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!

Weigh 4 eggs, note weight, then cream same quantity of butter and caster sugar until fluffy, you can use electric whisk, beat in eggs one at a time, add same quantity of self-raising flour and teaspoon of vanilla essence and a little milk if too stiff. Usually makes enough for 2 6/7 inch tins but if using larger tin will work in a single tin.

Oven at 180c check at 15 minutes, might need a little longer.

Interesting technique with the eggs Caitlin. Assume you mean weigh them in their as rather than out of them?

Oven time suggestions seem to vary between 15 mins and an hour. I suspect my thin crunchy cakes are fan-oven related, so I'm curious to try the slower cooking method, and the added moisture in the bottom of the oven that someone suggested.

Just not sure I have time for experiments to go wrong today though!

Sainsbury's do a large plain-iced fruit cake, but only a small plain-iced sponge cake.

Supermarkets, if you're watching, there's a gap in the market for a large decorate-your-own birthday cake!

cakesbakesandcookies.com/2013/08/15/6-to-12-in-60-seconds-aka-madeira-cake-ingredients-for-different-size-cake-tins/

I've just used this recipe to make DS a 9 inch birthday cake for a photo cake. My plan B was to buy a party tray bake from Asda and stick it in the middle with the candles on the odd side bits.

I went to a local bakers and they managed to get me a cake to my design for the next day. Shops aren't open tomorrow but it's probably worth ringing a few to see if they van help today.

Wow, thanks for all the advice everyone ... made a fabulous cake!

I've never found a 9" one.

Me neither Sophie. .

Fan oven should be around 160c. Yes eggs are weighed in their shells.

Well done More! In twenty years time you'll be able to go on and on to him about how you hand made his birthday cakes. It's got to be worth it just for that.

Sorry, but demanding a cake with a photo of yourself sounds like vain and self-obsessed behaviour that I'd not want to encourage. Just ice his name on a 7 inch sponge and take a pic of him blowing out the candles.

Well, don't you sound like a lot of fun, Jessie...

So vain and self obsessed he's having a party to celebrat his birth. best stamp on that one too.

glad your cake came out well, OP.

Why is this in AIBU? Is it potentially unreasonable ?!