This better than bakery sponge cake recipe is light, airy, and just straight up DELICIOUS! It’s so versatile that you can pair it with literally anything. I love filling mine like a classic Victorian sponge cake with my homemade raspberry filling recipe and whipped cream – YUM!
What is a Sponge Cake?
A sponge cake is a light and airy cake that is made primarily from whipped egg whites. Unlike other types of cake, such as butter or oil cakes, sponge cakes do not contain much fat which contributes to it’s light texture.
Sponge cake is often used as a base for other desserts, such as layered cakes, trifle, or as a component in various French-style pastries. It can also be served on its own, dusted with powdered sugar or paired with fresh fruit and whipped cream like a Victorian sponge cake (which is how I love mine!).
What makes this recipe stand out?
I am so proud of my sponge cake recipe and it is no doubt my favourite sponge I’ve tried, with the simple reason being – I don’t use that much flour!
Some flour is needed to help with the structure of the cake, however many recipes I’ve tried I feel use way too much and just end up being too heavy (almost like a regular cake). What I’ve done instead is substituted a lot of the flour with cornstarch, which helps thicken the batter without forming more gluten than we need. This results in the softest, airiest, bakery like sponge cake!
How to make Sponge Cake
Now I’m not going to sugar coat it, sponge cakes are a little more challenging to master than regular cakes! BUT, if you carefully follow the steps below you should end up with the perfect sponge 🙂
Begin by preheating your oven to 160 °C (320°F) with the fan on (see note 2 on recipe card if you don’t have a fan function) and line the bottom of two 8×3 inch baking tins with baking paper without greasing the bottom. Leave the sides of the cake tins ungreased and bare (do not line with baking paper). This will prevent the cakes from shrinking once they’re baked.
In a bowl combine your flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Mix until well combined (you do not need to sift it yet). Set aside.
In a medium sized bowl add in the egg whites and white vinegar, and using a hand or stand mixer, whip on a medium high speed for 30 seconds until foamy. Gradually add in 1/3 cup of the sugar and then continue mixing for a further 2 minutes. Then turn your mixer down to low and mix for a further minute (about 4 minutes of mixing altogether). You should end up with stiff peaks (see note 3 on recipe card). Set aside.
In a large bowl add in your remaining 1/3 cup of white sugar and warm water. Mix so that the sugar is coated in the water. Add in the egg yolks and vanilla, and with a hand or stand mixer, whip on a medium high speed for 4 minutes, and then turn the mixer down to low and mix for a further minute (5 minutes of mixing altogether). Your mixture should now be thick and you should be able to create ribbons with it when you lift it up with a spoon.
Stream the vegetable oil into the egg yolk mixture while mixing on a medium speed. Mix until well combined.
Add in half or your egg whites to your egg yolk mixture, and using a spatula gently fold together until just combined. Then sift in your dry ingredients, and gently fold through until just combined.
Finish off by adding in the remaining egg whites and gently fold until just combined. You can use your spatula to break up any large chunks of unmixed egg whites but try not to push out too many of the air bubbles and do not overmix.
Distribute the batter into your baking tins and then tap your baking tins lightly on your counter. Then run a thin knife or toothpick through the batter to remove any large air bubbles and then bake for 25 minutes. To test whether they’re done, gently touch the tops and it should create a little indent which slowly bounces back.
Once the sponges are done, immediately tap them on the counter from a height of about 10cm, and lay them upside down (while still in their baking tins) on a wire rack to completely cool (see note 4 on recipe card).
Once cooled (about an hour later), run a thin knife around the edges to release the cakes from the cake tins, and then turn them out onto a wire rack.
To make my cake layers look nice and neat, I gently rub my fingers around the edges and the top and that removes the dark crust on the sides and tops of the cake (see video for demonstration).
APPLY SIMPLE SYRUP: Combine sugar and hot water together for the simple syrup and mix until the sugar is completely dissolved. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the top and sides of the sponges with the simple syrup (see note 5 on recipe card).
How to Decorate a Sponge Cake
You can decorate your sponge cake however you like 🙂 but I like to fill mine with raspberry filling, strawberries and cream – YUM!
Place one sponge cake layer down, and cover the top with a thin layer of my raspberry jam filling.
Place strawberries on top (I like to cut mine in half and place them upside down). Cover with generous amount of whipped cream and spread it out evenly with an offset spatula or knife.
Place your next sponge cake layer on top and then cover with more whipped cream. Finish decorating with more strawberries on top. Enjoy!
