Sponge Cake (Wedding Cake)by Chef Mark Ainsworth, Pastry Chef, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, FL
Ingredients for the Sponge Cake:
3-1/8 cups whole eggs
3 Tbs. vanilla
3-3/8 cups granulated sugar
5-3/8 cup sifted cake flour
1 cup butter
Preparation for the Sponge Cake:
*To make this cake, you will need to double the recipe. By doubling the recipe, you will have enough to make a 6-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch tier.
First, mix 3-1/8 cups whole eggs, 3 tablespoons vanilla, and 3-3/8 cups granulated sugar in a mixer. Fold in 5-1/8 cups sifted cake flour and 1 cup melted butter. Pour the batter in a greased and floured cake pan, and bake at 360 degrees.
Baking instructions: for a 6-inch tier--10 to 14 minutes; 8-inch tier--12 to 16 minutes; and 10-inch tier--14 to 18 minutes.
When you can lightly push down on the top of the cake and it springs up, it is done. Let cake cool for four to six hours.
Ingredients for Icing:
2-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup egg whites
3-3/4 cups butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Preparation for Icing:
To make the icing, mix 2-1/2 cups granulated sugar with 1/2 cup water. Cook it in a medium saucepan, brushing the sides so that the sugar does not crystallize. When the sugar water reaches 248 degrees, it's ready. Use a straw, and if you can blow a bubble, it's ready.
Whip egg whites until they peak and put them in a mixer. Slowly blend in the sugar water in three stages. Let this cool until the bowl is no longer warm to the touch, then begin adding 3-3/4 cups butter in small pieces. When that's finished, scrape the sides, blend a little more, then mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Don't miss the video (to the right) of a chef demonstrating how to prepare and decorate a cake for a wedding at home.
If you're contemplating a wedding at home, HGTV's special, Weddings Homes Made, covers all the bases, including how to bake and decorate a wedding cake. Check out our video on how to make your own wedding cake.
Resources Weddings Home Made video
hgtv.com store
Sweet Celebrations: The Art of Decorating Beautiful Cakes
by Sylvia J. Weinstock with Kate Manchester
Simon & Schuster, 1999
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Guests Sylvia Weinstock
Wedding Cake Designer/Author
273 Church St.
New York, NY 10013
Phone: 212-925-6698
Mark Ainsworth
Pastry Chef, The Ritz Carlton Hotel
4750 Amelia Island Parkway
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Phone: 904-277-1100
)
WINDOWS MEDIA VIDEO
