This delicate, light-as-air cake is surprisingly easy to whip up at home.


Sponge Cake Recipe: How to Make Classic Sponge Cake

Sponge cake is a light, springy cake made from flour, whisked eggs, and sugar. The defining feature of a sponge cake is the whisked eggs—the foamy structure of the eggs allows the cake to rise without baking powder or baking soda. The airy texture of sponge cake absorbs liquid, which is why it serves as the base for desserts like tres leches cake and trifle.

In the French tradition, sponge cake made by [whisking](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-a-whisk) whole eggs is called *génoise*, while sponge cake made by whisking the egg whites and egg yolks separately is known as *biscuit*. Some sponge cake includes the addition of cold butter, but many recipes are butter- and oil-free.

Since the defining characteristic of sponge cake is that it is made with whisked eggs, there are many desserts that fall under the category of sponge cake. Some of the most famous types of sponge cakes include:

1. __Ladyfingers__: These cookie and sponge-cake hybrids are famous for their use in tiramisu. The small biscuit-style cakes are ideal for soaking up espresso.
2. __Victoria sponge__: This British sponge layer cake features jam and whipped cream between two round cakes.
3. __Angel food cake__: This American cake is made with egg whites (no yolks) beaten to stiff peaks, low-gluten cake flour, powdered sugar, and a little cream of tartar.
4. __Chocolate sponge__: To make a chocolate sponge cake, substitute a portion of the flour with cocoa powder.
5. __Jelly roll cake__: This is made with a thin, rectangular layer of sponge cake spread with filling—such as buttercream frosting or jam—that is rolled tightly.
6. __*Haselnusstorte*__: This German layer cake incorporates ground hazelnuts folded into the sponge cake batter.
This delicate, light-as-air cake is surprisingly easy to whip up at home.


Sponge cake is a light, springy cake made from flour, whisked eggs, and sugar. The defining feature of a sponge cake is the whisked eggs—the foamy structure of the eggs allows the cake to rise without baking powder or baking soda. The airy texture of sponge cake absorbs liquid, which is why it serves as the base for desserts like tres leches cake and trifle.In the French tradition, sponge cake made by <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-a-whisk' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-a-whisk","linkCopy":"whisking","category":null}'>whisking</a> whole eggs is called génoise, while sponge cake made by whisking the egg whites and egg yolks separately is known as biscuit. Some sponge cake includes the addition of cold butter, but many recipes are butter- and oil-free.

What Is Sponge Cake?

Since the defining characteristic of sponge cake is that it is made with whisked eggs, there are many desserts that fall under the category of sponge cake. Some of the most famous types of sponge cakes include:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Ladyfingers: These cookie and sponge-cake hybrids are famous for their use in tiramisu. The small biscuit-style cakes are ideal for soaking up espresso. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Victoria sponge: This British sponge layer cake features jam and whipped cream between two round cakes. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Angel food cake: This American cake is made with egg whites (no yolks) beaten to stiff peaks, low-gluten cake flour, powdered sugar, and a little cream of tartar. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Chocolate sponge: To make a chocolate sponge cake, substitute a portion of the flour with cocoa powder. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Jelly roll cake: This is made with a thin, rectangular layer of sponge cake spread with filling—such as buttercream frosting or jam—that is rolled tightly. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Haselnusstorte: This German layer cake incorporates ground hazelnuts folded into the sponge cake batter. </li></ol>

6 Types of Sponge Cakes

Classic Sponge Cake Recipe

This delicate, light-as-air cake is surprisingly easy to whip up at home.