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Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake

Traditional Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake is made with two layers of vanilla sponge filled with strawberry jam and whipped cream. It’s a light cake perfect for afternoon tea.

a gluten free Victoria Sponge Cake on a wood and marble cake stand - 2 layers of vanilla sponge cake layered with strawberry jam and whipped cream

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Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake

This Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake will have you swooning for tea parties straight out of Bridgerton.

Pairing perfectly with fine china and fresh Spring days, Victoria Sponge Cake is a classic that will never go out of style. Fresh jam delicately spread over each layer of sponge proves that pure elegance doesn’t have to be ornately decorated, but can be found in simple ingredients when they’re just right. 

This Victoria Sponge Cake will demand the respect of your guests at your next gathering whether it be a barbeque or wedding. Embrace Spring and feel like a total queen in the kitchen with this timeless British hit.

a gluten free Victoria Sponge Cake made of 2 layers of vanilla sponge cake filled with strawberry jam and whipped cream, on top of a white marble cake stand with a wood base


What You Need To Know About This Victoria Sponge

Iconically British, the infamous Victoria Sponge Cake (sometimes referred to as Victoria sandwich) was Queen Victoria’s favorite dessert. The thing that makes this dessert pure royalty is its understated decor. With such delicately rich flavors, things like icing and sprinkles simply aren’t needed.

Traditionally, the Victoria Sponge Cake is layered with strawberry jam. You’re welcome to interpret this British classic in your own way, of course. Some bakers choose to opt for raspberry jam while others add a bit of buttercream in as well.

A fine dusting of powdered sugar is normally how the top layer of the Classic Victoria sandwich is adorned. Once you taste the light, fluffy, and buttery cake for yourself you’ll realize why “less is more” in this legendary British dessert.

a slice of gluten free Victoria Sponge Cake on a stack of 2 small white plates with a silver fork garnished with fresh strawberries

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Victoria Sponge Cake Ingredients

For the Cake

  • Gluten Free Flour – I used my Nightshade Free Gluten Free Flour Blend in this recipe with excellent results
  • Xanthan Gum – omit if your flour blend contains it
  • Baking Powder – I use aluminum-free
  • Fine Sea Salt 
  • Unsalted Butter – for best results, use European-style butter or butter with at least 82% butterfat.
  • Caster Sugar – or granulated sugar. But you’ll get the best results with Caster Sugar.
  • Eggs – large eggs
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Milk

For the Filling

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Equipment Needed to Make Gluten-Free Victoria Sandwich

a slice of Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake on a white plate with a silver fork and garnished with fresh strawberries

How to Make Victoria Sponge Cake

Step 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 2 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

Step 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3. Add the butter and caster sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy.

Step 4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl as needed to make sure there isn’t any butter stuck to the bottom. Then add the vanilla extract and milk and mix until completely incorporated.

Step 5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until combined.

Step 6. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pans, dividing the batter evenly between the two, and smooth the batter into an even layer.

Step 7. Bake for 22-26 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake and dry out the cakes.

Step 8. Cool the cakes in the pans for 20 minutes. Then remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 9. When the cake is completely cooled, make the whipped cream by adding the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to a large bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat until soft peaks form.

Step 10. To assemble, place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate. Spread the strawberry jam in an even layer over the cake, leaving about half an inch from the edge. Then top with the whipped cream.

Step 11. Gently place the next cake layer on top of the cake and dust the top with some powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

a slice of Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake on a stack of 2 white plates with a forkful of cake on the plate that's garnished with fresh strawberries


Tips for Making Gluten-Free Victoria Sponge Cake 

  • For cleaner slicing, just fill the cake with jam and serve the cake with the whipped cream on top or serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream.
  • It’s more fun to pretend you’re on the Great British Baking Show when you’re making this cake!
a slice of Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake on a stack of 2 white plates garnished with fresh strawberries that has had a forkful of cake removed from the slice

Other Gluten Free Cake Recipes To Try

This simple Gluten Free Lemon Cake is one of THE BEST cakes I’ve ever had! Moist, tender cake layered with lemon curd and cream cheese frosting. It’s absolutely delicious and you’d never know it was gluten free! This recipe makes 2 6-inch cake layers that are sliced and turned into a 4 layer cake. You can double the recipe and bake it as a 9 inch cake or 8 inch cake. This lemon cake recipe is perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, graduation parties, wedding showers, baby showers, and birthday cakes.

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a gluten free Victoria Sponge Cake made of 2 layers of vanilla sponge cake filled with strawberry jam and whipped cream, on top of a white marble cake stand with a wood base

Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake

4.95 from 57 ratings
Traditional Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Cake is made with two layers of vanilla sponge filled with strawberry jam and whipped cream. It's a light cake perfect for afternoon tea.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 24 minutes
Total Time: 44 minutes
Servings: 12
Print Rate Pin

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 2 cups gluten free flour blend 270g (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 4g
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder 13g
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt 5g
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 ¼ cups caster sugar
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup milk room temperature

For the Filling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 2 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • Add the butter and caster sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl as needed to make sure there isn’t any butter stuck to the bottom. Then add the vanilla extract and milk and mix until completely incorporated.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until combined.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pans, dividing the batter evenly between the two, and smooth the batter into an even layer.
  • Bake for 22-26 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake and dry out the cakes.
  • Cool the cakes in the pans for 20 minutes. Then remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.
  • When the cake is completely cooled, make the whipped cream by adding the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to a large bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat until soft peaks form.
  • To assemble, place one cake layer on a cake stand or plate. Spread the strawberry jam in an even layer over the cake, leaving about half an inch from the edge. Then top with the whipped cream.
  • Gently place the next cake layer on top of the cake and dust the top with some powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. I used my Nightshade Free Gluten Free Flour Blend in this recipe.
  2. For cleaner slicing, just fill the cake with jam and serve the cake with the whipped cream on top or serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g | Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 221mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 481IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 1mg

Disclaimers

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Facts are estimated and aren't always accurate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.

Did you make this?Mention @whattheforkfoodblog or leave a comment rating below!

 Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.

Leave a comment

If you made this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online.

Sincerely,
Shay

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Recipe Rating




  1. ash says:

    so i made this recipe once, turned out terrific but im wondering if i can sub the gf flour for regular, since the cake doesnt need to be gluten free for this occasion (but i trust this recipe already). thanx !

  2. Esmé Slabbert says:

    Hi Shay, I am so glad that I found your GF blog. This does look outstanding. I have pinned it as its most definitely something that I have to try out.
    Visited you via Happiness is Homemade #475. If interested, please hop over and come and share your posts with us at Senior Salon Pit Stop. See entry #109+110…. and navigate to the bottom of my page for SSPS linkup, we hope to virtually meet you there.

  3. Marianne says:

    Hi! Does the recipe actually call for 1 cup (2 sticks of butter)? Other recipes I have seen only call for 1/4 cup.

  4. Alison says:

    Hi just making your cake recipie it says to cook on 325 which in fan oven is 130 which seems very low to cook a cake on. Can I bake it in 180 which would be normal temprature to bake a cake

  5. Tamara Kirkham says:

    Your recipes are outstanding and this one is no exception. Thank you, Shay!

  6. Donna @ Modern on Monticello says:

    This does look good. A couple of years ago I had to go on a gluten free diet temporarily and learned to appreciate not only the effort it takes to cook gluten free but also how good it can taste. Thanks for joining the link party and sharing your recipes. #HomeMattersParty