Genoise is a light, airy cake made from egg yolks only. Sponge cakes are made from eggs, milk, sugar, flour, butter, and baking powder. The main difference is that genoise has no leavening agent, while sponge cakes use baking powder.
Sponge vs. Genoise
A genoise cake is a sponge cake made with eggs with sugar, flour, butter, and lemon juice. The cake is baked in a tube pan and then sliced into thin layers. The cake is usually served with whipped cream or ice cream. Chiffon Cake
Sponge cake is a light, airy cake made from eggs, milk, sugar, flour, and butter. The batter is beaten until smooth, then poured into a greased pan, and baked at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Sponge cakes are often served with whipped cream and fruit.
Tips for Making Light and Airy Cakes
The key to making an airy cake is beating your ingredients together as thoroughly as possible before adding them to the mixing bowl.
This will help prevent any lumps of fat from forming when you add the dry ingredients.
If you don’t beat your mixture well enough, it can be difficult to incorporate all the other ingredients without leaving pockets of uncooked dough behind.
* Use room temperature ingredients so they mix more easily.
* Beat slowly using medium-high speed on low setting. You want to avoid overbeating the batter because this could cause gluten development which would make the cake heavy.
* Add liquid gradually by alternating additions of wet and dry ingredients. For example: 1/3 cup water + 2 tablespoons oil 3/4 cup total.
* When incorporating large amounts of dry ingredients such as cocoa powder, cornstarch, etc., first sift these items through a fine-mesh strainer to remove clumps. Then fold the dry ingredients gently into the rest of the batter.
As long as you follow these tips, there’s nothing stopping you from creating delicious homemade cakes!
Is genoise better than sponge cake?
Both genoises and sponges have their advantages and disadvantages. Both types of cakes are delicious but there are some differences between the two.
Genoise is lighter and fluffier than a regular sponge cake. It’s also easier to cut since its texture tends to crumble less during slicing.
However, genoise doesn’t hold up very well after being refrigerated. A genoise should not be stored longer than 24 hours if kept cold.
Sponges tend to rise higher and brown faster than genoises.
They’re also denser and heavier. Because of this, they require more time to bake and cool down. But once cooled, sponges do keep much longer than genoises.
What does genoise cake taste like
It tastes just like angel food cake. Angel food cake uses egg whites instead of whole eggs. Egg white contains fewer calories and cholesterol compared to whole eggs.
So, if you prefer healthier options, try substituting half of the amount of whole eggs used in a recipe with egg whites.
In addition, genoise is lower in saturated fats and trans fats compared to most traditional simple cakes. Since it’s made mostly out of egg yolk, it’s high in protein and healthy unsaturated fatty acids.
Hence, genoise has been considered one of the healthiest cakes around!
Why is my genoise rubbery
If your genoise turns out too dense or sticky, chances are that either your oven isn’t hot enough or your baking pans aren’t nonstick.
Try lowering the heat slightly and use only lightly greased pans. Also, check whether your oven racks are level.
Furthermore, if your genoise seems undercooked at the center, then it may need additional cooking time.
To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the middle of the cake. The cake should come away cleanly from the pan.
As long as your genoise comes off the pan cleanly, it means that it’s cooked properly.
How long does genoise last?
If properly wrapped, genoise keeps fresh for several days. Store it in the refrigerator where it’ll stay as moist cake and flavorful. To prolong its shelf life even further, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
Additionally, store it at room temperature rather than freezing it. Freezing causes moisture loss that makes baked goods stale quickly.
Can I freeze genoise?
Yes, you can freeze genoise. Just follow the same storage instructions mentioned above. Make sure to thaw frozen genoise completely before serving.
Store genoise cake tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate leftovers immediately after cooling completely. Genoise keeps best at room temperature for about 4 days.
To thaw frozen genoise cake, simply leave at room temperature until completely defrosted.
You may need to adjust the timing accordingly. Thicker pieces might take longer to fully defrost while thinner ones won’t take nearly as long.
How to serve Genoise Cake
A good way to enjoy genoise is to slice it horizontally and fill each layer with jam or preserves. This will give your guests an opportunity to sample different flavors without having to eat all of them together.
Another option is to use frosting to cover the top of the cake. If you don’t plan to decorate the cake right away, then simply dust it lightly with powdered sugar. The cake won’t get too sticky when served this way.
You may also choose to add nuts or chocolate chips to the layers. These additions make the cake look prettier while adding flavor and crunchiness.
You can always experiment by using other toppings on your own preference of cake. For example, you could spread peanut butter over the bottom layer and sprinkle chopped peanuts on top. Or, you might want to drizzle honey over the middle layer and garnish it with sliced almonds.
When baking genoise, remember to grease pans thoroughly so that the cake rises evenly. Also, avoid greasing the pan excessively as excess oil would prevent the cake from rising.
When cutting genoise into slices, start with the center first. Then, slowly work towards the edges until you reach the desired thickness. You can either roll the knife along the edge of the cake or gently tap the blade against the side of the bowl.
The best part about making genoise is how easy it is to prepare. It takes less than 30 minutes to whip up a batch of batter. And since there are no complicated steps involved, anyone can master the art of genoise-making.
So what are you waiting for? Start whipping up some delicious genoise today!