Strawberries and cream sponge cake

This recipe comes from my Polish friend Agneska. She is a great baker and often comes up with beautiful creations. She has recently got married and this cake was very similar to her Polish wedding cake.
I love the softness and consistency of the sponge, very light and delicate; cream and strawberries make the perfect summer cake.
She uses vinegar as well as baking powder as a raising agent and that will make the sponge even softer. This is something new I have learnt today!
Agneska has used a little vodka, lemon and water to moisten it. I could barely tell there was alcohol in it. I don't like when the taste of the alcohol is overpowering as it takes away the flavour of the other ingredients. If you don't like vodka you can use any other mild alcohol of your choice.
This is great as a summer birthday cake.
My friend has used a standard glass to measure her ingredients. My glass had the capacity of 250 ml or 8.5 fl oz.
- Prep Time : 1 hour minutes
- Cook Time : 40 minutes
Ingredients
- eggs - 4
- flour - 1 glass ( 150 g - 1 + ¼ cup)
- sugar - 1/2 glass ( 100 g - ½ cup)
- baking powder - 1 tsp
- vinegar (ideally cider) - 1 tbsp
- oil for greasing
- For the filling:
- whipping cream - 500 ml - 17 fl oz
- strawberries - 500 g
- To moisten the sponge:
- boiled water - 1/2 glass (125 ml - 4.2 fl oz)
- lemon juice - 1
- vodka - 2 tbsp
- icing sugar - 2 tbsp
Instructions
Beat the egg whites with the sugar until you get a firm and creamy consistency.
Beat the yolks with the vinegar and the raising powder.
Stir in the egg whites and the yolks together and add gently the sifted flour incorporating it well.
Pour the mixture into a greased round baking tin and cook it in a hot oven at 160C for 35-40 minutes until the top is slightly golden.
Take it out of the oven and let it cool down.
In the meantime clean and wash the strawberries and whisk the cream to a firm consistency. Make a syrup to moisten the sponge by mixing together the boiled water, the juice of one lemon, vodka and icing sugar.
Cut the sponge lengthwise into three discs and moisten them with the syrup.
Cut some of the strawberries into halves.
Spread some whipped cream on the first disc and put some strawberries halves on top.
Cover with another disc and make another layer with strawberries and cream.
Put the third disc on top and then spread the cream all over the cake.
Decorate with some whole strawberries and mint leaves.
Store it in the fridge. Yum!
I am entering it to the weekly Made With Love Mondays contest hosted by Javelin Warrior.
This looks delicious…I love strawberries:)~Anne
Send me that slice!
Delicious, for sure! Alida, see that this is a version of the Italian Zuppa Inglese. Though the liquor usually is reddish. Have a great day!
it looks delicious.. like the strawberry topping..
Another LOVELY Tea Time Treats entry and that cake is almost like an Angel Cake….and with all that cream and strawberries, it's BRILLIANT! THANKS for baking another cake for the cake stall! Karen
Love this look amazing! For me strawberries are summer absolutely!!
I love the tip on using vinegar to make the sponge softer – I never knew that and the next time I bake a cake, I'll have to give that a try. I love how this cake came together, Alida – it looks so delicious! Thanks so much for sharing…
I didn´t know vinegar helped to raise the sponge. I have learnt something new too. It is a pity that the strawberry season is gone in here but I will keep the recipe for next year.
Hi Alida , wwwWWWoWWWwww !!!!!Looks AAAAaaawesome and colourful :))))Keep on Dear:)))www.southindiafoodrecipes.blogspot.in
What an interesting cake, I love the sound of the vodka with the strawberries. Is this a typical Polish cake?
Not sure. I think adding the vodka probably is but I think this is more of a classic strawberries and cream which most countries seem to do.The combination of the two seems to work well.
Hi, I am dropping by via Tea Time Treats. This is so lovely wit all that strawberries and cream. I love it!
Beautiful!! Love the generous use of cream and strawberries. M bookmarking this one. I think it will go nice with cherries also. Have a nice day!!Anuja
A scrumptious berry cake! Cream and strawberries are just made for each other!
Questa torta è bellissima, molto bella anche la porzione. Mi piace il tuo blog e adesso faccio un giretto, ho visto le foto di Roma! Ciao e buon fine settimana, se ti va passa pure da noi!
Beautiful, light summer cake. I really enjoy the sponge texture. I think using vinegar is an excellent idea. I learned something today too.Velva
Looks extremely delicious and tempting..
Who could ever say no to sponge cake and strawberries…such delight. You've created a food masterpiece there. Your husband must be enchanted :)>
This looks amazing, I could just do with a big slice!
Si que se ve esponjosa, muy buena la tarta.
Delicious cake.. the red strawberries on white icing are looking so attractive.
Ma che brava, è una vera delizia! Ciao
This looks fantastic Alida, it's very hard to beat strawberries, cream and cake. I've not come across this method of making sponge before, it sounds really interesting. Vinegar is usually used as a raising agent when there are no eggs involved. I am going to have to try this for sure.
Gorgeous summer cake Alida, must try to make it with the kids, I am sure they'll love it – good luck with the baking event:)
Qué pastel tan bueno, Alida! Me encanta cómo te ha quedado. Besitos.
Wow this looks fantastic and I wish I can have a piece for breakfast.Regardsolga.
questa è il tipo di torta che io preferisco l'aggiunta del cidro nell'impasto mi piace molto
First time on your site. cake looks gorgeous. now i know the reason for adding vinEgar.My girls love strawberry cake and usually make something similar for their birtday minus the alchol. Alcohol anywhere anytime is welcome. CHEERS. this is a keeper
Wonderful cake recipe! I wish I was home and give it a try as it seems very appropriate for hot Summer times. Chilling out with something fresh and sweet would make my family really happy.xoxo
How much is a glass? -Sveta.
Hi Sveta,For flour and sugar one glass is 150 g and for the water half a glass would be 150 ml.Ciao!
Having just read this again, I'm thinking mint syrup instead of lemon would also work well for moistening this sponge – it does look so good. I'm now back from holiday and have managed to add this link to my post – sorry for missing it out.