Sponge Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Adapted from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook
Of all the things Abigail Thomas' grandmother taught her to bake, this sponge cake is her favorite. Her grandmother, or Bigmom, as she was called, also taught her the fundamental rules of baking: Never run in the kitchen when a cake is in the oven, and close the screen door softly, or the cake will fall. Today, baking the cake brings back memories of summer days spent sampling the best Bigmom had to offer.
Servings: Makes 12 servings
Ingredients
CAKE
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 5 eggs , separated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup flour
FROSTING
- 6 tablespoons butter , softened
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk or cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- 1 box (3 3/4 cups) confectioners' sugar
- 2 squares bitter chocolate
Directions
To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with waxed paper (cut to fit); grease paper and pan with shortening.
Beat the egg yolks with the lemon juice until thick, about 10 minutes. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until it is dissolved, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy; add the salt and continue beating until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; beat until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/4 of the beaten whites into the yolk mixture. Spoon the remaining whites over the yolk mixture and sift the flour on top. Gently fold only until blended.
Spoon the batter into the pans. Bake about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Invert the pans on a rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
To make the frosting: Beat the butter, milk, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar; mix until thick and creamy. Beat on high, 5 to 10 more minutes. Frost the top of one cake layer; stack the other on top and frost all around. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler and drizzle over the iced cake.
Beat the egg yolks with the lemon juice until thick, about 10 minutes. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until it is dissolved, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy; add the salt and continue beating until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining 1/4 cup sugar; beat until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/4 of the beaten whites into the yolk mixture. Spoon the remaining whites over the yolk mixture and sift the flour on top. Gently fold only until blended.
Spoon the batter into the pans. Bake about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Invert the pans on a rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
To make the frosting: Beat the butter, milk, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar; mix until thick and creamy. Beat on high, 5 to 10 more minutes. Frost the top of one cake layer; stack the other on top and frost all around. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler and drizzle over the iced cake.
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