French sponge cake, also known as Genoise, is one of the most famous sponge cakes, widely used by French pastry chefs. Its versatile texture makes it ideal for most cakes.

Compared to classic versions of similar dishes, Genoise stands out for its lightness, flexibility, and more delicate flavor. With a few tricks, it can be prepared very quickly, using a minimum of ingredients.

Recipe with step-by-step photos

French sponge cake

Nutritional value per serving
251.5 kcal
  • Proteins: 11.2 g
  • Fats: 18.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5.2 g
*Nutritional value is calculated per 100g of ingredients
  • Total time:
  • Complexity:
    It's easy and straightforward to prepare, but it does require some experience. Not everyone can do it right the first time.
  • Number of servings: 1

Ingredients

Servings
  • Flour
    140 G
  • Butter
    80 G
  • Starch
    40 G
  • Salt
    to taste
  • Vanilla extract
    1 tsp
  • Sugar
    180 G
  • Egg C1
    6 pcs
  • Egg yolk
    1 pcs

Preparation

Step 1
French sponge cake - step 1

Add the eggs with the extra yolk, sugar, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the bowl over a low heat, allowing the water to warm up. Make sure the bowl doesn't come into direct contact with the water.

Step 2
French sponge cake - step 2

While heating, whisk constantly to prevent the eggs from curdling. Heat the mixture to 35-40 degrees Celsius (95-104 degrees Fahrenheit) until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Step 3
French sponge cake - step 3

Once the mixture is ready, begin beating it with a mixer until it forms a thick, creamy consistency. This may take 4 to 10 minutes.

Step 4
French Sponge Cake - Step 4-1

When ready, sift flour and corn starch into our container.

Step 5
French Sponge Cake - Step 4-2

After this, thoroughly mix all the ingredients with a spatula, trying to maintain a smooth texture.

Step 6
French Sponge Cake - Step 5-1

Pour some of our dough into a separate bowl and add melted butter. Stir the mixture until smooth.

Step 7
French Sponge Cake - Step 6-1

Add the resulting creamy mixture to the main container with the cream dough and continue to mix gently.

Step 8
French Sponge Cake - Step 6-2

I recommend doing this as quickly and carefully as possible so that the mixture doesn’t lose its softness.

Step 9
French Sponge Cake - Step 7-1

We pour the prepared mixture into our molds and place them in an oven preheated to 175 degrees.

Step 10
French Sponge Cake - Step 7-2

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check periodically for doneness with a toothpick—it should come out clean.

Step 11
French sponge cake - photo

Remove the dish from the oven and let it cool slightly. Cut the biscuits out of the pan. The dish is ready!

Tips for the French sponge cake recipe

  • When making the sponge cake, I recommend focusing on the mixing process. The challenge is to ensure the mixture is smooth while maintaining its lightness and airiness. To achieve this, mix quickly and carefully, gradually working from one side of the bowl to the other. Be especially careful after adding the butter, as fats negatively impact the airiness of the mixture.
  • After preparing the dough, it's essential to pour it into the molds and bake it immediately, as it will lose its texture over time. The sooner we start baking, the tastier and lighter our sponge cakes will be. And since lightness is the key to French sponge cake, I recommend completing all steps as quickly as possible.
  • When the sponge cake begins to darken and deepen in the oven, I recommend immediately trying a toothpick. It won't be ready yet, but you'll be able to gauge how the dough is baking and check its readiness in future tests. Remember, the dough is ready when the toothpick comes out almost completely clean.