Classic Vanilla Sponge Cake

Classic Vanilla Sponge Cake — perfect for tea, birthdays, or layering with cream and fruit. 🍰✨

 Ingredients (for one 8-inch / 20 cm round cake)

• 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour (or cake flour for extra lightness)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• 4 large eggs (room temperature)

• ¾ cup (150 g) sugar

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

• ¼ cup (60 ml) milk (lukewarm)

• 2 Tbsp (30 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

 Method

1. Prep the pans & oven

   • Preheat oven to 175 °C / 350 °F.

   • Grease and line the bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment (do not grease the sides).

2. Sift dry ingredients

   • Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.

3. Whip eggs & sugar

   • In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer on high until very thick, pale, and tripled in volume (about 5–7 min).

   • Beat in vanilla.

4. Fold & lighten

   • Gently fold the sifted flour mixture into the eggs in 3 additions, keeping as much air as possible.

   • Stir butter into warm milk, then gently fold into the batter.

5. Bake

   • Pour batter into the prepared pan, level the top.

   • Bake 25–30 min, or until the center springs back lightly to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Cool

   • Run a thin knife around the edges, turn out onto a rack, and cool completely.

 Serving ideas

• Dust with powdered sugar and serve with tea or coffee.

• Split horizontally and fill with whipped cream and strawberries for a Victoria sponge style treat.

• Top with buttercream, glaze, or fresh fruit for a simple celebration cake.