birthday on April 21. Additionally, they have provided a recipe for scones, which are another garden party favourite.
"Every year at Garden Parties across The
Royal Residences, over 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed," revealed the
Instagram post.
It continued, "The Royal Pastry Chefs are happy to share their
recipe for fruit scones, which traditionally would be served at
Buckingham Palace every summer."
Happy baking!
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