Cheap Sponge Cake

This is a nice simple recipe. I have been making it since I was 14. It's easy to experiment with and fairly low calorie.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1  cup cake flour (I have substituted all-purpose and it works)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3  eggs, separated,at room temperature
• 1⁄4 cup  cold water
• 2  teaspoons vanilla
• 1  cup sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350, and line 2 nine inch pans with wax paper.
2. Sift flour with baking powder; in a separate bowl, combine the water and the vanilla.
3. Beat egg yolks until thick, then slowly add the sugar bit by bit, until the mixture gets thick and cream colored.
4. Add the flour alternately with the water, beginning and ending with the flour.
5. With clean mixer, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar untilsoft peaks form.
6. Fold egg whites into batter lightly, about 1/4 at a time.
7. Spoon into the pans and bake about 25 minutes, or until gold and springy.
8. I have added 3/4 cup nuts, 1/4 cup cocoa (sifted with the flour), 1 tbsp instant coffee, etc--it's a nice recipe to experiment with.
9. You can also make these into cupcakes--fill cupcake papers 3/4 full, bake about 12 minutes, makes about 24.