Cake makers!

Yes. Microwave. Maybe 5 secs or so.

Perfect! Thank you. Oh, one more question, as a whole block?

Must remember to take it out of foil first. I am being exceptionally dim lately and I imagine it would not end well if I left the wrapper on!

When i forget to get it out the fridge the night before, i usually cube it up and bung it in the pre heating overn or on top of it for a bit.

might need to shake it up so that it all softens and not just the cubes round the edge!

Careful doing it in the microwave, as the middle will melt totally when the outside still looks solid. If you've got time stick it on top of a raidiator or try and chop it up a bit before micorwaving in short burts.

I use Stork cooking marg in my cakes though! Easy.

i was going to say this!!

But also i use stork and its soft anyway mostly!

I saw Mary Berry once cut the butter in to chunks and then put it into warm water for a bit and that softened it....

I was just about to suggest this.

Thanks everyone. I went with cubes in the microwave. Probably over did it a bit but never mind!

One cake has come out perfectly, the other has lost a couple of bits but not too bad.

Here's a cake flash to show my thanks! It will look much nicer in a couple of hours!

What's wrong with using a food processor/electric mixer? Am I missing something?

You tend to get a lighter sponge when you mix it by hand, which is quite important with a Victoria sponge.

I do a chocolate cake which is fine in a mixer.

this is interesting - is that a generally held view by other bakers? I have recently got into baking and thus far always use an electric hand mixer with good results - if I say so myself my cakes are rather good. So just wondering if they would be even better if I did it by hand?!

Your sponges look yum BTW - flash a finished pic?

I was going to ask the same! I have always used an electric whisk/mixer for cakes and it usually turns out fine, does it make a big difference then?

My mum always taught me to mix a Victoria by hand for a lighter sponge, but I've no idea if that's true or not actually!! It's just something I've always done.

Here's the finished product

Yummy!

That's my favourite type of cake too... Hint hint

Well done OB! That looks amazing - I can't resist cream & jam ️?️

On that looks delicious!

Thanks ladies

Looks delish ob

That looks pretty damn tasty OB! Mmmmmm, caaaake.

Looks gorgeous!

I may have to do a taste test, it's the only way! ?

That looks delish!