Who can resist a Victoria sponge? It’s a British classic, and an afternoon tea essential. These Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes are soft, sweet, and filled with jam and cream – everything you’d expect, but in adorable Herdy-shaped portions. Perfect for parties, picnics, or just because!
Makes approx. 7–9 mini Herdy cakes
Takes approx. 1 hour
Rating: easy
For the sponge cake
For the filling
1 - Preheat & Prep
Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F / gas mark 4. Grease and line your cake tins with baking parchment.
2 - Make the sponge
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. This can take a few minutes, so don’t rush – the fluffier the better!
3 - Add the eggs & vanilla
Crack in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4 - Fold in the flour
Gently fold in the self-raising flour until combined. If the batter feels a bit stiff, add 1–2 tbsp of milk to loosen it slightly. The texture should be smooth and drop easily from a spoon.
5 - Bake
Pour the mixture into your prepared tins and spread evenly with a spatula. You’re aiming for the sponge to be around 2–3cm high once baked. We filled 2 8-inch square tins approximately 1.5cm deep with batter. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden and springy to the touch. A skewer inserted into the middle should come out clean.
6 - Cool & Cut
Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, use your Herdy cookie cutter to cut out an even number of Herdy head shapes – these will form the top and bottom of your mini cakes.
7 - Whip the cream
In a large bowl, whip the double cream with the icing sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Take care not to over-whip – you want it light and fluffy.
8 - Fill & Sandwich
Spread (or pipe) a layer of strawberry jam onto one Herdy sponge. Top with a generous dollop or swirl of whipped cream, then place a second Herdy sponge on top to create a mini sandwich. Repeat with the remaining sponges.
9 - Serve & Smile
Dust with a little icing sugar if you fancy, and serve fresh with a cup of tea. These mini Herdy cakes are best enjoyed the same day – but we doubt they’ll last much longer than that!
Got leftover sponge from between your Herdy cut-outs? Don’t bin them! They’re perfect for a quick trifle, cake pops, or to nibble while you bake.
Fancy giving this recipe a go? Share your bakes with us – we love seeing your Herdy creations! 🐑💛
Cookie Cutter Set
