This is a recipe from a wonderful book about bakery by the Argentine chef pâtissier Osvaldo Gross. It’s the basic cake I use for any birthday cake. A Genoise (or génoise) is a classic Italian and French sponge cake named after the city of Genoa. Unlike traditional sponge cakes that use chemical leaveners like baking powder, a true Genoise relies entirely on air whipped into whole eggs and sugar to provide volume. It has a light, elastic, and somewhat dry texture, making it an ideal, sturdy base for absorbing flavored syrups, liqueurs, and supporting heavy fillings like buttercream, pastry cream, or fruit.
View original recipe on cookpad.comFor the cake: Place the eggs and sugar on top of a double boiler. Beat until you reach 40°C (it feels hot when touched with your fingers). In the photos I am making two genoises, therefore doubling the ingredients.
Remove from heat, transfer to an electric mixer and, at medium high speed, whisk to a ribbon (10-12 minutes). Add vanilla.
Sift the flour twice. Add it gradually to the eggs, mixing with a spatula in a soft and enveloping way.
Butter and flour a 24-cm round and 4-cm high mold. Pour into the mold and bake at 180°C (355°F) for 30 to 35 minutes.
The genoise is ready when it begins to retract at the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Invert on a grid and unmold.
To store in the refrigerator, let cool completely, wrap in film and store up to 1 week. Decorate once it is cool.
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