Vanilla Sponge Cake: Classic Spanish Bizcocho, Light & Airy 2026

This vanilla sponge cake is a true classic, loved for its delicate vanilla flavor that appeals to everyone. It is soft, tender, and wonderfully easy to make at home, requiring just a handful of pantry staples and a few minutes of hands-on work.

In this recipe, we explain how to bake it from scratch and offer several options for aromatizing it so you can choose your favorite. The result is a versatile cake that shines at breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or as a simple dessert.

The proportions in this recipe yield a moist, flavorful bite that is very easy to achieve, as you will see in the step-by-step below. Serve it plain or with a dusting of powdered sugar, and enjoy the comforting aroma of vanilla in every slice.

Ingredients for Vanilla Sponge Cake

For 12 servings

• 165 g sugar
• 60 g butter, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 150 g wheat flour
• 8 g baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 medium eggs
• 150 ml whole milk

How to Make Vanilla Sponge Cake Step by Step

1. Cream the sugar, butter, and vanilla

For this recipe, it is essential to use all ingredients at room temperature for optimal results. We used electric beaters to speed up the process, though a manual whisk works perfectly too. Beat 165 g sugar with 60 g room-temperature butter and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract until the mixture turns whitish. Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).

2. Sift the dry ingredients

Sift 150 g wheat flour with 8 g baking powder and 1 pinch salt into a bowl. This ensures the leavening agents are evenly distributed and helps create a light, airy crumb.

3. Beat in the eggs

Add 3 medium eggs to the sugar mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. This gradual process keeps the batter smooth and prevents it from splitting.

4. Add the milk and flour mixture

Add 150 ml whole milk and the sifted flour mixture. Beat just until everything is integrated, being careful not to overmix, which could make the cake dense.

5. Pour into the mold

We lined the mold with parchment paper, though greasing and lightly flouring it works equally well to ensure easy unmolding. Pour the batter into the prepared mold and smooth the top.

6. Bake the cake

Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes without unmolding, resting on a wire rack.

7. Unmold and cool

After the initial 5-minute rest, carefully unmold the cake and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This prevents the cake from breaking and helps it set properly.

Tips for the Best Vanilla Sponge Cake

Use room-temperature ingredients

Having the butter, eggs, and milk at room temperature helps them blend smoothly into the batter, creating a more uniform texture and better rise. Take them out of the refrigerator about 30 minutes before starting.

Experiment with vanilla flavorings

Instead of vanilla extract, you can use vanilla sugar in place of regular sugar. Make your own by placing used vanilla pods in a jar of sugar; the sugar will absorb the vanilla notes. Alternatively, use the seeds from a vanilla pod to flavor the cake, then reuse the pod for vanilla sugar. Commercial vanilla powder mixed with the sugar is another option.

Storing and freezing

This vanilla sponge cake is ideal for breakfast and snacks. If you have leftovers, freeze it in individual portions separated by parchment paper for easy thawing.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Anytime street food or party fare is on my mind, I'll throw together this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a light starter or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado