• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Recipe Vibes logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Accessibility
  • Recipe Videos
  • Contact
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » Cakes and Cupcakes » Simple Cake Recipe (Sponge Cake)

    Published: Jul 29, 2021 by Kemi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Simple Cake Recipe (Sponge Cake)

    Sharing is Caring

    10 shares
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    A simple cake recipe for beginners and professionals, this sponge cake is easy to make and the best. It is moist, light, fluffy, soft, and just perfect! Let me show you how to make sponge cake from scratch.

    round sponge cake on a white plate.

    I'm about simple, quick, and easy cake recipes and this sponge cake recipe is as easy as my Madeira cake, victoria sponge, chocolate cake, and the other cake recipes on this blog.

    It is a straightforward, plain sponge cake that is soft, not too sweet, moist, light, and delicious.

    This was the first cake I learned how to bake due to its simplicity and versatility. It is a basic sponge cake that can be served as a snack to entertain, as dessert, for tea, or put icing and decorate for party celebration.

    What is Sponge Cake

    If you are wondering why it is called a sponge cake, it's because the cake texture is foam-like similar to how a sponge looks. It's airy, light, and absorbent.

    Sponge cakes are made with eggs, flour, sugar, and butter. Flavoring like vanilla, or lemon is sometimes added to the batter. It is a very popular cake all over the world especially in the UK, Australia, the US, Canada.

    It is commonly made in a round cake pan but a square or loaf pan can also be used.

    the baked cake on a plate.

    Simple Cake Recipe (Sponge Cake)

    This sponge cake recipe is not only simple, but it's also easy, quick, and the best. 

    The cake is light, fluffy, moist, not overly sweet but not bland, baked evenly, light-colored, spongy, delicious, and just perfect!

    You need just a few ingredients to make it and the ingredients are inexpensive and easily available in stores.

    Unlike cake box mix, this simple cake recipe does not make use of artificial flavorings, color, or preservatives.

    It's perfect for entertaining, for tea, serving as desserts, or making party cakes.

    You can't go wrong with this simple sponge cake recipe with my detailed step by step instructions and tips.

    This is an 8 inch sponge cake recipe but you can also make it in two 6 inch round cake pans.

    It serves 8-10 people but you can double the ingredients, and bake in two 8 inch cake pans and then sandwich them.

    sliced cakes on a plate.

    Sponge Cake Ingredients

    The detailed measurements both in grams and in cups can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. I advise you to measure in grams using a measuring scale as this gives accurate results than using cup measurements.

    Flour - You can use self raising flour or all purpose flour also known as plain flour. See notes in the recipe card.

    Baking powder 

    Butter

    Sugar

    Eggs

    Flavoring - Vanilla extract.

    ingredients displayed on a white and grey table.

    How To Make Sponge Cake (Simple Cake Recipe)

    Rub the inside of the baking pan with some butter and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.

    Add baking powder to the flour and sift. Set aside.

    Preheat the oven at a temperature of 180C/360F (160C fan).

    Add butter and sugar into a mixing bowl and mix with an electric mixer for 15 minutes or until it's pale in color. This is the creaming method for making cakes.

    showing the creaming process.


    Break the eggs one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture and whisk until the mixture comes together.

    Add the sifted flour into the wet mixture and mix with a spatula till well combined then use the electric hand mixer to mix for about 30 seconds to smoothen the batter. 

    eggs added in the left bowl, and the  batter in the right bowl.

    Pour the cake batter into the butter/parchment paper lined cake tin. 

    Place the cake tin in the middle rack of the oven and bake at a temperature of 180C/360F (160C fan) for 25-30 minutes. 

    the batter in cake pan on the left and baked cake in pan on the right.

    Test for doneness after 25 minutes. If the cake tester or skewer dipped in the middle of the cake comes out clean, then it is ready.

    When the cake is cooked, bring it out of the oven and leave it to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning it on to a cooling rack.

    sponge cake on a cooling rack.

    When it is completely cooled, cut and serve or proceed to decorate the cake. 

    The cake on a round plate.

    Sponge Cake Icing

    There are different cake icing that goes with sponge cake and below are some of the ones I recommend and you can get the recipes by clicking on the listing.

    Buttercream icing

    Chocolate buttercream

    Cream cheese frosting

    Lemon buttercream

    Whipped cream frosting

    How To Store

    To store the cake, first, leave it to cool completely.

    If not frosted, wrap in clingfilm, and it can be left on the countertop for up to 3 days. If you need to preserve it for longer than 3 days, store it in the fridge or freezer and not on the countertop.

    To store it in the fridge, wrap it in clingfilm, put it in an airtight container, and put it in the fridge where it will store well for 5 days.

    To store in the freezer, wrap in clingfilm, put in an airtight container, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    When you bring it out of the refrigerator, leave it out to come to room temperature before serving.

    How long can you store for? 

    3 days on the worktop, or 5 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer.

    a slice cut out of the cake.

    Tips

    • Choose and use a mixing bowl that is deep enough to prevent splatter during the mixing of the cake batter.
    • Use caster sugar as the first choice of sugar for sponge cake and if not available, granulated sugar works fine too.
    • Cream the butter and sugar for at least 10 - 15 minutes before adding the eggs. The creaming process is one of the determinants of how fluffy the cake comes out.
    • You can use any type of flavoring you desire from vanilla extract to strawberry, lemon, and others.
    • Butter the pan before lining with parchment paper so it's easy to remove the cake from the pan after baking.
    • Bake cake on the middle rack of the oven as this is the best place for even heat distribution.
    • Don't bake for too long to avoid dry cake. Check the cake for doneness after 25 minutes.
    • The cake should come out cleanly if you follow the above tip however if the cake is stuck to the pan, use a flat to loosen the edges before turning it onto the cooling rack.
    • If you'll be icing the cake, make sure it's well cooled before covering with icing and decorating it.
    the baked cake on a plate.

