Sponge cake

[dorisday]

Does anyone have a fail safe recide for sponge cake. I have tried everything. I weigh the ingredients, buy new tins. and they still tun out like biscuits. I get so angry with these people who say they just throw everything in and Presto!!

[molly]

My sponges usually turned out disasterous until someone told me to beat the marg and sugar lots, until it looks like whipped cream. It should turn very pale in colour, almost white.That way you're incorpoating as much air into the mix as possible. Then gently fold in your eggs and flour a bit at a time (and together) with a metal spoon. Make sure your oven is up to temperature and resist temptation to open the door before cooking time is up.

[dorisday]

Thank you very much, Molly. I will try this tonight. I have always been worried about beating the butter and sugar TOO much. in case I knocked the air out of it! Doris

[woofgang]

doris, I have two suggestions for the turhn out like biscuits phenomenon. Are you using enough mixture for yout tin size? even a quarter inch bigger diameter than the recipe says will have an effect. The second possibility is that the use of some selfraising flour or baking powder might help, yes i know its supposed to work without, but I for one need all the help I can get. A third possibilty but a faint one is altitude. In America when I lived there recipes and packet cake mixes had adjustments for altitude on them... yes I know, unlikely in the UK but you never know. I find that the blessed Saint Delia's recipe never fails and Nigella has one for an amazing chocolate cake which also appears to be me proof. Lastly I have recently had fun and games with an oven with a faulty thermostat. A separate oven thermometer froma cookshop costs 5 to 10 quid and can tell you if you can trust your dial setting... if all else fails, chocolate refridgerator cake!!!

[dorisday]

Thanks Wolfgang. No refrigerator cake is out. I am determined to crack this one. I will not be defeated. Someone at work mentioned about the size of tins, but I have been using normal victoria sandwich tins. My oven is fairly new and the thermostat seems ok. I will try Mollys suggestion and if that fails I will invest in a oven thermometer. Doris xx

[woofgang]

PLEASE come back and tell us how you get on??

[dorisday]

Hoorah!!! Molly and Woofgang. Thank you, thank you. My sponge came out even better than I had imagined. I made it and was a little down hearted as I popped it into the oven. But as I looked through the glass door and saw it rise and rise my heart began to sing. Hubby could not wait to try it and even accused me of sneaking it out of a packet!!! Thank you both again. Doris xx

[molly]

Well done dorisday, I'm proud of you. Glad to have been of help!

[woofgang]

and to think that "they" say the internet is evil