This is a moist vanilla sponge cake which can be molded and iced to suit any occasion. It's a firm mix so perfect for using in a multi-layered cake, a patterned cake mold, or as I did here, in two sandwich tins. I've used a chocolate 'frosting' this time, but in the past have had great success with strawberry jam in the middle and a vanilla buttercream icing on top. See my grandmother's cream layer cake for quantities.
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Preheat the oven to 180ºC and line the bottom of two 20cm sandwich tins with greaseproof paper.
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250g plain flour
125g unsalted butter
200g caster sugar
3 large eggs
200ml buttermilk
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
1½ tsp vanilla extract
Sieve the dry ingredients into a bowl.
Measure out the buttermilk and stir in the vanilla extract.
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Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until pale and fluffy. Then add the eggs, one at a time, whisking carefully to make sure they are well combined. Now add the flour mixture bit by bit alternating with the buttermilk until you have a loose cake mix.
Divide the mixture between the two tins and bake for about 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
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