This sponge cake recipe belonged to my Grandmother, it must be well over 60 years old and was the standard birthday cake for me as a child.  Sponge cakes are easy to prepare and when covered with fresh cream and fresh berries they make a very attractive cake for any occasion.

This recipe is so old, it asks you to shift the flour not once, not twice but three times, it has to be a classic sponge cake recipe.

Enjoy

Recipe: 

Ingredients

• 8 eggs separated
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 tablespoons hot water
• 2 cups plain flour
• 4 teaspoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 300 ml thickened cream, whipped (add sugar if required)
• Strawberry Jam
• Strawberries and blueberries
• icing sugar to dust

Method

1. Peheat the oven to 180 C or 160  C fan forced. 
2. Grease and flour two 18 cm sponge baking pans.
3. Separate the eggs and reserve the yolks.
4. Beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff peaks form.
5. gradually add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time until the mixture is thick and glossy.
6. beat in the egg yolks one at a time.
7. sift the flour and baking powder together 3 times.
8. heat water and butter together until butter has melted (I use the microwave for this)
9. fold the flour into the batter and then quickly add the butter mixture, add the vanilla.
10. divide the mixture between the two pans and bake for 20 - 25 minutes
11. when baked, leave in the pan for 2 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
12. when cold, spread jam and cream on one cake and place the other on top.  
13. dress with fresh fruit and dust with icing sugar.
14. Enjoy.