Traditional Sponge Cake Tips
What is the difference between a regular cake and a sponge cake?
Cakes are divided into two basic categories. The first group is called shortened cakes, butter cakes or high-fat cakes. These cakes use some type of fat: butter, margarine, shortening or oil. The second group is called foam, or low-fat cakes.
Sponge cakes belong to this category. Foam cakes have a high ratio of eggs to flour, and depending on the type of foam cake, may contain either no fat or a small amount of fat, generally in the form of egg yolk and oil.
What does cream of tartar do to a sponge cake?
Cream of tartar acts as a stabilizer to bond the ingredients together. In this recipe, the cream of tartar works with the egg whites to boost volume by enhancing the formation of air bubbles and preventing them from flattening. This is what gives the cake its light and fluffy texture. Learn more about the
science behind cream of tartar and how it works in a variety of recipes.
What do you serve with sponge cake?
There are lots of delicious ways to enhance a plain sponge cake. You can frost the cake with
homemade frosting, add a scoop of ice cream, or top with
sweetened whipped cream and your favorite fresh berries.
Research contributed by Amy Glander, Taste of Home Book Editor
Nutrition Facts
1 piece: 191 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 134mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.