Light & Airy Sponge Cake Recipe
Print Pin VideoIMPORTANT: For accuracy, I would recommend using the gram measurements provided, as those are the exact quantities I use. Cup measurements are given as estimates (based on US cup measurements) to make it easier for those who do not have a scale.
Ingredients
Sponge Cake
- ⅓ cup (40 g) flour - regular, all purpose (see note 1)
- ½ cup (60 g) cornstarch
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 large eggs - whites and yolks separated, room temperature
- ⅛ tsp white vinegar
- ⅔ cup (132 g) white granulated sugar - separated in half - ⅓ cup (66g) for the egg whites & ⅓ cup (66g) for the egg yolk mixture.
- 1½ tbsp warm water - not boiling
- 2 tsp vanilla essence/extract
- 2 tbsp (30 g) unflavoured vegetable oil - I use canola
Simple Syrup
- ½ cup (100 g) white granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110 g) boiling water
Whipping Cream
- 2 cups (375 g) cold whipping cream
- 2 tsp icing sugar - also known as confectioners sugar/powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla essence/extract
- 1 punnet fresh strawberries for decorating
Raspberry Jam
Instructions
Sponge Cake
- Preheat oven to 160 °C (320°F) with the fan on (see note 2 if you don't have a fan function) and line the bottom of two 8x3 inch baking tins with baking paper without greasing the bottom. Leave the sides of the cake tins ungreased and bare (do not line with baking paper).
- In a bowl combine your flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Mix until well combined (you do not need to sift it yet). Set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl add in the egg whites and white vinegar, and using a hand or stand mixer, whip on a medium high speed for 30 seconds until foamy. Gradually add in 1/3 cup of the sugar and then continue mixing for a further 2 minutes. Then turn your mixer down to low and mix for a further minute (about 4 minutes of mixing altogether). You should end up with stiff peaks (see note 3). Set aside.
- In a large bowl add in your remaining 1/3 cup of white sugar and warm water. Mix so that the sugar is coated in the water. Add in the egg yolks and vanilla, and with a hand or stand mixer, whip on a medium high speed for 4 minutes, and then turn the mixer down to low and mix for a further minute (5 minutes of mixing altogether). Your mixture should now be thick and you should be able to create ribbons with it when you lift it up with a spoon.
- Stream the vegetable oil into the egg yolk mixture while mixing on a medium speed. Mix until well combined.
- Add in half of your egg whites to your egg yolk mixture, and using a spatula gently fold together until just combined.
- Then sift in your dry ingredients, and gently fold through until just combined.
- Finish off by adding in the remaining egg whites and gently fold until just combined. You can use your spatula to break up any large chunks of unmixed egg whites but try not to push out too many of the air bubbles and do not overmix.
- Distribute the batter into your baking tins and then tap your baking tins lightly on your counter. Then run a thin knife or toothpick through the batter to remove any large air bubbles and then bake for 25 minutes. To test whether they're done, gently touch the tops and it should create a little indent which slowly bounces back.
- Once the sponges are done, immediately tap them on the counter from a height of about 10cm, and lay them upside down (while still in their baking tins) on a wire rack to completely cool (see note 4).
- Once cooled (about an hour later), run a thin knife around the edges to release the cakes from the cake tins, and then turn them out onto a wire rack.
- To make my cake layers look nice and neat, I gently rub my fingers around the edges and the top and that removes the dark crust on the sides and tops of the cake (see video for demonstration). I find the dark crust on sponge cakes are also what contain that slight eggy after taste sometimes, which is why I prefer to remove it.
- APPLY SIMPLE SYRUP: Combine the sugar and hot water together for the simple syrup and mix until the sugar is completely dissolved. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the top and sides of the sponges with the simple syrup (see note 5). I use about 3/4s of the simple syrup mixture in total.
Whipped Cream
- In a large bowl add in the whipped cream, icing sugar and vanilla. Whip until you reach stiff peaks. Be careful not to overwhip the cream.
Assembly
- Place one sponge cake layer down, and cover the top with a thin layer of my raspberry jam filling.
- Place strawberries on top (I like to cut mine in half and place them upside down). Cover with generous amount of whipped cream and spread it out evenly with an offset spatula or knife.
- Place your next sponge cake layer on top and then cover with more whipped cream. Finish decorating with more strawberries on top. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only as they are automatically calculated by a third party application. Actual values may differ based on brands and types of products used.