    More Sponge Cake Recipes

    The below are other sponge cake recipes that are easy, simple, quick and delicious:

    Victoria sponge cake

    Lemon sponge cake

    Banana cake

    Chocolate sponge cake

    Coconut Sponge cake

    Tools Used

    No heavy tool is required to make this cake recipe, you'll need:

    Mixing bowl

    8 inch round cake pan

    Electric hand mixer - You can use a stand mixer or wooden spoon to do the creaming. 

    Cooling rack

    Spatula

    Cake tester

    sliced into two.

    I hope you like this recipe as much as I do. If you find this post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.

    Don’t want to miss a thing? Subscribe to the blog for free weekly recipes in your email. Also, follow recipe vibes on Instagram and Pinterest. Subscribe to my Youtube channel for recipe videos.

    a slice cut out of the cake.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Simple Cake Recipe (Sponge Cake)

    A simple cake recipe for beginners and professionals, this sponge cake is easy to make and the best. It is moist, light, fluffy, soft and just perfect! Let me show you how to make sponge cake from scratch.
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American, Australian, British, International
    Keyword: how to make sponge cake, simple cake recipe, simple sponge cake recipe, sponge cake, sponge cake recipe
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 197kcal
    Author: Kemi

    Equipment

    • 8 inch round cake pan
    • Mixing bowl
    • Electric hand mixer
    • Spatula
    • Cooling rack
    • Cake tester or skewer

    Ingredients

    • 125 g Flour Self raising flour ( If using All purpose flour also known as plain flour check notes below.)
    • ⅛ teaspoon Baking powder
    • 125 g Butter
    • 125 g Sugar Caster or Granulated sugar
    • 2 Eggs
    • ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
    Metric - US customary

    Instructions

    • Rub the inside of the baking pan with some butter and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • Add baking powder to the flour and sift. Set aside.
    • Preheat the oven at a temperature of 180C/360F (160C fan).
    • Add butter and sugar into a mixing bowl and mix with an electric mixer for 15 minutes or until it's pale in color. 
    • Break the eggs one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture and whisk until the mixture comes together. 
    • Add the sifted flour into the wet mixture and mix with a spatula till well combined then use the mixer to mix for about 30 seconds to smoothen the batter. 
    • Pour the cake batter into the butter/parchment paper lined cake tin. 
      Place the cake tin in the middle rack of the oven and bake at a temperature of 180C/360F (160C fan) for 25-30 minutes. 
      Test for doneness after 25 minutes. If the cake tester or skewer dipped in the middle of the cake comes out clean, then it is ready.
    • When the cake is cooked, bring it out of the oven and leave it to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning it on to a cooling rack. 
    • When it is completely cooled, cut and serve or proceed to decorate the cake.

    Notes

    • If using all purpose flour (plain flour), add additional 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
    • You can double the ingredients, and bake in two 8 inch cake pans.
    • Choose and use a mixing bowl that is deep enough to prevent splatter during the mixing of the cake batter.
    • Use caster sugar as the first choice of sugar for sponge cake and if not available, granulated sugar works fine too.
    • Cream the butter and sugar for at least 10 - 15 minutes before adding the eggs. The creaming process is one of the determinants of how fluffy the cake comes out.
    • You can use any type of flavoring you desire from vanilla extract to strawberry, lemon, and others.
    • Butter the cake pan before lining with parchment paper so it's easy to remove the cake from the pan after baking.
    • Bake cake on the middle rack of the oven as this is the best place for even heat distribution.
    • Don't bake for too long to avoid dry cake. Check the cake for doneness after 25 minutes.
    • The cake should come out cleanly if you follow the above tip however if the cake is stuck to the pan, use a flat to loosen the edges before turning it onto the cooling rack.
    • If you'll be icing the cake, make sure it's well cooled before covering with icing and decorating it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

    Related posts:

    How To Cook Cod
    Air Fryer Potatoes (Air fryer Diced Potatoes)
    Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe
    Pan Fried Broccoli Recipe
    « Fried Potatoes Recipe (How To Fry Potatoes)
    Deep Fried Chicken Wings Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deborah Dauyoumor says

      August 03, 2021 at 8:09 pm

      This is definitely the best sponge recipe!

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        August 06, 2021 at 2:13 am

        Thank you so much.

        Reply
    2. dorothy ross says

      October 02, 2021 at 1:48 pm

      5 stars
      It has been a while since I baked you made it easy to do after a long time.when the kids were at home I baked regularly.but this is for my bingo mates. Many thanks.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kemi

    Hello and welcome to my blog. I'm Kemi. Thanks for visiting. Stay a while, browse around, you will find easy delicious recipes.

    More about me →

    Air Fryer

    • crispy potatoes in air fryer basket.
      Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes (Air Fryer Crispy Potatoes)
    • Air fryer sea bass fillets displayed in the air fryer.
      Air Fryer Sea Bass
    • Air fryer bell peppers in air fryer basket.
      Air Fryer Bell Peppers
    • salmon cooked from frozen in air fryer displayed.
      Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Work with us

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Recipe Vibes

    10 shares
    10 shares