Fluffy Vanilla Sponge Cake

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 355ºF (180ºC)Prepare hot, simmering water to warm eggs.Set up cake liners inside a pan. (Or you can coat a thin layer of butter, dust flour on top, and toss to remove excess.)Sift cake flour. (Combine milk, oil, and vanilla ahead.)

Step 2

Warm whole eggs and sugar with a water bath, constantly mixing until it feels comfortably warm like a bath.

Step 3

Whip whole eggs and sugar at high speed until very fluffy. (Drop the batter with a whisk and check: It should flow slowly and the lines should stay on the surface.) Finish at low speed to make air bubbles smaller until it looks very shiny.

Step 4

Add cake flour and fold until you don’t see any flour.

Step 5

Add milk and oil and fold until everything is incorporated evenly. The cake batter should flow smoothly when you drop it with a spatula.

Step 6

Pour the batter into the prepared pans right away and bake at 355ºF (180ºC) until the center bounces back very gently.for 25 - 30 mins for 2 6-inch pans for 30 - 35 mins for 1 8-inch panAdjust the baking time & temperature depending on the oven, the thickness of the batter, etc.

Step 7

After it's out of the oven, flip it and let it cool completely before slicing it.