To think birthday cakes dont need jam

[Redcrow]

Quick fire question

I'm making a birthday cake today, vanilla sponge and buttercream, I wouldnt add jam but I'm not wondering if the other guests would prefer some jam in there? And is iabu and there should be jam does the jam go on top of a layer of buttercream?

I always put jam in a cake it wouldn't be the same (for me) without.

I’d say to add jam too!
However I hate vanilla sponge, so it’s not something I’ve pondered over much.
I hope the birthday boy has a great day!

I’d do jam with cream in a sponge but not with buttercream. I never knew people put jam with buttercream.

No jam.

Especially not in chocolate cake. The only time fruit should be mixed with chocolate is in a terrys chocolate orange.

Yes jam. Why would you not have jam?

Victoria sandwich: jam only.
Fat less sponge: jam and whipped cream.
Vanilla sponge: both.
I can't help but feel a cake without jam would be difficult to eat. Like "too much", especially if you're icing it too.

I HATE jam

Lemon curd, thin layer then butter cream much nicer than jam!

I've never put jam in cakes....

You wouldn't in coffee and walnut/lemon drizzle/ chocolate/carrot/etc so I wouldn't in a vanilla cake either.....

No buttercream...fresh cream and jam

I don’t put any buttercream in a Victoria sponge. Just plenty of jam - always blackcurrant - strawberry is IMO over-sweet.

A chocolate cake, OTOH, has chocolate buttercream inside and on top. And would have it down the sides, too, if dh had his way.

My Victoria sponge recipe says jam on both layers. Gasp!

Strawberry jam (cheap so no lumps) for a fresh cream filling. Lemon curd for a buttercream filling.

Now I want cake.

Those that say just jam. Do they mean no cream or buttercream at all?

Those that say just jam. Do they mean no cream or buttercream at all?

Yes. Just jam, and a sprinkling of icing sugar on top.

Definitely jam

A nice layer of raspberry jam cuts through the sweetness of the buttercream.

Raspberry jam and buttercream.

Mary Berry agrees with me on this.

I find jam to be sickly sweet which is probably where my aversion is coming from!

I’d truly be gutted to find no jam in a birthday cake.

It would be a very big deal for me.

It’s the mix of jam and buttercream which makes it perfect. Buttercream on its own is sickly and boring.

I love sweet stuff but not jam , it's far too sickly sweet and just vile !

Yes to jam!

The jam is for colour and more importantly for gluing the layers so it stays in a piece on the plate. Bonne Maman are doing an 'intense' version with extra fruit and a purple lid. It's lush!

Another vote for raspberry jam, its a bit tarter and that counteracts the sickliness of the buttercream.

Though I am tempted to try blackcurrant next time, even on a vanilla sponge, as I like a good sour tart taste. Yum!

I really don’t like jam in cakes. Buttercream on its own is my preference.

Buttercream and then a small amount of jam on top between the layers. For me the jam is the best bit. Hope birthday boy has a lovely day.