Today’s Hot Milk Sponge Cake turned out tasting every bit as good as it sounds! This simple and economical cake is a breeze to make and the results are nothing short of delicious. The recipe is from a baking book printed by General Foods Kitchens in 1960 and I can easily imagine this cake being tucked into someone’s lunchbox all week. It is a cake that will improve with age and so a 9×13″ pan full will go a long way for you and your family.

I used my stand mixer to beat the eggs and finish preparing the batter. You can certainly make it using a hand mixer as well but today I was glad for the power of the stand mixer since there is a good deal of beating required. Once you add the butter and hot milk, use a spatulas or metal whisk to incorporate the liquid. The batter is thin and pours easily in typical sponge cake fashion. The hot liquids give the cake its moistness and today’s cake rose beautifully. The hot milk creates steam as the cake bakes and acts as extra leavening. Definitely use a good cake flour such as Swans Down which is what this old recipe calls for. Other than that it’s just 1-2-3 and bake!

Today I frosted this one with the Broiled Coconut Topping recommended in the recipe though this cake wouldn’t be particular about frosting; buttercream would also be good. I do like the contrast of the fluffy cake with the crunch of the toasted coconut in this frosting. However you frost it, it is a winner and will surely be enjoyed by everyone at your table.  Enjoy!

Hot Milk Sponge Cake with Broiled Coconut Topping

Ingredients

2 cups sifted Swans Down cake flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
4 eggs, unbeaten
2 cups sugar
2 t. vanilla
1 cup milk
2 T. butter

Directions Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. Beat eggs in large deep bowl until very thick and light, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar. Add vanilla. Add flour to egg mixture, a small amount at a time, blending by hand or at low speed of electric mixer. Bring milk and butter just to a boil and very quickly stir into the flour mixture, blending thoroughly. Batter will be thin. Pour into a 9×13” pan which has been greased and floured on the bottom only. Bake at once for 30-35 minutes. Cool slightly, then spread with Broiled Coconut Topping.  Serve warm.

For Topping:

1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1-1/2 T. milk
3/4 cup flaked coconut

Directions Cream butter and sugar together in mixing bowl. Add milk and beat until smooth. Add the coconut and stir to blend thoroughly. Spread on cake and broil for 3 minutes, turning pan as needed, until coconut is lightly toasted.