Is Victoria sponge the best/easiest for a birthday?

[WoWWidow]

Hi,

I am rubbish a cooking, but ok at baking.

I need to make a cake for my DS who is going to be 2 tomorrow.

Is Victoria sponge going to alright?
What do i put on it?
Any other easy cakes?

Its only for me, P, my mum, my nan and some i suppose for DS!

Help!!

Victoria sponge is v v easy and perfect for birthday cakes. You can put normal icing on top or make some yummy buttercream icing, stick a candle on the top and off you go!

how do you make buttercream icing?

sorry am v.dense!

thanks

victoria sponge is good but doesn't last (stay fresh) very long. If you're having it tomorrow that will be fine but make sure it is kept in a airtight container once it is cooled.

Easiest way to decorate is to put jam in the middle, maybe a bit of fresh whipped cream if you're not sure how to make butter icing. Or you can buy ready made frosting at the supermarket.

I would suggest getting some ready mixed icing, a mixed colour packet, and then your ds can use it to cut out shapes with cookie cutters or thoroughly washed playdough cutters, or squish with his fingers to make butterflies, car shapes etc. Whatever he likes. Then he can really say it's his cake!

Gilly

The easiest is a cake from M&S.

Buttercream icing is basically one part butter and 2 parts icing sugar-whisk it all up until it goes buttercreamy - you will gwt to the stage where you think it is never going to harden but it will!
You can buy Betty Crocker ready made frosting, which is nice but not as nice and only slightly easier than making your own.

I did lots of fairy cakes which I decorated with the number 2 in silver bead things or chocolate buttons, and a candle on each one.

I then arranged them on a tray in the shape of a number 2. Worked quite well!

I agree with the M&S suggestion. They do a very nice Victoria Sponge.

A friend of mine did a beautiful chocolate rice krispie cake in the shape of a 2 and stuck smarties all over the top of it.

It looked fantastic, and very easy.

I suppose she made some sort of a template for the shape, maybe use tinfoil or cardboard. Or you could do a huge square and cut out the two shape (and scoff the extra bits!) Must ask her how she did it.

Ooh cool thanks.

can't do an m&s cake (although i would love to), as my mum thinks i am a useless piece of shit generally.

I am sending DS to nursery as it is usual day, and im not taking him out for a day he doesnt understand and i cant look after him properly, hoover, bake and make a 'party' tea!

I like all in one cakes. Even easier than Victoria Sponge, but does need a mixer. Basically the same weight of eggs, flour, fat and sugar. I usually do 4oz sugar (supposed to be castor, but I often used gran) 4oz self raising flour, 4 oz soft butter (you can use good quality margarine, but I like butter), 2 eggs, a little bit of water, 1tsp baking powder. Mix it all together for 1 min in the mixer (you can do it by hand but it needs a bit of welly) bake at 150 degrees (GM4) for 20-25 mins in 2 7inch cake tines (or whatever you have). I find it more forgiving than Victoria, as the baking powder makes it rise. My absolute fav is to then pour hot lemon syrup all over it and then eat with a spoon... Otherwise butter cream all over it and decorate with sweets etc. Or make a flat cake and cut out a nice shape (we have done butterflies for dd) or if you use two tins, one larger you can make a nice cat with chocolate icing.

I replace 20g of flour with 20g of cornflour in a Nigella styleeeee and it's brilliant. It makes it rise loads. Still use the baking powder as well though.

Get 4 eggs. weigh them and then use the same weight of butter, sugar, SF flour. And a teaspoon of baking powder and a splash of milk.

thank you