In case you didn't know "it's sponge cake luv" is a famous line from the wonderfully funny Australian movie The Castle.
This is the sponge cake I made on the weekend. The recipe is from Mastering The Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. Egg whites are used as the raising agent in preference to baking powder. It creates an interesting texture. I felt the cake was a bit too spongy on the day it was made but it appeared softer on the following day.
GÂTEAU À L'ORANGE
2/3 cup granulated sugar
4 egg yolks
grated rind of one orange
1/3 cup strained orange juice.pinch salt
1 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
4 egg whites pinch salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
METHOD
Gradually beat the sugar into the egg yolks and continue beating until the mixture thickens to form a ribbon.
Add the grated orange peel, juice and salt and beat for a moment or two until the mixture is light and foamy.
Beat in the flour.
Beat the egg whites and salt together until soft peaks are formed.
Sprinkle on the sugar and beat until stiff peaks are formed.
Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the batter, delicately fold in the rest.
Turn into a 9 inch cake tin.
Bake in preheated 350 degrees oven for 30 - 35 minutes. I baked mine for 25 minutes in a fan forced oven.
Let cool for 6 to 8 minutes and turn out onto a cake rack.
When cooled fill and decorate with icing or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
