Mary Berry Eggless Sponge Cake Food

CLASSIC VANILLA SPONGE (EGGLESS)

Steps:

• Start by sifting the dry ingredients in a bowl. Simply place on top, a sieve that fits the mixing bowl perfectly. Next add the dry ingredients one by one and then start sifting. To speed up the process tap the sieve continuously while slowly shaking it. Once done, discard any left over big particles (try pushing them down using a spoon first, as sometimes they form big lumps due to exposure of moisture. Thus pushing them down make help lower the waste). Mix all the sifted dry ingredients and move on to the next step.
• The second step is to add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Start by gradually pouring the room temperature milk in, add little by little and keep whisking it. Once smooth, add the rest of the ingredients and whisk again to get rid of lumps and to incorporate everything nicely.
• Next, start by preheating your oven to 180 deg. Celsius. Then remove your cake tin and grease it on all sides with melted butter to prevent it from sticking. Then dust some all-purpose flour on top and nicely coat it to ensure that the cake gets de-molded with ease. People usually mess up with coating the tin most of the times. You are supposed to add some all-purpose flour and slightly tilt the pan and keep rotating in order to coat the base and the edges. Then shake off the excess. Next, pour your prepared batter into the tin and tap 2-3 times against the kitchen platform to remove any air bubbles.
• Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Check the cake every 7-8 minutes. Once it is about 15 minutes, remove it and insert a toothpick. It should come out clean but not bone dry (which means your toothpick should still have a few crumbs on indicating that it is still moist inside). If there is a lot of crumbs on the toothpick, bake the cake for an additional 5-7 minutes. Then leave it to cool for up to 15-20 minutes. Once cooled, dust icing sugar on top and drizzle over some *chocolate ganache and serve.
• *To prepare the chocolate ganache, melt some chocolate (milk/dark/mix of both), cream and butter together in the microwave or using a double boiler. Once cooled down, transfer to a piping bag or simply use a spoon to drizzle it on top.

QUICK FAT FREE SPONGE

Steps:

• Preheat Oven to 170C/Fan 150C/ Gas 5. Place baking paper in a 7inch circular baking tin.
• Using an electric whisk, whisk together the eggs and sugar until it has tripled in size and is stiff. A test of this is to use the whisk to create a line on top of the mixture with the mixture and if it stays, then it is ready.
• Carefully fold in the flour, making sure to knock out as little air as possible so that the cake will rise well, pour the mixture into the tin and put into the oven for 10 minutes.
• (If making Victoria Sponge version) Create two of these cakes and leave to cool, whisk the cream ready.
• Once cooled, spread jam on one of the halves and then place the whipped cream on top. Then place the other half on top and enjoy - best served with a nice cup of tea!!

SCHOOL-DAYS SPRINKLE SPONGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter a 20 x 30cm cake tin and line with baking parchment. Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk for a few minutes until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, flour, milk and vanilla and beat again until you have a smooth batter.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared tin, spread right to the corners and smooth the surface. Bake for 40-45 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean, checking at 5 min intervals if it isn't ready after 45 mins. Leave the sponge to cool on a wire rack.
• Mix the icing sugar with enough water to make a thick icing. Spread the icing over the cooled cake, then top with lots of sprinkles - the surface should be almost completely covered. Leave for at least 1 hr to set. Cut into squares and serve with hot custard, if you like.