You may well look at this Victoria Sponge Gateau and think this is beyond your baking skills, but if you can sieve and you can whisk egg whites, you can make this sponge.
I discovered this type of sponge when I made my first gluten free birthday cake for my husband back in 2016), he loves Victoria Sponge so I decided to make a sponge we could all eat and used fresh cream, jam and strawberries for the filling and we were all bowled over at how light and fluffy it was.
Since 2016 I’ve grown intolerant to eggs and dairy so while I can make this gateau dairy free, I’ve yet to make it egg free too. Let me know in the comments if you’d like me to try, I need someone to make it for other than myself to be bothered!!
This recipe uses a Genoise Sponge technique, which aims to incorporate as much air into the sponge as possible. I’ve since used this recipe to make almost all of the family birthday cakes…Bob the Minion being my greatest creation to date!
Oh and if you were wondering how do I pronounce GENOISE it’s ‘jen-waase‘ Imagine Hermione saying Leviosaa and you’ll get it!
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approx. 220g of mixture per tin use this tip to get the best results
Can I use this Genoise Sponge for other desserts?
The recipe below makes enough mixture for three deep 8″ /20cm round sponges, however, you can adjust the amount needed by changing the servings in the recipe card below
Example
4 servings = 1 sponge
8 servings = 2 sponges
12 servings = 3 sponges and so on…
As this recipe is so versatile it’s perfect for making and turning into Ladyfingers for trifles, tiramisu and other gateaux. You could make three sponges and only use two keeping one sponge back for another day (these freeze really well).
What is the difference between a genoise and sponge cake?
Some would say that Genoise is the trickiest of the two, but in the world of gluten free, I find a Genoise sponge rises to the occasion every time.
So what is a Genoise sponge then? A Genoise is made by separating the eggs and whipping the whites, then adding the yolks and folding in a surprisingly little amount of flour. You literally end up with a cake foam rather than the cake batter you’re probably used to.
Of course if you’ve made sponge cakes you’ll know there’s a lot more to it in terms of ingredients. For example, you have to beat the sugar with butter first (no butter in a Genoise) then add the eggs whole. Then add the dry ingredients and flavours and beat the whole lot to within an inch of its life to incorporate some air into the cake batter and make it light and fluffy. Can you tell I’m a Genoise fan?
Is Victoria sponge made with Genoise?
Ah, you’ve got me there. Technically no it’s not, so this isn’t a traditional Victoria Sponge recipe. However the idea is the same, a white light sponge, sweet cream filling and strawberry jam. This is why I entitled this recipe Victoria Sponge Gateau though because it takes the idea of the traditional and makes it into a GBBO style Showstopper of a dessert.
Is it Gateau or Gateaux?
That all depends on how many you plan to make! The delicious dessert in the photos is a Gateau, so called because it is a light sponge dessert made with fresh cream. Therefore needing to be eaten on the same day really or at least within 48hrs.
If you made two of these gorgeous desserts using my Victoria Sponge Gateau Recipe then you would have two gateaux, so basically Gateaux is plural for Gateau in French.
Can I make this into a Chocolate Genoise?
If you wish to make a chocolate sponge, I’d recommend using chocolate essence. If you don’t have this you can use cocoa powder. I would use this ratio;
For one sponge:
remove 2 tbsp plain GF flour and replace with 1 tbsp cocoa powder
For two sponges:
remove 4 tbsp plain GF flour and replace with 2 tsp cocoa powder … and so on.
How do you store this dairy free cream gateau?
The image below is a slice of this Victoria Sponge Gateau the day after I made it. As you can see the cream has set now and slicing is much easier. If you slice and eat on the day it’s worth keeping the gateau in the fridge until you want to serve it as the cream will soften, especially on a warm day.
This gateau will keep for up to three days in the fridge, it’s best to keep it covered as the cream will absorb your fridge smells and nobody likes salami flavoured cream cakes!!
If you love the idea of this Victoria Sponge Gateau then you’ll love these desserts
Celebration Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Gateau Recipe
Celebration Gluten Free Victoria Sponge Gateau
Ingredients
For the Genoise Sponge
- 90 g gluten free plain flour
- 90 g gluten free self raising flour
- 195 g caster sugar
- 6 egg(s) seperated
To make it a Victoria Sponge Gateau
- 450 g tin coconut milk needs to be 60% or over in coconut extract I use a tinned milk with 75% fat
- 300 g strawberries cut into slices (about 3 slices each if big enough)
- 5 tbsp strawberry ice cream topping
- 2 tbsp icing/confectioners sugar to dust the gateau
Instructions
- First things first…sieve both the flours together….4x! I’ve tried making this sponge with and without the sieving process and believe me it does make a difference.
- Add the egg whites to a mixer and using the whisk attachment beat into firm peaks.
- Add the caster sugar a spoonful at a time and continue to beat until the whites become stiff and have a beautiful glossy sheen to them. TOP TIP: You know it's ready if you take a pinch and rub your fingers together, if you can feel the sugar grains between your fingers you need to continue beating.
- Replace the whisk attachment with the cake paddle and add the egg yolks, mix quickly to combine.
