AIBU to ask Mumsnetters where I can get a 9" sponge cake by tomorrow?

[MoreHoursInTheDay]

My son wants a photo of himself on his birthday cake. I've got the photo, but not the cake, and it's his party on Sunday. Either a plain iced sponge cake or a Victoria sponge would do (because I could then cover it with royal icing and add the photo). The trouble is it needs to be 9" in diameter, and I can only find 7" sponges in my local shops (have tried Waitrose and M&S, and looked online at Tesco).

My backup plan is obviously to make one, but my sponge cakes don't always turn out well, so if anyone has any brainwaves in the meantime, please let me know!

Asda have a bit at their bakery where you scan the picture in and they print it and put it on the cake. You can get the plain cakes too but they're rectangular not round

Where in the world are you?

Costco do Victoria sponge cakes 10" and plain rectangular iced cakes

Cake tin
Order in the next few hours get it tomorow. Then you just need butter, sugar, flour and eggs...

Not sure where to get a ready made one though.

If you're in London I'll bake you one! My sponges are ace.

"Where in the world are you?"

SW London

" Then you just need butter, sugar, flour and eggs..."

Yes, but my sponges are always thin and crispy rather than light and spongy like the ones from the shop. Any tips?

I use this can't go wrong recipe for a 9" round cake:

14 oz block stork (softened)
14 oz cake flour (can sub self rising)
16 oz caster sugar
14 oz eggs
3 1/2 T water
1 t vanilla

Mix ingredients together by hand until all mixed in then 2 min at a medium speed with mixer followed by 1 minute on a high speed. Bake at 160 or 140 (fan oven). If you've split it into two tins it should take 1 hour but check after 50 mins.

Easiest recipe ever and it won't go wrong!

Have a look for Mary Berry's all in one method sponges. Can't go wrong

buy a rectangle cake and cut it to size?

Put in a bit extra baking powder. But will kids care if it's thin and crispy?

Buying a square one and cutting sounds like a good idea too, if you can get a big enough square.

Some of the big superstores do have instore facilities to print your own, i have seen one recently in tesco I think it was.

What is T water Taz? And t vanilla? Presume T is tablespoons and t is teaspoon...

175gs butter
175gs caster sugar
1tsp vanilla
3 large eggs
175gs selfraising flour.

cream butter and sugar well, add vanilla, the beat in one egg at a time, fold in flour, bake @ 180 for 15/20 mins till golden and clean knife whrn stabbed

in a bakery, which presumably being in SW London, you will find by throwing a stone in any direction.
and there is a chat section.

How do you propose to add the photo to the cake?

Asda and Sainsbury's do proper photo cakes. Much easier.

YABU to ask in AIBU

Asda at the junction will do this.

As will Roehampton while I think about it.

On a roll - Sainsbury's at Southside and Merton Abbey Mills too. That pretty much covers SW London

OFFS - Wimbledon Sewing Machine store on Balham High Road (near at Tooting Bec end) will do the tops while you wait - 5 mins, about £7 iirc.

My sainsburys nor morrisons do the printed versions anymore. Only Asda.

OP - could you use a store mix for your cakes? Well butter the tins, place a ovenproof bowl on the bottom shelf of the oven and pour some boiling water into it. I do this to keep the sponge moist. Place sponge mix in middle shelf and then leave to bake. If all else fails, then you have tomorrow to buy one. Hope it works for you

Op, have you got a fan oven by any chance? You need to turn the temp down and reduce cooking time a lot compared to conventional oven, as I have learnt to my cost. Especially with sponge cakes!

What is T water Taz? And t vanilla? Presume T is tablespoons and t is teaspoon...

Forgettable yes, T is short for tablespoon and t is teaspoon.