Retro sponge cake, known as ‘Half Moon‘ – a conventional Bulgarian recipe from grandma’s cookbook. It’s very simple to organize, retains effectively, and is very useful when you’ve additional eggs to make use of. Completed with a dusting of powdered sugar and a sprinkle of crushed walnuts, this vegetarian deal with is solely good.
A easy sponge cake baked in a flat tin, then minimize into half-moon shapes with a wine glass. That’s at present’s deal with. Easy, however good. It’s a retro recipe from my childhood, handed down via generations. The attraction is in its simplicity and its distinctive presentation. In spite of everything, who would have thought to make use of a glass to form cake? When it first appeared, not everybody had entry to cookie cutters, so a wine glass—or any ingesting glass—did the job completely.
Additionally attempt these retro Bulgarian NO-BAKE Christmas Tree Cookies, that work as effectively all 12 months spherical. My children are very keen on them. Additionally, don’t miss these epic Troopers Cookies (Kurabiye) – one other timeless favourite round the home.
This recipe may be thought of a cousin of the Hungarian Kossuth-kifli, which can also be minimize into the identical form and made with comparable components. The 2 are fairly comparable in case you ask me. I see them as a cross between a easy sponge cake and cookies—simple for my children to seize and go, and a deal with that’s really stood the take a look at of time.
Substances and Substitutions
- Eggs – the bottom for this cake
- Flour – all goal flour
- Sugar – I’m utilizing brown sugar, however previously solely white sugar was used
- Oil – I’m utilizing the normal sunflower oil, nevertheless melted butter in similar portions can be utilized
- Lemon zest – that is added in more moderen occasions, previously this wasn’t all the time accessible. I favor to make use of contemporary zest from natural lemons, however dried works too
- Vanilla extract – vanilla sugar or liquid vanilla drops
- Walnuts, crushed and powdered sugar – for sprinkling on prime.
Find out how to put together sponge cake ‘Half Moon’?
1st: Beat eggs and sugar till they triple dimension, turn out to be whiter and silkier. Don’t minimize down the beating time, as there isn’t any baking powder within the recipe. Slowly add in oil, flour, vanilla and lemon zest to only mix.
2nd: Switch to a effectively greased baking pan and degree out with a spatula. Sprinkle with crushed walnuts, don’t press down. Bake in preheated oven as directed. When cake is now not scorching, minimize with wine glass or cookies cutters. Knife works too.
NOTE: Use a baking pan with a flat backside and a beneficiant dimension. The cake bakes extra evenly and is less complicated to chop if the pan is at the very least 26 cm large. I’m truly utilizing my very rustic baking pan that I make all issues savory and candy in. And sure, in case you neglect to grease the pan, the cake will seemingly keep on with the underside – see final image above. Yup.
Retro Sponge Cake ‘Half Moon’
Retro cake from the 60ties that’s merely a straightforward sheet pan sponge cake with walnuts and powdered sugar. The flavour is enhanced by vanilla and lemon zest.
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
- 5 giant eggs
- 150 g 5 oz sugar, white or brown
- 100 ml vegetable oil, like sunflower oil
- 180 g all goal whiтe unbleached flour
- 1 tsp. lemon zest, contemporary & natural
- 2-3 drops vanilla extract, or 1 small pack vanilla sugar
- 50 g (2 oz) walnuts, finely chopped
- powdered sugar for sprinkling
- butter for greasing pan
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First, add all eggs in a big mixing bowl. Add within the sugar and beat the eggs till they triple in dimension (approx. 10 minutes).
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Then, whereas consistently beating add within the vegetable oil slowly. Sprinkle the vanilla drops and lemon zest.
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Subsequent, add within the flour whereas gently mixing in with the egg combine. Attempt to protect as a lot air as attainable and blend (even with a fork) solely till there aren’t any seen lumps (to only mix it).
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Preheat the oven on 180C/360F. Grease the underside and sides of the baking pan and gently pour the dough in.
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Lastly, degree with a spatula and sprinkle with chopped walnuts on prime. Bake (180C/360F) till a toothpick comes out clear.
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Sprinkle with powdered sugar instantly after taking the cake out of the oven after which let cool utterly on the counter.
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Utilizing a wine glass (clear) minimize the cake on one facet, making half moon shapes with the glass. Serve.
BAKING PAN: select a giant spherical baking pan (approx. 26 cm/10 inch) for greatest outcomes. The thinner the batter, the higher the bake.
BAKING: Cowl the cake with baking paper in the direction of the top of baking if it appears too brown on prime however not prepared on the within. Don’t minimize the cake when nonetheless scorching and even heat because it modifications the feel.
SHAPES: Half moon shapes are made utilizing a daily wine glass and slicing one piece after the opposite. You may as well minimize it in squares.
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