Glorious Birthday Cake Recipe

Flickr/Joey Harrison
Happy Birthday!
Photo made in 1938 with Kodak film #116
(film produced from 1899-1984)

Once upon a time I used to go to school right next door to a historical museum and I would often go in to look at all the glorious vintage and antique items.  I got to know the curator well so when the museum asked for local recipes and this sponge cake recipe came in by the dozens, I was given one of the duplicates.  They were all identical right down to the 1/4 teaspoon of salt.  In the recipe box of many of the local families who had been around for generations was this very popular sponge cake recipe which most of them noted as being their favorite birthday cake.  So here it is for more generations to enjoy. 

Note that this cake is very similar to the equally famous Sunshine Cake where you would replace the lemon for orange.

They are both great go-to recipes.  Let your imagination soar for the decoration or presentation, and you will never serve the same cake twice.




Glorious Sponge Cake Recipe
6 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold water
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. salt
6 egg whites

(Recipe as it was handwritten)
Beat with rotary beater until very thick and lemon colored
     6 egg yolks. beat a little at a time
     1 cup sugar. beat all at once
     1/4 cup cold water, 1 tsp. lemon extract, 1 tsp. grated lemon rind.
Beat in all at once --
     1 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
In another bowl beat 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar, 1/4 tsp. salt and 6 egg whites (or 3/4 cup) beat until egg whites are glossy and stiff, gently fold into egg yolk mixture.
Pour batter into 9 in. tube pan ungreased.  Bake 325 F. oven 60-65 min
invert pan until cold.