Cornstarch Sponge Cake Recipe: Airy Gluten-Free Spanish Cake 2026

This cornstarch sponge cake is wonderfully light and airy, and it makes an ideal base for all sorts of other desserts. Because it contains no wheat flour, it's a great option for anyone who is celiac or simply avoids gluten.

With just four simple ingredients and about 50 minutes from start to finish, it's an easy bake that delivers a tender, cloud-like crumb. You'll whip the egg whites to stiff peaks and beat the yolks until they double in volume, which is the secret to all that lift.

We used a silicone mold, but any other removable metal pan will give the same result. In that case, you'd line the pan with parchment paper or grease it with butter and flour it if you don't have parchment on hand.

For beaten batters we always reach for an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, though you can do it by hand with a little more time and patience. To get this cake extra fluffy, the whites need to reach stiff peaks and the yolks need to double their volume.

Ingredients for Cornstarch Sponge Cake

This makes 12 servings.

• 3 medium eggs at room temperature
• 110 g powdered sugar
• 125 g cornstarch
• 7 g baking powder

How to Make Cornstarch Sponge Cake Step by Step

1. Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks

Preheat the oven to 160 °C (320 °F). Separate the whites from the yolks of 3 medium eggs at room temperature, place the whites in a bowl, and whip them to stiff peaks.

2. Beat the sugar with the yolks and add the whites

In another bowl, vigorously beat 110 g of powdered sugar with the yolks for 3 minutes, until the mixture doubles in volume. Using a spatula, fold the whipped whites into the yolk and sugar mixture.

3. Sift the cornstarch and baking powder

Sift 125 g of cornstarch together with 7 g of baking powder three times so it becomes nicely aerated.

4. Fold in all the ingredients

Using a spatula, fold the cornstarch into the previous mixture. Stir gently with the spatula, using folding motions, until it is completely incorporated.

5. Pour the batter into the mold

Pour the mixture into a mold lined with parchment paper on the bottom to make unmolding easier.

6. Bake for 30 minutes at 160 °C

Bake for 30 minutes with top and bottom heat until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once the time is up, remove the cake from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes on a rack.

7. Unmold and cool on a rack

After the 10 minutes, unmold the cake, remove the parchment paper, and let it cool completely on the rack.

8. Serve

Once cool, you can serve it or use it as a base for other cakes.

Tips for the Best Cornstarch Sponge Cake

Use the right mold

A silicone mold works beautifully, but any removable metal pan gives the same result. If you use metal without parchment, grease it with butter and dust it with flour so the cake releases cleanly.

Whip for maximum volume

An electric mixer saves effort, but you can do it by hand with patience. The key to a fluffy cake is stiff egg whites and yolks beaten until they double in volume.

Sift the cornstarch three times

Cornstarch tends to clump, so sift it three times with a fine-mesh sieve or strainer. This keeps it well aerated so the cake bakes up with plenty of volume.

30 Top Dishes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Much like me, you probably like having a rotation of fuss-free comfort dishes, well-known global plates, and desserts that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, I tend to reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And any time a fruity, cozy dessert sounds good, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

On mornings when I want something quick and on lighter days, I'll 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 for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, I'm fond of making this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean flavors, I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit fancier.

Come lunchtime cravings or a cozy evening meal, I'm quick to suggest 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. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Any time street-food style or party-ready plates are calling, I'll usually fix this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a light starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole spread are on the agenda for company, I'll typically serve dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. Then to fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes to Cook for Loved Ones

After years of trying and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the greatest dishes balance ease, dependable methods, and big flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the very ones I keep coming back to, time and again—whether I'm throwing together a fast meal just for me or putting on something memorable for friends and family.

For a sweet finish, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to whenever I want something elegant yet effortless. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe shows exactly how I make it at home.

Whenever something light and uncomplicated is what I'm craving, I reach for the familiar Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For fuller comfort meals, I'm quick to point to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm equally fond of passing along dishes rooted in tradition from across the globe, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the timeless Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent 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 baked pasta classics can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying minus the gluten.

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