help - reliable cake recipe - urgent !

[throckenholt]

Hi,

dh was going to make a cake for Ds's birthday party tomorrow - he got up early, made it and left it in the oven for me to take out,then went off to work. However, the cakes haven't risen well and don't look big enough - I think I am going to have to make another one so that he has something to decorate this evening !

So - what is the most reliable and easy to make sponge recipe (usually they don't rise when I make them ) ? I plan to make it in a big tray so that it can be cut into the relevant shape and then deocorated.

Help !

tray cakes don't really rise so much tbh

what shape is he aiming for? sometimes it easier working with a round cake

use a basic victoria sponge cake

for a 10" square cake

8 eggs
1lb caster sugar
1lb butter (use polyunsaturated marg)
1lb s/r flour
2tsp baking powder

make sure oven well pre-heated 190 / 5
grease cake tin
put eggs, sugar, marg, flour and baking powder in a bowl and whisk until smooth and light (add a little water if not soft dropping consistency)
put in tin and bake

bake in centre of oven for about hour . use skewer or spaghetti to poke inside to chekc its done

if you're worried you can always buy plain sponges at supermarkets

Tip from my friend's mum...if you are icing around the edge of the cake, it's much easier if the cake is frozen. You may not have time for that this time but maybe next!

normally it would not be a problem - but at the moment we have too much on and this is extra hassle we could do without. I am going to the supermarket this morning - so will take your recipe and decide if I try making something or if there is something to buy instead.

The shape is supposed to be a forage harvester and trailer (ambitious ).

Take the stress out of your day and buy one!