619 Comments
Hiya ! Made this today had rave reviews all round. However my sponge cakes did not rise as much as yours did in video – maybe only half the height – otherwise it was light trying to work out where I may have gone wrong ????
Hi Suzanne! 🙂 So happy to hear you had rave reviews for the cake 😀
With the cake not rising as much, it could be because the egg whites were underwhipped, or the batter was folded a little too much at the end and therefore too many of the air bubbles were pushed out. It could also be the baking tin (if you used tins that were slightly larger than mine), or even checking on the cake too early as the rush of cold air in the oven can stop the cake from rising well. So many variables when it comes to making a sponge cake but hope this helped Suzanne 🙂
Hi! I haven’t made this cake yet (but I plan to this weekend) and I’m wondering what advice you have for making it in advance. I need it for Saturday. Should I bake it Friday morning/evening and then decorate it Friday or Saturday?
Thanks for the helpful recipe 🙂
Hi there! So sorry I am late in replying, but for future reference, you can totally make the sponge cakes the day before (including soaking them in the simple syrup) and store in an airtight container for the next day. Best to decorate on the day due to the whipped cream 🙂
Hope that helps and hope you enjoyed the recipe if you decided to give it a go 🙂
New to baking at 67 just retired, followed your recipe to the letter, came out perfectly, all family say best sponge cake they have ever had. One drawback, everyone wants me to bake for them lol 😂
Haha awesome Alan!! So so happy to hear you and your family loved the recipe 😀 looks like you’ve uncovered a new secret talent!
I’m wondering if I could substitute the white vinegar for apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar? Just to save me buying another bottle. And finally, this should bake fine as a flat cake in a 12” round tin right? I’m doing ‘pizza’ cake for my kiddo’s birthday and he’s a fan of light cakes.
Hi Helen 🙂 I think white wine vinegar should work! For a 12inch pan you may need to make double the recipe otherwise the cake will be very thin. If you’re going for a thin cake then just be sure to reduce the cooking time 🙂
Hope that helps and hope your son has a wonderful birthday!
Hi! Your recipe looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it out. I do have one question though. What do I substitute for the cornstarch if I can’t find any in my hometown?
Hi Siqr 🙂 So happy to hear you’re wanting to try the recipe! Cornstarch is a super important ingredient in this recipe in order to achieve a soft/light sponge. Another name for it is cornflour (incase this makes it easier to find). I haven’t tried any substitute myself, though something like arrowroot powder, tapioca starch or potato starch may work though I can’t provide any guarantees sorry! You could try cake flour too, though the sponge may be a bit heavier. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help Siqr – if you do decide to try it out would love to hear how it goes 🙂
I had such great success with this recipe, thank you!!! It was my first time making a sponge so I was quite nervous (even though I’m an experienced home baker). I didn’t prep as well as I should have so I had a few spot fires to put out as I went. However, I followed the instructions and the video and achieved the softest and fluffiest sponge, which didn’t taste eggy at all! The video instructions were excellent, clear and precise, supported well by the written recipe and notes. I made a tiramisu cake with those sponge layers which the family approved. Thank you Maryam! I will be coming back for more recipes and tips!
Yay! So so happy to hear you loved the recipe Elin 😀 really appreciate the wonderful feedback and hope you enjoy the other recipes just as much 🙂
This is the best sponge cake I have ever made. It was easy and tastes so good. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome! So so happy to hear you enjoyed it Mary – really appreciate the wonderful feedback 🙂
Hi Maryam! I made this cake last weekend for my daughter’s birthday. Layered it with fresh raspberry reduction and whipped cream. It was amazing!!! So light and tasty!! Thank you for the recipe – the steps were detailed and easy to follow. It’s a keeper 🤩
Awesome! So so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe Ina 😀 and so glad to hear the instructions were easy to follow – really appreciate the feedback 🙂
Fantastic recipe, complete instruction which ensured a successful sponge cake! Easy to follow steps!
Yay! So so happy to hear you loved the recipe Sue 🙂 thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
Hi Maryam! I tried this today and i am so happy it turned out soft, and fluffy–just like you promised. I did bake in waterbath as well and it was even more beautiful !Thank you so so much💗 your recipe is a keeper
Hi Minerva! So so happy to hear you loved the recipe 😀 and great to hear the waterbath worked well too! I’ve never tried baking this cake in a waterbath before so would be interesting to try it out 😀
Thank you again for the wonderful feedback 🙂