Vanilla Sponge Cake
Use this cake to make the Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake. For the Watermelon Bombe, use a half batch of this recipe: Divide the batter between two six-inch-round layer-cake pans, and bake for thirty-five minutes. Use one layer for the bombe, and freeze the second layer for later use.
Martha Stewart Living, July/August 1998
http://www.marthastewart.com/355498/vanilla-sponge-cake
- Yield Makes one 9-inch-square cake
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter, for pan
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
Directions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch-square baking pan. Line pan with parchment paper, and butter again. Flour the pan, and set aside. In a small bowl, sift together flour and cornstarch; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg yolks, vanilla, and 1/2 cup sugar on high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Transfer the egg-yolk mixture to a large bowl. Wash and dry the mixer bowl and the whisk attachment.
- Combine egg whites and salt in the mixer bowl, and beat on medium speed until whites hold soft peaks, about 1 1/2 minutes. With mixer running, slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until stiff and glossy, about 1 minute.
- Fold the egg-white mixture into the egg-yolk mixture. In three additions, fold the reserved flour mixture into this new mixture. Transfer the batter to prepared pan, and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted into middle comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool; turn out cake, and wrap it in plastic wrap until ready to use.
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