Afternoon tea- Mini Victoria Sponges

The way to my heart is cake. I think it's the perfect accompaniment to breakfast, lunch, dinner, a cup of tea, a chat with friends, a picnic in the park, or a night in front of the TV. For me there is nothing better. That's why I think these little beauties are the perfect recipe to have, being mini sponges they are the perfect size for one person to munch upon, and look really lovely when dusted liberally with icing sugar and arranged on a cake stand.

I've just made these to take to my Aunty's house tomorrow, as I'm going to visit. The mixture below was enough for 8 mini sponges using the muffin tin, and also 4 heart shaped sponges, using 10cm tins.

So what's stopping you, pre heat the oven, invite your friends round, and host an afternoon tea feast!

12-15 mini victoria sponges

Ingredients-

Sponge-
225g Plain Flour
225g Caster Sugar
225g Unsalted Butter- Softened
3 tsp Baking Powder
4 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Butter icing- 
500g Icing Sugar
160g Unsalted Butter- Softened
4 tbsp Milk
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract

Method-

For the sponge-
1) Preheat your oven to 180C and grease a muffin tin with butter.
2) Weigh all the ingredients into the same bowl and mix together until just combined- Be careful not to over mix.
3) Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin- Filling each hole a couple of millimetres from the top.
4) Bake in the oven for 20 minutes- Or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
5) Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for about 15 minutes, then carefully remove and place on a wire rack to cool fully.
*You might find you have a small amount of mixture left- Don't be tempted to fill the muffin holes all the way to the top as the mixture will overflow when baking and you won't be able to get them out!*

Butter icing-
The butter icing can be made when the cakes are in the oven cooking to save some time.
1) Sieve the icing sugar and place the rest of the ingredients into the bowl with it-Start mixing using a folk.
2) When the mixture has come together mix with an electric whisk (Or a lot of arm power) for around 5 minutes- Or until the icing is really light and fluffy.

Constructing- 
1) Take a sponge and cut it in half across the middle (This is easier if you use a serrated knife.)
2) On one half of the sponge pipe a swirl, or spoon on the butter icing.
3) If desired- Spoon some jam onto the other half of the sponge and stick the two halves back together and sieve some icing sugar over the top.
4) EAT!!!!

Sponge-

 

  

Icing-

Constructing-