Simple Sponge Food

EASY SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 and line two 18cm/7in cake tins with baking parchment.
• Cream the butter and the sugar together until pale. Use an electric hand mixer if you have one. Beat in the eggs.
• Sift over the flour and fold in using a large metal spoon.
• The mixture should be of a dropping consistency; if it is not, add a little milk.
• Divide the mixture between the cake tins and gently spread out with a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before turning on to a wire rack to cool.
• Sandwich the cakes together with jam, lemon curd or whipped cream and berries or just enjoy on its own.

SIMPLE SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8 or 9 inch round cake pan.
• In a medium bowl, whip together the eggs and castor sugar until fluffy. Fold in flour. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top of the cake springs back when lightly pressed. Cool in the pan over a wire rack.

SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, butter and line the base of two 20cm spring-form cake tins with baking parchment.
• Using an electric whisk beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Crack the eggs in one at a time and whisk well, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add the lemon zest, vanilla, flour, milk and a pinch of salt. Whisk until just combined then divide the mixture between the two tins.
• Bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean. After 10 mins remove the cakes from their tins and leave to cool completely on a wire rack. Fill how you like. My personal favourite is a good dollop of lemon curd and some fresh cream, then dust the top with icing sugar. Will keep for 3 days.

EASY SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
• Grease and flour two round 20 cm (8") cake tins using 1 teaspoon castor sugar and 1 teaspoon flour mixed together.
• Sift dry ingredients together 3 times.
• Separate egg whites from yolks carefully making sure no yolk is mixed into the white.
• Beat whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar and yolks one at a time. Add vanilla.
• Gently fold in the dry ingredients until just barely mixed through.
• Pour evenly into the 2 tins.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Turn out to cool on racks immediately.
• When cool, sandwich with jam and whipped cream. Ice and decorate top.