Vanilla Sponge Cake

And the cake was finished in half a day. Yes it is that good. Vanilla Sponge cake is a basic cake recipe that one must have in the kitty. It takes a little hand dexterity but is the awesomest cake you will ever have. It is soft as a sponge. Infact I had a fun time taking a video of the sponginess of the cake. Few things you should keep in mind. First when you are separating the egg whites and yolks not even a drop of yolk should fall into the egg whites. If this happens then you will not be able to beat the egg whites till stiff.  Secondly when you add the beaten egg whites to the flour mix be gentle. Do not beat too much as it would activate the gluten in the flour. Also you have to ensure that all the flour and yolk mix is incorporated fully. Just be careful of these two points and you will end up with the perfect sponge cake.
Recipe source : mykitchen101en

Ingredients

4 egg yolks
60 gm sugar
60 ml oil
70 ml milk
¼ tsp vanilla essence
120 gm cake flour
1 ¼ tsp baking powder
4 egg whites
¼ tsp vinegar
60 gm fine sugar

Preheat the oven at 170 degrees Celsius. Keep a tray filled with water on the lower rack. The humidity will help the cake bake evenly. Line and grease a 9” cake tin.
Beat the egg yolks and sugar well. Add the oil and mix well. Add the milk and vanilla essence and mix.
Sift together the cake flour and baking powder and fold into the yolk mix.
Whisk the egg whites until large bubbles appear. Add the vinegar and whisk until small bubbles appear. Add in the sugar gradually whisking all the while. Whisk till the bird’s beak stage. The egg whites will be stiff with just the tip drooping a little and thus forming a bird’s beak. Fold in the egg white into the yolk mix in three batches. Do it gently. Do not beat in the whites or you will activate the gluten in the flour. Pour the batter into the baking tin. Tap the tin gently 3-4 times. Bake at 170 degrees for 25 minutes and then 180 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Drop the baking pan on the table top from a height of 1 feet. This will help prevent shrinkage. Your sponge cake is ready.