This is a very light and moist cake with a wonderful spongy texture, it can be served with fresh fruit and whipped cream. About a half-hour before you make the cake take your cold eggs and separate them into yolks and whites and cover each bowl with aplastic wrap and let them come to room temperature. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and get a 10-inch tube pan and do not grease it.  Meanwhile, get your sifted cake flour in a bowl. To the flour, add baking powder to help the cake with the rise, and add salt then whisk them together and put it aside. Place the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment.

Beat on high speed until they are thick, fluffy, and light-colored (when you slowly raise the beater the batter will fall back into the bowl in a slow ribbon). Then beat in the vanilla extract (to flavor), water, and lemon zest for about a minute starting at a slow speed then increase to high speed. Transfer it to a clean bowl and set it aside while you beat the egg whites. In a clean bowl, with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on medium speed until foamy.

Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until the egg whites are shiny and just form stiff peaks. Next, sift the flour mixture over the beaten egg yolks (about one-third of the flour mixture at a time) and gently but quickly fold with a wire whisk or rubber spatula the flour into the egg yolk batter.

Repeat the same for the rest of your flour. Then gently fold a little of the beaten egg whites into the batter to lighten it, and then add the rest of the whites, folding just until incorporated. (Do not over mix the batter or it will deflate.) Pour the batter into the tube pan, smoothing the top. Give it a little pat to remove the air bubble.

Bake in preheated oven for 28 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and immediately invert the pan (turn upside down) and suspend it by placing the inner tube on the top of a flat-topped glass or bowl. Allow the cake to cool completely before unmoulding for about one hour. Run a flat metal spatula or sharp knife around the inside of the pan and then remove the center core of the pan.

Run the spatula along with the bottom and center core of the pan. Invert the cake onto a greased wire rack. The cake can be served plain with a dusting of powdered sugar or with fresh fruit and softly whipped cream. This cake can be covered and stored for a few days, or it can be frozen.

Ingredients;

  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 1 cup (100 grams) sifted cake flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • Zest of a lemon or orange (outer skin)
  • 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Instructions;

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Have ready an ungreased two-piece 10 inch (25 cm) tube pan.
  2. Separate the cold eggs, placing the yolks in one bowl and the whites in another bowl. Cover the bowls with plastic wrap and bring the eggs to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
  3. Meanwhile sift or whisk the sifted flour with the baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  4. Place the egg yolks and 2/3 cup (135 grams) of the sugar in the bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment (or use a hand mixer).
  5. Beat on high speed until they are thick, fluffy, and light-colored (when you slowly raise the beater the batter will fall back into the bowl in a slow ribbon). Then beat in the vanilla extract, water, and lemon zest. Set aside while you beat the egg whites.
  6. In a clean bowl, with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Gradually add the 1/3 cup (65 grams) of sugar and continue beating until the egg whites are shiny and just form stiff peaks.
  7. Next, sift the flour mixture over the beaten egg yolks (about one-third of the flour mixture at a time) and gently but quickly fold (with a wire whisk or rubber spatula) the flour into the egg yolk batter.
  8. Then gently fold a little of the beaten egg whites into the batter to lighten it, and then add the rest of the whites, folding just until incorporated. Pour the batter into the tube pan, smoothing the top.
  9. Bake in preheated oven for 28 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  10. Remove from the oven and immediately invert the pan (turn upside down) and suspend it by placing the inner tube on the top of a flat-topped glass or bowl.
  11. Allow the cake to cool completely before unmolding (about one hour). Run a flat metal spatula or sharp knife around the inside of the pan and then remove the center core of the pan.
  12. Run the spatula along with the bottom and center core of the pan. Invert the cake onto a greased wire rack. The cake can be served plain with a dusting of powdered sugar or with fresh fruit and softly whipped cream.