- Fold in the sifted flours quickly but gently to prevent knocking too much air out of the mixture. You can do this using the same cake paddle or by hand with a silicone spatula. I prefer the hand method as this way I can 'feel' when the flour is folded in.
- Add to your well oiled and lined tin(s) this recipe works out as about 220g of mixture per tin for three tins.
- Bake on 180°C | 160°C fan | 350°F | Gas 4 for 20 minutes – keep a close eye to make sure the sponge does not catch (burn), you know they are ready when you get a perfect spongy bounce to the touch….the cooked smell is unmistakable!
Turn your sponges into a Victoria Sponge
- To make the dairy free cream open your can of coconut milk and pour away the coconut water. Tip the white fat into the mixing bowl and whip, you can add 2-3tbsp icing sugar to sweeten if you like.
- Once you've whipped your cream to a thick enough consistency to pipe. Add to a piping bag and pop into the fridge to thicken for at least 30mins (an hour is best).
- To get the best results I add sliced strawberries equal distances apart and then pipe a dollop of cream between each strawberry. Then I fill the gap in the middle with cream and strawberries.
- Finally, drizzle strawberry sauce over the creamed sponges and allow some of the sauce to dribble down the sides of the sponge.
- Carefully layer all three sponges and either dust the top sponge with icing sugar or use up any extra cream and strawberries you might have.
Use your sponges for Ladyfingers / Trifle Sponges
- If using these Genoise sponges for trifles, tiramisu or other desserts. Then remove from the tins, cut into shapes you desire and place on a baking tray and return to the switched off oven with the door ajar until the oven goes cool. This will dry out your sponges to imitate the dry sweet ladyfingers sponges, perfect for soaking up alcohol and sweet juices.
Nutrition
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I think you are just marvellous!! Thank you xxx
Well June, the feeling is mutual, thank you for taking the time to come back and comment. Rebecca x
I can feel the weight gain already just looking at it. Yum!
Good, mission accomplished then hahaha x
This looks so good! Love the 3 tier thing you’ve got going on to make it extra fancy :-D
it is a mountain of sponge to behold isn’t it haha!
Yum! I’ve never made a sponge cake, but I really need to try sometime! :)
Good heavens, these words do not compute to me hahaha. I think it’s time you had a go lovely x
Thank you for contributing this wonderful recipe to Fiesta Friday. I have heard (not tried it) that you can use the liquid from canned garbanzo (or ceci) beans, it’s called aquafaba and used to make things vegan. It’s an egg replacement.
https://www.peta.org/living/food/vegan-aquafaba-recipes-egg-free/
Your birthday Cake Bob is stunning! Lucky child.
Trying to bake with aquafaba is certainly on my to-do-list, you just have to be in the right frame of mind and poised for minor disappointments in the early stages of recipe development….I’ll brave it one day, thank you for the tips.
What a beautiful dish!! Stopping by from the Fiesta Friday party – I’d love you to stop by our party, What’s for Dinner, and share this beauty!!
Why thank you what a lovely comment and I’d be thrilled to stop by and share, thank you again xx
So excited you shared this at our party!! It’s mouthwatering!! Have a fabulous week.
Thank you so much for having me, what a lovely community you have.
Oh wow, this looks absolutely delicious! The perfect cake for this time of year and so great that it is gluten and dairy free!
Gorgeous recipe Rebecca. And great that it’s been updated with such lovely photos too. The perfect cake for a summer birthday… and hopefully summer will be here very soon xxx
Thanks for sharing with #CookBlogShare
Thank you lovely, see these things happen for a reason hahaha xx
What a stunner! A great summer cake too!
It certainly is a wonderful summer cake, especially eaten straight from the fridge – delicious!
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.
Hello from Canada!
I can’t find gluten free self rising flour… well would gf bisquick do?
Please advise.
Thank you.
Hello Liza from Canada (I have one of my best friends in Canada now – love the country, wish I could move there).
I’ve Googled Bisquick as had no idea what it was and looking at the ingredients I think it possibly could work, you may need to add a little extra liquid given the starch content but all should be fine – please do let me know how you get on and thank you so much for dropping by on my recipe. Rebecca x
What brand of gluten free flour do you use for this cake? I’m learning that different brands will bake differently. Thanks for any tips you can give me.
Tends to be one of two brands but I have started to use a third; Many of my older posts used Doves Freee Flour, but I have also started using Sainsbury’s own free from flours. However, I cannot recommend Vicki at Free From Fairy and her flour enough, it’s a better quality flour, wholegrain and tastes lovely in baking. Vicki’s flour is not your average cost so I tend to use her flours for special occasions. Hope this has helped Brittany, I’d love to know how you get on xx
Thanks. I’m actually in the US, so I’ve never heard of these brands before. I’m trying to see if we have a brand here that is similar to one of the brands you mentioned. I’m not finding any so far though.
I’ll do some research for you Brittany, fingers crossed we find something between us xx
Your Basic Gluten and Dairy Free Genoise Sponge sounds like a fail safe recipe. Commenting as BritMums Baking Round-up Editor. :)
Thank you Julie, I believe that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it…this is a don’t fix it sponge! :-D