Archive note — January 2022: This Fake Bake records a Tesco under-£10 challenge from January 2022. The supermarket products and prices are historical; check current labels and availability if recreating it.
I knew Fake Bakes would be fun, but I did not expect tarting up supermarket cakes to become quite such a thing.
The challenge was simple: stretch a tenner in the supermarket and turn basic ready-made cakes into something party-worthy without actually baking the sponge.
Prefer to order one rather than make one? Our current Victoria Sponge Birthday Cake is made to order. Check current delivery information for the service area and timings.
For this January 2022 version I bought two supermarket Victoria Sponge layer cakes, ready-made vanilla frosting, mini Jammie Dodgers and heart sprinkles. The historic Tesco shop came to under £10.
Fake Bake Recipe - Victoria Sponge Cake
Ingredients
2x ready-made round Victoria Sponge layer cakes (5" or 6" size)
1 tub ready-made vanilla icing
Mini Jammie Dodgers
Pink or red heart sprinkles
Method
1. Prepare a cake turntable, angled palette knife, cake scraper, cake board, piping bag fitted with a small star nozzle and spatula.
2. Unbox the cakes. Smear a little frosting in the middle of the cake board and place one cake on it. Remove the paper wrapping.
3. Loosen the frosting with a spatula.
4. Spread a layer over the top of the first cake.
5. Stack the second layer cake on top and remove its paper wrapping.
6. Frost the top and sides. Fill the piping bag with the remaining frosting and pipe up to eight small swirls on top.
7. Add sprinkles over the top and around the base.
8. Place mini Jammie Dodgers on the frosting swirls.
I had exactly one tub of frosting, so the semi-naked finish was both an aesthetic decision and a budget decision. It turned out far better than I expected.
The original under-£10 total is retained as part of the 2022 Fake Bakes archive rather than a current Tesco price claim.
If you want the bakery version, see our current Victoria Sponge cake and delivery information.
Lots of love,
Reshmi xoxo
It looks stunning! What a fab way to dress up a supermarket cake sponge. I love how this can be done on holiday when I’m away from all my baking equipment and oven or even at the office for a last minute party.