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?

Cake is not about needing, it is an indulgence so you indulge the wants.

We are not jam people. Nobody has ever refused to eat a slice of our jam free homemade cakes. Buttercream made with butter all the way, we don't use margarine either.

Thanks all, I put jam in but I'm regretting it. I much prefer it no jam. I mean I'll eat it, my sponges and buttercream are so tasty, I'm hoping everyone else appreciates the jam

I'm hoping everyone else appreciates the jam

I assure you they will

Ditch the buttercream, it's vile sickly stuff. Icing of any type sucks. Jam all the way although I much prefer a plain cake.

Jam. Not buttercream. It makes it sickly.

I always put jam in sponge cake! Chocolate cake has raspberry jam (thin layer) and chocolate buttercream in the middle and chocolate buttercream on top. It's the only way.

Raspberry jam, no buttercream.

If I was using buttercream I would definitely pair it with some reasonably tart jam (raspberry perhaps) to help offset the over sweetness of the buttercream. But I would usually fill a sponge with fresh cream whipped with mascarpone and a layer of fruit.

For my own personal preference I use lots of jam. My daughter likes buttercream only. My son likes both. Guests have not complained at any variation!

I always put jam next to the buttercream in cakes: raspberry or strawberry with plain, apricot or cherry with chocolate. Agree with above, that it balances the sickliness of buttercream.

Definitely jam and preferably apricot!

No jam??? 😱

Ooh Biarritz, that reminded me of a cake my mum used to make back in the 70s. Chocolate sponge with cherry pie filling in the centre, and whipped cream/chocolate flake on top. Was heaven on a plate

Oh, I see Iam too late! However for the next one DEFINITELY NO JAM.

Strawberry jam is also nice in a Victoria sponge with buttercream.

I always use blackcurrant jam.

Buttercream is vile. Horrible, buttery, sickly sweet abomination. Jam reduces its vileness slightly.

Cream and strawberries.
Lemon curd, but probably not the best with vanilla cake.

Cream and jam.

But never buttercream.

Victoria sponge with fresh cream 🍰- Yes to jam.
Sponge cake with buttercream - No jam

@CrotchetyQuaver - Buttercream made with butter all the way, we don't use margarine either.

Ugh. Buttercream made with butter is bad enough. I can't even imagine how bad it would be made with margarine.

Buttercream is sickly sweet and if it’s sponge and buttercream everything tastes of vanilla and sugar and nothing else. I love a good layer of tart raspberry jam to cut through, but I’m not much of a sweet tooth.

A proper victoria sponge is only supposed to have Jam in, not that I ever do it that way.

The jam in the cake is something "sharp". Do you know what I mean? Otherwise it'll be sickly sweet.

If you don't want to put jam (because of sugar?) I would add fruit. You can buy frozen, it's cheaper than buying a few punnets of, say, strawberries. When it defrosts looks mushy and awful but in the middle of the cake nobody will see it.

Depends how / if you are icing it. I find jam between the layers too much on a fully iced cake.

Personally I always add jam and prefer that but its your cake and your choice. I can't say I would eat piece of cake and comment about lack of jam.