Victoria sponge

Victoria sponge is an English layer cake filled with fruit jam (and sometimes, whipped cream). It was invented by Queen Victoria's cooks in the 19th century, when it was one of the main stars at the Queen's tea parties, along with sandwiches and scones.

The jam used in Victoria sponge is usually raspberry or strawberry jam, although modern variations are sometimes filled with apricot and greengage jam. Whipped cream is a 20th-century addition to the filling, and some purists, such as the official Women's Institute, claim that a true Victoria sponge can only have a jam filling.

Today, the cake can be found in most English tearooms, where it is typically dusted with caster sugar and served in slices.