- 1
Start by preheating your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (356 F). It will then be prepared at the right temperature when you start putting the cake in for baking.
- 2
Meanwhile, take your 7-inch square cake pan and line it with parchment paper. Lining the pan helps the cake not stick to it; removing the cake from it will not pose any problem once you have baked it.
- 3
You can also lightly grease the sides of the pan with oil or butter for extra insurance.
- 4
Sift your flour with baking soda and powder in a very dry bowl. By sifting them through the sifter, you can make sure that these ingredients come out lump-free and properly combined.
- 5
When sifting your flour, you must incorporate some air within; thus, this action will give your cake that lighter and fluffier feel.
- 6
Sifting also ensures proper scattering and mixing of baking soda with baking powder within the batter so it will provide for proper rising in your cake.
- 7
Mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl: milk, oil, and vanilla extract.
- 8
Mix well till you have a smooth liquid. Milk helps in moistening the cake, while oil makes the cake tender and moist.
- 9
What's more important is the sweet flavour and aroma that vanilla extract generally brings to a baked good.
- 10
Set this mixture aside as you will add it to the batter shortly.
- 11
Now, let's crackdown on the eggs. Crack the eggs into a big mixing bowl.
- 12
Use an electric beater or a stand mixer and whisk the eggs until frothy.
- 13
The reason why eggs are frothed is to mix air into the eggs as well, which helps the cake turn fluffy and light.
- 14
Start adding sugar slowly, one spoonful at a time, after frothing the eggs, and continue to whisk at that point as well.
- 15
This dissolves the sugar into the eggs, and the mixture becomes light and fluffy. We have an important base for the cake- the foundation of a smooth and even batter.
- 16
Once your egg-sugar mixture is lighter and fluffy, it is the right time to add those dry and wet ingredients.
- 17
Sift the flour mixture and the milk-oil mixture into the egg mixture in succession.
- 18
Use a spatula or whisk to fold together the ingredients gently. At this stage, avoid overmixing since that may make the cake very heavy.
- 19
The intention at this step is just to bring all the elements together enough to establish a homogenous batter.
- 20
Once your batter is ready, pour it into the prepared cake pan carefully.
- 21
Make sure to evenly spread the batter so that your cake will bake evenly.
- 22
Pop that pan in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Within that time frame, the cake will rise, and the top's going to turn this appetizing golden brown.
- 23
Turn the cake over on the pan or transfer it to a rack.
- 24
Using a toothpick or skewer, penetrate to the centre of the cake.
- 25
If clean, the cake is done. Bake for a few more minutes and probe again.
- 26
Once you have baked the cake, remove it from the oven and place the pan on a cooling rack.
- 27
Allow the cake to be in the pan for almost 10-15 minutes before attempting to lift it out using the parchment paper.
- 28
Once you carefully lift out the cake from the pan, let it cool on the rack properly.
- 29
Cooling the cake gives it sufficient time to set well and also makes cutting easier.
- 30
Once cooled completely, the cake is ready to be served.
- 31
Cut the sponge cake up into squares or any other form you wish. It is excellent as a light and fluffy vanilla cake to be served alone, though fresh fruit toppings, whipped cream, or an affixed dusting of powdered sugar can also accompany it.