Wednesday, December 9, 2009

How To Make Sponge Cake




* 8 eggs, separated to whites and yolks
* 190 g sugar
* 95 g flour
* 55 g corn starch
* 45 g butter, melted
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 1 mixer with whisk attachment
* 1 rubber spatula
* 1 spring-formed pan, 26cm diameter, lined with parchment
* 1 bowl
* 1 sieve
* 1 wooden skewer



* Serves:
* 6 to 8
* Preparation Time:
* 10 minutes
* Cooking Time:
* 1 hour 40 minutes
* Oven Temperature:
* 180° c - 360° f


Step 2: Preheat the oven

The first thing that you need to do in preparing your sponge cake is to set your oven to 180°C, 350°F or gas mark 4.

Step 3: Mix the egg yolks

Place the egg yolks into the mixer and mix them on a high speed until creamy. After a minute, add about 2 tbsp of sugar. Continue to mix for a few minutes more until the mixture becomes thicker.


You can now add the vanilla extract. Keep mixing until the mixture becomes double that of its original volume. Now turn off the machine and transfer the egg yolks to a separate bowl.


Wash your mixing bowl and the attachment well in preparation for whipping the egg whites.

TIP!

Make sure that the mixer attachment and bowl are washed extremely clean at this point. If not, any fat that remains on these utensils will affect the whipping of the egg whites. Make sure your things are spotless!

Step 4: Whip the egg whites

Place whites into the clean mixer bowl. Beat them on high and let them whip until they become white and frothy. Now slowly add the sugar a bit at a time. The whipped egg whites mixture is ready when it clings to the beater attachment but does not drip. Once the mixture is nice and stiff, turn off the mixer.

Step 5: Combine yolks and whites

Now you can introduce the egg yolks to the egg whites mixture. Add the whipped egg yolks into the egg whites and fold them in with the rubber spatula. Make sure not to over-mix.

Step 6: Complete the batter

Next, we need to introduce the flour and corn starch to the eggs. Start by combining the flour and the corn starch in the sieve and using your hands, slowly sift it into the mixture. Sifting the flour will increase the amount of air in the cake, helping to make it even lighter.


Fold it all together remembering again not to over-mix and then add the melted butter to the batter, combining it in briefly.

Step 7: Bake

Using your rubber spatula, you can now transfer the batter into the lined spring-form pan. Spread the batter evenly with the rubber spatula and give the pan a few good shakes to remove any air pockets that might remain.


Now put the cake into the oven and allow it to bake.

Step 8: Remove the cake

After around 30 minutes, test the cake to see it is ready. Insert a wooden skewer into the centre of the cake. The cake is ready when the skewer comes out free of batter. Now set it aside to cool before removing it from the pan.


Once the cake is totally cooled, take a sharp knife and run it around the outside of the cake. Now remove the spring-form pan and there you have it, your sponge cake.

Step 9: Serving Suggestions

Although sponge cake can be eaten as it is, it can be used as the base for many different layered cakes. We hope you enjoy your sponge cake ^0^