A *very* simple sponge
This is my go to sponge when I don’t have much time and need to use store cupboard ingredients because the shops are shut and I promised by friend a birthday cake that morning - you know, the normal situation.Which means that it also happens to be vegan. Because the sponge uses water and oil, I find it lasts a lot longer and stays nice and fluffy and soft for 4 days!
SERVES 8–10
For the cake
350g self- raising flour
a pinch of fine sea salt
225g caster sugar
1⁄2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
150ml vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing
2 tsp vanilla paste
1⁄2 tbsp white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
For the icing and decoration
200g unsalted butter (or dairy free butter), softened
400g icing sugar
3 tbsp milk (regular or plant- based)
1 tsp vanilla paste
250g strawberries, ½ chopped into cubes and ½ sliced in half
Lemon zest, optional
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Grease two 18cm round sandwich cake tins with oil and line the bases with baking paper. For the cake, add the flour, salt, sugar and bicarb into a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil, vanilla, vinegar and 250ml water until you have a smooth thin batter.
2 Tip the batter into the two lined tins, dividing it evenly, and level using the back of a spoon. Bake for 30–35 mins until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 5 mins, then invert onto a wire rack, so the flat-sides are facing upwards (this will help them flatten if they have risen in the middle) and cool completely.
3 Meanwhile, make the icing. Using an electric whisk or stand mixer (or a wooden spoon and some muscle) beat together the butter and icing sugar in a bowl until pale and smooth. Whisk in the milk and vanilla. Set aside.
4 Put the icing into a piping bag and pipe blobs around the sponge and top with the chopped raspberries. Place the second sponge on top, with the flat side facing up and pipe blobs so it’s covered around the whole surface.
5 Put the halved strawberries on top along with some lemon zest if you like.
