Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sponge Cake with Butter Frosting

I wanted to bake a nice cake for a birthday. Was thinking i should pick up something from the Cheesecake Factory. Fancy looking cakes with great decorations, thought that would be great but would spoil the surprise...How could i hide it! So after a lot of deliberation and apprehension i baked this cake...I was so thrilled when it turned out soft and spongy and we loved it!! I got this recipe while browsing and this is definitely a keeper.


Sponge Cake with Butter Frosting



Ingredients
For Sponge Cake
1. All purpose flour/Maida - 2 cups
2. Sugar - 1.5 cup
3. Oil - 1/2 cup
4.Baking powder - 1 tsp
5.Baking soda - 1tsp
6. Milk (warm) - 1/2 cup
7. Water - 1 and 1/4 cup
8. Vinegar/ Lemon juice - 1tbsp
9. Salt - 1tsp
10.Vanilla essence - 1 tsp


For Butter Frosting
1. Butter - 2 sticks(unsalted)
2. All purpose flour/Maida - 1/3 cup
3. Sugar - 3/4 cup
4. Milk - 3/4 cup


Preparation Time!!
Pre-heat the oven at 375 F or 180 C 
1. In a bowl, sift all purpose flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda
2. Add sugar and mix well. Add oil
3. Follow this up with warm milk. Then, add 1 cup boiling water
4. Mix well to form the batter for the cake
5. Add vanilla essence and remaining 1/4 cup water and mix well. Lastly add vinegar and just mix well quickly
6. Whip the mixture to form a lump free batter. Add this batter to greased tins. Grease the tins with butter or ghee (I used two 9*1 1/2 inch tins, as we can apply the frosting between layers of the cake)
7. Bake for 30 min - 40 min. Check by inserting a tooth pick in between, if it comes out clean, the cake is done
8. Remove from oven, cool for 10 min & remove from tin


Meanwhile, as the cakes are getting baked, the frosting can be made and kept ready.
1a. Take a wok, add the all purpose flour and sugar and mix well, in low medium flame
2b. Add milk and stir continuously till the mixture becomes thick. This takes approximately 7-8 minutes
3c. Cool it completely and then add butter and whip well so it becomes smooth


9. Now, the cakes are ready, frosting is ready
10.Take one cake, brown side below and on the other side, add  1- 2 tsp of cold water and then apply a generous coating of frosting all over the cake
11. Place the other cake on top and apply the remaining frosting on top and sides
12. You could go ahead and write anything on you icing. I couldn't manage to write so i just sprinkled chocolate sprinklers and wished him rather :D


You could have chocolate frosting too. Then you will need to cocoa powder when you are making the butter frosting. I am a little scared to use that i have experience of the cocoa powder dominating the flavor and sugar falling short!


Pointer
I did add 3/4 cup sugar and felt 1/2 cup would have done the job. If you love it to be a little sweet, then fine. If you like it a little less sweet, then 1/2 cup should be good.


Serving - Its a big cake!
Duration - 1hr - 1hr.15 minutes


Sending it to the event Vardhini's Bake Fest # 3 happening at Pradnya's The Pumpkin Farm and also to Ramya's ABC Series - Deserts



Also sending this to Midweek Fiesta

10 comments:

  1. amazing eggless version, thanks for linking to the event

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  2. thank you dear for sending this lovely cake to my event..

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    Replies
    1. U welcome ramya...loved the idea of ABC series :)

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  3. Looks so delicious. And always home made things are the best for special occassions...Thanks for sharing
    Midweek Fiesta

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  4. When do we add oil? You have oil in the list of ingredients.

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    1. I dono how to reach you.. if you do come back.. Add oil after you add sugar & mix it.. i didn't know i had missed it.. blog updated thanks :)

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  5. I have two more doubt. DO we add the flour mix to the liquids or the liquids to the flour mix? If vinegar or lemon is added doesn't the milk curdle? So should the vinegar and milk be added in the end that is after the batter is well mixed?

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    1. Many a times, they say add the flour to the liquid mixture.. i think that works if you are using a hand blender.. but i use a wire whip and find that difficult..

      In this case, add the liquids to the flour!
      So it goes this way..add oil and mix then add hot milk & water.. essence and make the batter. Then, in the end add vinegar.. i have explained that in the instructions..
      To the batter you have made, add lemon juice/ vinegar & quickly mix. No the milk won't curdle, rather the vinegar & baking soda serve as a leaving agent & a perfect substitute for egg..

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  6. Thank you. I did make the cake but forgot to add vinegar.. still the cake turned out well. I added the flour to the liquid and it was easy to mix without lumps. I used a spoon and not a wire whisk. The cake was yummy. I am going to add lemon rinds to it to enhance the flavour.

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Really look forward to your opinions, comments & suggestions :)...Glad you took time to say something on my dish..Its a yay! moment for me :)