Welcome to my 'simple and yummy' GF cooking: Gluten Free Victoria Sponge!

A Victoria sponge has got to be an all-time favourite! When I first researched Gluten Free recipes I found many to be difficult with lots of weird ingredients, not to mention the extra cost. It’s like everything else, specialised ‘stuff’ appears to have to be seen to be expensive! Well, it doesn’t! So, being a bit tight with the old purse-strings, I set about seeing how simply and cheaply I could make my favourites.

Here’s my recipe for a gorgeous Victoria Sponge, and the only weird and wonderful ingredient is the old xanthan gum!

This recipe can also be made dairy free!

Ingredients

6oz/170g marg

6oz/170g sugar (I use dear old granulated)

3 eggs

6oz/170g Gluten Free SR flour (I use Doves Farm, probably because it’s the only type I’ve seen in my area!!)

¾ teaspoon xanthan gum

Few drops of vanilla extract

Cold water if needed to make a soft dropping consistency (I find water works well with the GF flour)

Soften marg, (this is important as everything is bunged in the mixing bowl together, no faffing with this recipe!!)

Add extract, sugar, eggs, sieved flour and xgum

Beat thoroughly with your favourite utensil incorporating as much air as you can to achieve a light, smooth mixture

Add a little water if needed to make a soft mixture

Rustic oven ready!

Divide between two 7”/18cm greased and baking paper lined sandwich tins

Bake in the middle of a conventional oven at 180^o for 25 mins (check after 20 mins) (slightly less time and temperature for a fan oven)

Sponge is cooked when it is golden brown and springs back when you poke it in the middle

Cool for a few minutes in the tins then turn out onto a wire rack

On the rack!

 When completely cool fill with butter cream and jam.

Dust the top with icing sugar and ENJOY!

Butter cream

A small dollop of butter or marg (dairy free version), icing sugar, a few drops of vanilla extract, a few drops of cream or milk (or dairy free milk or cream), beat well to make a fairly thick consistency!

Mmmmm!!

 I’m sure Queen Victoria would approve!! It was apparently one of her favourite nibbles at afternoon tea, which was created by Anne, Duchess of Bedford. She was one of Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting. As the mid-day meal was getting smaller the poor ladies were experiencing a ‘sinking’ feeling at about four in the afternoon. (We’ve all been there, ladies or otherwise!!) And, so, afternoon tea was invented!! And how thankful we all are!!

Thanks for visiting Annie’s Rustic Oven

Rustic Annie xx