Basic Sponge Cake (for the beginners) & a Tip

 This time, thought of sharing the basic recipe of Sponge Cake which is used as a base for many other recipes lik Pound cake tiramisu. Hope it would help the beginners. This tastes similar to Muttappola (Kumsu) which is common in Malabar region. We used to bake Muttappola in pressure cookers in low flame, back in home. Only a slight difference is there between these two recipes. We use cardamom for flavoring Kumsu.

Ingredients

Makes one 9-inch-square cake

• Unsalted butter, for pan
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
• 1/2 cup cornstarch/cornflour
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt

 1.Heat oven to 350 degrees/170C.Butter a 9-inch-square baking pan. Line pan with parchment paper, and butter again.
Flour the pan, and set aside.

2.In a small bowl, sift together flour and cornstarch; set aside.

3.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.

4.Transfer the egg-yolk mixture to a large bowl. Wash and dry the mixer bowl and the whisk attachment.

5.Combine egg whites and salt in the mixer bowl, and beat on medium speed until whites hold soft peaks, about 1 1/2 minutes.

6.With mixer running, slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until stiff and glossy, about 1 minute

7.Fold the egg-white mixture into the egg-yolk mixture.

8.In three additions, fold the reserved flour mixture into this new mixture.

9.Transfer the batter to prepared pan, and smooth the top with an offset spatula.

10.Bake until a cake tester inserted into middle comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes (took 35mts for me). Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool; turn out cake, and wrap it in plastic wrap until ready to use. The tester came out clean n the pic; bt had to bake 3 mts more to brown it on the top.

 

How To Cut a Wax paper perfectly for your Round Cake tin easily

I don't know how many of you may know this...bt thot to share for those who are beginners in baking field.

1. Cut a square shaped wax paper. Fold into half .

2.Fold again into a square.

3. Now, fold into a triangle as shown in the picture.

4.Now, fold from one edge of the triangle to the other to form another triangle.

5.Keep the pointed edge in the center of the base of your cake tin  & cut from the edge of the base in curves.

Unfold the paper; you will get a perfect circle wax paper for your cake tin.

Linking this to Anyone can Cook event

o