The Queen celebrates an amazing 70 years of Service this year. Four days of celebrations to mark her Platinum Jubilee start in a week's time - with an additional Bank Holiday on Thursday 2nd of June. As festivities are busily being finalised, here are just 5 of many possible ways you could celebrate this momentous occasion, along with an easy and delicious Victoria Sandwich Cake recipe.
Bunting, flags, street parties and organised events are expected of all shapes and sizes over the Jubilee Weekend. So, whether you’re a fan of the Monarchy or not, this is a great opportunity to put current life, Country and World-wide stresses aside for a few hours and to be part of history. Just think of how many times the media, programmes, films and documentaries look back at historic events - from Births to Coronations, Weddings, Funerals and everything in between. How will you celebrate and create memories of this historic event for yourself, your friends and family for future generations to come?
Here are 5 possible ways to celebrate and a delicious Victoria Sandwich Cake recipe to get you started:
- Get together with friends and/or family to have a party to celebrate the Queen and/ or being together: whether you have a BBQ or afternoon tea, it’s a great opportunity to put up some bunting and flags, buy or bake a cake or decorate some biscuits, pop open a bottle of bubbly or non-alcoholic fizz or crack open the Pimms. (See below for an easy and delicious Victoria Sandwich Cake recipe and for links to Biscuit and Viennese Whirl biscuits which we shared in previous blogs).
- Organise or take part in a street party: the Jubilee weekend is another opportunity to bring your neighbours together by organising or attending a party on your street or in your neighbourhood. Decorate your house, garden or street, set up some tables and chairs, arrange for neighbours to bring different dishes to share or bring your own picnics to keep the costs down and get ready to celebrate. As it's also half term, keep kids occupied with baking cakes, decorating biscuits, painting flags, making costumes or bunting and other creative decorations in advance.
- Check out your local council website for regulations and guidance - including if you want to close your street down for the day
- Are there individuals or families in your street or locality who may be struggling with health or finances, be on their own or isolated for any reason and consider how you could include them, support them or let them know you care this Jubilee weekend.
- Attend or volunteer at a local or National organised Platinum Jubilee event and be part of these memorable celebrations. To find events being held in your area, the local area if you’re away for half term, or more official celebrations check out local and online resources including:
- your local papers
- council websites
- notice boards
- national trust website
- other ‘what’s on’ websites
- the Government’s Events Website for more official celebrations such as the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 5 June, the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace which will be televised live on BBC1 on Saturday 4 June and much much more.
- Organise or attend a charity event to raise money: from walks, bakes and drawing competitions to tickets to attend an event, auctions of promises or raffles, there are so many ways to raise money whilst having fun.
- Treat yourself to a cake, biscuit or afternoon tea in the comfort of your own home and watch the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace on TV - or connect with family and loved ones via a video call. Try the following easy Victoria Sandwich Cake recipe or the biscuits or Viennese Whirl recipes in our previous blogs.
Platinum Jubilee Easy Victoria Sandwich Cake Recipe
We are big fans of cake and the Platinum jubilee weekend is another excuse to indulge in a delicious treat. When you think of British cakes, the Victoria Sponge Cake (Victoria sandwich) - named after Queen Victoria - is likely to spring to mind. We love this easy and versatile cake. Whether you prefer a cream and jam, butter icing and jam or simply a jam filling, why not make this cake a centre piece for your jubilee celebrations. Here’s an easy Victoria sandwich recipe from the BBC Good Food website - enjoy.
Makes:
Makes one large cake that serves 12 people, or 16 mini sandwich cakes.
Time:
Preparation about 15 minutes
Cooking time - 20-25 minutes
Extra time to cut mini cakes out, to make buttercream filling and to decorate
What you will need:
2x 20cm round cake tins, greased or lined with greaseproof paper
An electric whisk or wooden spoon
Weighing scales
Ingredients:
200g self raising flour
200g caster sugar
200g butter - softened
4 eggs - whisked
1 tsp baking powder
2 table spoons/serving spoons of milk
(A few drops of vanilla essence - optional)
Method:
- Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees (or 170 degrees fan) and grease or line two 20cm round cake tins
- Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix them together - using an electric whisk - to form a smooth batter. (If you’re using a wooden spoon, cream the butter and sugar together first before mixing in the rest of the ingredients)
- Pour half of the mixture into each cake tin (to get two even cakes, you can weigh each cake tin to check you’ve got an even amount of batter in each one).
- Smooth the top of each cake using the back of a spoon or a spatula.
- Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and the top of the cake springs back from a light touch.
- Turn out onto a cooling rack and leave to cool
Make Individual Mini Victoria Sandwich Cakes:
We opted to make individual Victoria Sandwich cakes. To do this, simply use a small round or shaped cutter or draw a shape on a piece of greaseproof paper, place it on your cooled cake and cut round it to make your mini cakes.
Victoria Sandwich Cake Filling Options:
Choose:
- Jam or fresh fruit - eg raspberries, strawberries or your choice
- Butter cream, whipped cream or serve it with your favourite ice cream
Vanilla Buttercream recipe:
Ingredients:
50g softened butter
100g icing sugar
A drop of vanilla essence (optional)
Extra icing sugar to sift over the top of your cakes
Method:
- Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla essence together using an electric whisk or a wooden spoon.
Turn your celebrations into a full colourful afternoon tea:
Why not turn your celebrations into a full afternoon tea by adding finger sandwiches, nibbles, and other sweet treats. Decorate your table, garden, home with flags, bunting or jubilee hats. Add a bottle of bubbly, jug of Pimms or another non-alcoholic option and have fun.
Get colourful and creative:
For more sweet treat recipes, why not check out our previous blogs with recipes for:
Biscuits: cut them out in different shapes and decorate them in Union Jack colours, jubilee colours - platinum and purple - or with any colours or toppings of your choice
Viennese Whirls: add a few drops of food colouring to some melted white chocolate to dip your Viennese Whirl biscuits in, or add a few drops of food colouring into your vanilla butter icing for a more festive feel and added colour to your tea party.
Great Gifts For When You Can't Be There In Person
If you can’t be with someone over the Jubilee weekend - maybe they’re not well, you’re in a different country, or they’re working - why not send them a Box of Hugs gift to let them know you love them or you’re thinking of them. Check our our mini cakes, biscuits and scones and jam options, Prosecco, Gin and craft Lager options in our Build your Own section.
Whatever you decide to do this Platinum Jubilee weekend, remember to take photos to record the event for future generations, have fun and remember those people - including those in retail, hospitality, emergency services, hospitals and the police - who will be working hard to keep things going, so that we can have fun and celebrate safely. Thank you all.
Wishing you all a very happy Platinum Jubilee weekend
With love and hugs
The Box of Hugs Team