I made this lemon victoria sponge so long ago. I sit and plan recipes I want to make and 9 times out of 10 I never get through my list of desired recipes and end up making something completely different because there’s something in the fridge on the turn or I’ve got a glut of something.
This cake came about because I had some sad looking lemons in the bottom drawer of my fridge. I made a jar of lemon curd and needed something to do with it – besides eating it by the spoonful or spreading it on sourdough.
The gorgeous colour of the lemon curd comes from the fabulous Clarence Court Burford brown eggs and their signature orange yolk.
This blog has been around a while and I have never included a victoria sponge recipe. I suppose that’s not hugely surprising given than I lean towards the French side of baking, but it was still something that I thought should be rectified.
This lemon victoria sponge is developed from an Edd Kimber recipe and the lemon curd is from a favourite patissier of mine William Curley. Of course if you don’t want to make lemon curd you could buy some, or use jam or just fill it with a chantilly cream.
Lemon Victoria Sponge
Equipment
- 2 8 inch sandwich tins
Ingredients
Lemon Victoria Sponge
- 225 g Self Raising Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 225 g Unsalted Butter softened
- 225 g Granulated Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 1 Lemon zested
- 150 ml Whipping Cream
Lemon Curd
- 100 ml Lemon Juice
- 4 Lemons zested
- 225 g Whole Eggs 4-5 eggs
- 80 g Caster Sugar
- 85 g Unsalted Butter softened, cubed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/160C Fan/350°F. Lightly grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line with baking paper. Sieve the flour and baking podwer together into a medium bowl, add the lemon zest and set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time beating until fully combined. Add the flour mixture and mix until combined.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans and gently level out. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. The cake should be golden brown and be coming away from the edge of the tin. Test with a cocktail stick to ensure the cake is thoroughly cooked.
- Cool in their tins for ten minutes before turning out and cooling completely on a wire rack.
- To make the lemon curd put the lemon juice and zest in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together the eggs and sugar until light in colour. Add half the lemon juice to the egg mixture and whisk until fully mixed.
- Add the mixture back to the saucepan with the remaining lemon juice and cook over a low heat for 5 mins or until thickened.
- Take the pan off the heat and pass the mixture through a sieve, then stir through the butter piece by piece until fully melted and incorporated.
- Pour into a dish and cover with cling-film, making sure to press it down onto the surface of the lemon curd. Leave to cool.
- To assemble spread one layer of cake with the lemon curd (you will not use all of the curd, so just use however much you want) and top with the whipped cream. Sandwich together with the second layer of cake and sprinkle with a dusting of icing sugar.
Thanks for reading.
Angela
Robyn
Angela, your recipe planning is eerily similar to mine! Thank you, a Victoria Sponge may be just what I need at the moment, though I have no trouble with eating lemon curd by the spoonful, mixing with greek yoghurt or vanilla ice cream, slathering on brioche buns, croissants or fruit toast… 🍋🍨🥐
Grace
Thanks so much Angela, that looks absolutely luscious! And the lemon curd goes shooting up a few levels with that gorgeous orange colour. Your photos are amazing.
Can I ask a question? In the sponge ingredients you list zest of a lemon. Is that added with the flour? I wasn’t quite clear as it’s not referenced in the method. Or is it mixed with the cream?
Also, is the baking soda in step1 the same thing as the baking powder listed in the ingredients?
Many thanks indeed
patisseriemakesperfect
Thanks Grace for pointing all of this out! I proof-read the recipe but I must have been tired and I still missed all of this. I have amended it now, so I should have answered all your questions in the recipe.
Thanks again!
Angela