How To Get My Birthday Cake Recipe To Fit Your Tin and Other FAQs

Round Cake

Cake Diameter (cm)

Number of Layers

Cake Ingredients

0 g self-raising flour
0 tsp baking powder
0 egg(s)
0 g soft margarine or butter
0 g caster sugar
0 drops vanilla extract
0 tsp milk

Buttercream Ingredients

0 g butter
0 g icing sugar
0 tsp vanilla extract
Approx. 0 tsp milk

Square or rectangular cake

Cake Size (cm)
x

Number of Layers

Cake Ingredients

0 g self-raising flour
0 tsp baking powder
0 egg(s)
0 g soft margarine or butter
0 g caster sugar
0 drops vanilla extract
0 tsp milk

Buttercream Ingredients

0 g butter
0 g icing sugar
0 tsp vanilla extract
Approx. 0 tsp milk

What temperature should I bake the cake at

You can bake this vanilla cake at the same temperature specified in the original recipe regardless of the size of tin you're using.

How long should I bake my cake for?

As long as you split the mixture into sandwich tins the cooking time will be the same as for the original recipe.

Can I bake two layers in one deep tin?

Yes you can. However it will take longer to bake.

If you put the mixture for two layers into now deep tin you'll need to bake the cake for 45-50 minutes.

Can this recipe be used to make cupcakes?

Yes, you can find the recipe to make this cake as cupcakes here.

Can this cake be used to make tiers?

My parties are all pretty small so I've never needed a cake big enough to justify tiers. It is quite a soft, light sponge and so I would expect it to be fine for 2 tiers but personally I wouldn't risk 3.

If you are planning on making two tiers remember to include some sort of support in the lower layer (strong straws or dowelling cut to the height of the cake, and also put the top tier onto a thin cake board the same size as the cake (this adds additional support and also stops the moisture from the sponge ruining the fondant on the bottom layer).

How far in advance can you make the cake?

I usually bake my cakes on a Thursday and decorate them on a Friday for a Saturday party. We only have small parties so there's usually some leftovers which have always lasted for a few days after the party. Make sure you store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh and if the weather is particularly warm I'd suggest keeping it in the fridge.

Can you freeze the cake?

Yes, you can freeze the undecorated sponge. Simply wrap it in clingfilm or an airtight bag and pop it into the freezer. When you want to use it remove it from the freezer and then make sure it's fully defrosted before decorating.

Can I use butter instead of margarine?

Yes, just make sure you take the butter out of the fridge a little before you want to start baking to allow it to soften.

Can I substitute plain flour for self-raising flour?

I've only ever used self-raising (as I've always got it in the cupboard). Nigella suggests you can substitute plain flour by simply adding an extra 2 tsp of baking powder for each 150g of flour used (so for my original recipe you'd need an additional 3 tsp of baking powder).

What size eggs should I use?

I use whatever I have in the fridge! Most of the time that'll be medium eggs but it works just as well using large.

Can I make this cake gluten-free?

You should be fine to substitute the self-raising flour for a gluten-free self-raising flour. Also, double check that the brand of baking powder you're using doesn't contain gluten (some do, some don't).

How much fondant do I need to cover my cake

If you'd like an idea of how much fondant you need to cover your cake then head on over to my fondant calculator where it'll tell you for any size of round, square or rectangular cake.