Italian Basic Genoise (Sponge Cake)

Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 6 1/2 ounces sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 1/2 ounces cake flour
• 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
• salt, pinch

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. 2

   Blend the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar in a mixer bowl with a wire whip attachment until the mixture doubles in volume-about 15 minutes on high speed. Just before stopping the mixer, add the vanilla and mix inches.

3. 3

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

4. 4

   Sift together the cake flour, cornstarch and salt. Fold dry mixture into egg mixture with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, just until blended.

5. 5

   Coat two 10-inch round cake pans with shortening. Pour the batter into the pans and put them immediately into preheated 350 degree oven.

6. 6

   Bake until tops are springy to the touch, about 45 to 50 minutes.

7. 7

   Remove the cakes from the pans and cool on a wire rack.

8. 8

   When cool, use a long serrated knife to slice off the tops of the cakes.

9. 9

   For tiramisu or other layer cakes, divide each cake into three uniform layers with a serrated knives.