Aunt Mickie's Sponge Cake

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line the bottom of a tube pan (NOT a Bundt pan) with either wax or parchment paper. Do not grease pan.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. This will take 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your mixer.

Step 3

In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks and remaining 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add extract and lemon juice, mix until combined.

Step 4

Fold flour and baking powder into egg yolk mixture. Once evenly combined, fold egg whites into egg yolk mixture. Pour batter into an UNGREASED tube pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until done.

Step 5

Remove from oven and allow cake to cool slightly. While still warm, run a knife around the edges of the tube pan as well as around the center tube.

Step 6

Invert tube pan onto a plate and leave cake in pan. When cake is ready, it will fall out on its own. Once this happens, flip over again onto serving plate.