'National Sponge Cake Day' 🍰 23 August
Celebrate National Sponge Cake Day on 23 August with this delicious collection of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy activities, filled with familiar flavours, baking memories, conversation, music and plenty of opportunities to join in.
We begin by discovering some fascinating sponge cake facts, including a recipe published as far back as 1615 and the traditional method of using whipped eggs to give sponge cake its light, airy texture. We also investigate the connection between the Victoria sponge and Queen Victoria. Was the cake really invented especially for her - or did the Queen simply help to make it famous?
Our nostalgic Baking with Mother reminiscence activity recalls the kitchens of childhood: mixing bowls, wooden spoons, kitchen scales, handwritten recipes and, of course, being allowed to lick the spoon!
Members can then explore a busy 1960s kitchen and name as many familiar items as possible before comparing it with a modern 2026 kitchen filled with air fryers, microwaves, liquidisers and digital appliances.
There are plenty of cakes to identify in our photographic Cake Challenge, followed by a light-hearted heated debate:
Are Jaffa Cakes cakes or biscuits?
Is Kendal Mint Cake a cake or a sweet?
Is a fish cake a cake or a burger?
Is cheesecake a cake or a dessert?
Is an Eccles cake a cake or a pastry?
Test your knowledge of familiar expressions by completing our Baking Sayings, Proverbs and Quotations, then say or sing some traditional nursery rhymes together, including “Pat-a-Cake,” “Hot Cross Buns,” “Sing a Song of Sixpence,” “The Queen of Hearts” and “Simple Simon.”
For our practical activity, members can decorate plain cupcakes with different flavours and colours of buttercream, sprinkles and other decorations. Make each cake individual - and then enjoy the results with a nice cup of tea!
Our CST Songs of the Day are:
“If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” — Eileen Barton
“MacArthur Park” — Richard Harris
There is no pressure to remember every answer or complete every activity. Simply join in, share your memories and enjoy a warm, sociable session celebrating cakes, kitchens and the pleasures of baking together.
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