sponge cake with vanilla cream and herbs

Sponge Cake with Vanilla Cream and Herbs

Ingredients

For the Sponge Cake:

• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Vanilla Cream:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Herb Garnish:

• Fresh herbs (such as mint, basil, or thyme)
• Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Instructions

Preparing the Sponge Cake:

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, or line it with parchment paper.
2. Beat the eggs and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer on high speed until the mixture is thick and pale, about 5 minutes.
3. Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, folding gently to combine.
5. Prepare milk mixture: In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter until the butter melts. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
6. Incorporate milk mixture: Slowly add the milk mixture to the batter, folding gently until well combined.
7. Bake the cake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool the cake: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Making the Vanilla Cream:

1. Whip the cream: In a chilled bowl, beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form.
2. Add sugar and vanilla: Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.

Assembling the Cake:

1. Slice the cake: Once the cake is completely cool, slice it horizontally into two layers.
2. Add the cream: Spread a generous layer of vanilla cream over the bottom layer of the cake. Place the top layer over the cream.
3. Garnish with herbs: Decorate the top of the cake with fresh herbs. You can finely chop some herbs and sprinkle them over the cream for an added flavor dimension.
4. Dust with powdered sugar: If desired, lightly dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.

Serving:

• Serve the cake immediately, or refrigerate it for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to meld together. Enjoy your delicious Sponge Cake with Vanilla Cream and Herbs!

Feel free to adjust the recipe by adding your favorite herbs or adjusting the sweetness to your taste. Enjoy baking!