I like to make things. I’m pretty sure that is one of the reasons I ended up being a food stylist by trade and a jack-of-all-trades by nature. Making “beauty” is really what all my
“making” obsessions are about. Beauty that is organic & natural, beauty to look at, beauty to use every day, beauty that you can eat, beauty that is often an ode to times past, times in the future, or times that never were.
Such is this cake. A riff on the classic “Victoria Sponge Cake”, an ode to a time of lawn parties, women strolling across green parks in white dresses, croquet games where men wore bowler hats & seersucker suits. To a time when cakes were special, beautiful and meaningful.
Here is how you make my “Ruby Red Strawberry Victoria Sponge Cake with Lemon Mascarpone Filling”
Shopping list: 2 pints of small strawberries, 1 pint of whipping cream, 1 carton of mascarpone cheese, 1 lemon, super-fine sugar or regular granulated sugar, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, self-rising flour, 5 eggs, salt, parchment paper, oil to grease pans
Make it:
1. Preferably use local Spring strawberries, (these ruby red beauties came from the Downtown Nashville Farmer’s Market), 2 pints rinsed & drained, caps removed. Leave berries whole unless they are large, then cut in half. Set aside.
2. To make this very easy sponge-cake you will need 5 large eggs separated, 3/4 cup superfine sugar (if you don’t have then pulse regular granulated sugar in a food processor for a few seconds to make your own), 1 1/4 cups self-rising flour sifted with a pinch of salt.
3. Grease & line two 8 or 9 inch cake pans with parchment paper. Grease the paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Whisk egg yolks & sugar together until a pale yellow. Using a stand or hand mixer whip egg whites until stiff. Whisk egg whites into yolks. Gently sprinkle sifted flour over eggs in batches and fold into eggs using a large metal spoon until all the flour is mixed in.
5. Divide batter between two prepared pan. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cake layers are light golden brown & cooked in the middle. Remove from pans to cool completely on wire racks.
6. Mix 1 cup or container of marcarpone cheese, which is slightly sweet, with the juice & zest of half a lemon. Blend well.
8. Place one cooled cake layer on a cake plate or stand. Spread lemon mascarpone on top. Arrange half the berries over & gently press them into the cheese. Dust with a bit of powdered sugar.
9. Top layer of berries with the second cake layer. Whip one cup of heavy cream with 2 tbsp powdered sugar & 1 tbsp vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Spread on top of second cake layer. Top whipped cream with the remaining berries. Dust with additional powdered sugar if desired.
11. Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve. I made this cake from start to finish in 1 hour. It keeps well lightly covered for a day or two in the fridge.
Notice the texture of the cake….very sponge-like!
Making this cake will create a sense of well-being, make you think about the historical context of baking cakes, allow you to use fresh, local, just picked strawberries that taste like berries should.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Teresa, I love that strawberry colored table you’re using for this beautiful old time cake. Best part hour from start to finish. I was just given some organic strawberries. This would be perfect.
Yes Angela, elegant, classic and very quick and easy. BTW the sponge cake is divine.
I am making this cake as soon as my strawberries are ripe! Right now they are just blossoms! 🙂 If I can wait that long! Your photos are just beautiful…makes me want to just run and get a fork! 🙂
Chris, I had to cut this cake up quickly and share it with others or I would have eaten way more than I should. Let me know how your version turns out. Thanks.
Yum!! This cake sounds/looks so delicious!!
Unbelievable yes that good
Yes and I must apologize for eating the last piece after we shared with the family. I just could not resist!
Your pictures are gorgeous and the cake looks sooo good!
Thanks Prairie Palate, so happy you dropped by. I will scoot over to your site and see what’s going on.
That would be wonderful! Thanks. 🙂
There may well be no happier season than when the local strawberries come in. What a beautiful way to use them.
Tis very true Michelle. Strawberry season is always much anticipated at our house. I rarely purchase them out of season so it is doubly wonderful when I can go pick up some fresh local berries. Thanks for stopping by.
Love your pictures and the recipe looks great too! 🙂
When I read lemon mascarpone cream, I was in! The cake looks and sounds soooo delish! Which ingredient screams SPRINGTIME more than strawberries?
You know I forget about Mascarpone from time to time, but this cake just called out for a layer with a bit of lemon. Really brightened up all the flavors. Thanks Mademoiselle for stopping by.
WOW! look so yummy
I love sponge cake, and yours is a beauty.
Spicysweetandthings and Michele, thank you both so much for stopping by my kitchen.
strawberry fields forever…(have no idea what that means but…)
IF you had come over last Sunday….IF you had not ditched me for Bridge…..IF wishes were horses then beggars could ride….sorry you missed this…it was indeed Strawberry Fields!
Reblogged this on MINDS EYE and commented:
MMMMMMMMM………
Thanks for the reblog. Went over to your site….really great…you have a new follower! Me.
Thank you! Your work is fabulous and I really enjoy reading your blog! 🙂
What a great cake!
Thanks much. A great use for our little local Strawberry jewels.
we know that the sponge cake is a marvel already—I think the lemon mascarpone filling would outshine the chantilly cream we’ve used in the past. love it!
Yes Nance, the lemon mascarpone brightened up the entire cakes flavors…lemon is our friend! Thanks.
Gorgeous! I’m totally drooling now!
Thanks so much….Droooooooool on!
I got to taste this firsthand and it did not disappoint, delectable !!
I was so happy to share with the family…for you know “it is all for the family”…says the cake delivery man!
You had me at mascarpone cheese! Do you think this could be done for Christmas or is this more of a summer dessert?
Now that is what I call a beautiful cake. I can’t wait until we get sweet strawberries in our market so I can make this. Right now they are red but don’t have much flavor.
Beautiful cake! And I love the way you described it!
Help! my cake came out dry and crumbly 🙁 should I have used more of a folding technique as opposed to whisking the egg whites in? It looked lovely and the flavors of everything else were magical and scrumptious all together! I just need to get this cake right!
Reblogged this on Royal Graffiti.
Oh this looks divine! I’ve had it in my head that I’d like to make a Sponge Cake to use for Strawberry Shortcake. I think about it every time I walk by those little cakes in the produce department. They’re so sad…lol! But this goes beyond any dream in my head – utterly fantastic!! Beautiful job and that lemon marscapone filling?? Whaaaatt!!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment…yes eat all the spring berries you can as the season is fleeting.
Your cakes look beautiful! Unfortunately I followed the recipe and my lemon mascarpone was not quite the zest I was hoping for. I really would have liked a little more flavor. To fix this I mixed my thick mascarpone with my light and airy whipped cream and added a little extra powdered sugar. This made for a sweet fluffy middle and topping!
That’s all good Shannon. I say improve where you can and enjoy always. Best to you. T