Basic Bread Sponge From Amy Recipes

SPONGE CAKE STARTER (FOR A SPONGE CAKE)

Steps:

• Whisk all ingredients together in a large bowl until combined.
• Cover bowl with a plate, plastic wrap, or lid and let sit at room temperature for 18-24 hours. You can mix with a wooden spoon a few times during the process.
• After resting time, proceed with your desired recipe.

EASY VANILLA SPONGE CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven at 180C/375F or 160C/320F (fan oven)
• Prepare the baking tins (2 X 8-Inch). Grease cake tin and line the bottom with a parchment paper.
• Using a hand mixer or stand mixer
• Start by creaming the sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. This should be about 3 to 5 minutes
• Then add the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla essence and mix until combined
• Add the flour and (baking powder if using).
• Using a wooden spoon or spatula, fold the flour into the mixture until well combined. Lastly, add the milk and mix till well incorporated into the batter.
• Divide the batter between the prepared tins and bake in the oven for between 25 to 30 minutes or until skewer/cake tester comes out clean.
• Remove cake from the oven and leave to cool (2 to 5 minutes), remove from the tin and place on a cooling rack.

SPONGE STARTER

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon for 2 to 3 minutes, until a smooth, somewhat elastic batter has formed. The batter will be very stiff; it gets softer and more elastic after it has proofed. You may find it easier to mix the sponge using an electric mixer, with a paddle or a dough hook, on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape the sponge into a 2-quart clear plastic container and cover with plastic wrap. At this point you have two options:
• If you plan to make your dough later that same day, let the sponge rest at room temperature until it has risen to the point where it just begins to collapse. This may take 6 to 8 hours, depending on the temperature of the room and the strength of the yeast. The sponge will triple in volume and small dents will begin to appear in the top as it reaches its peak and then begins to deflate. The sponge is now in perfect condition to be used in a dough. It's best if you have already weighted or measured out all of your other recipe ingredients before the sponge reaches this point so you can use it before it collapses too much.
• If you're not planning to make your dough until the next day or the day after, put the covered sponge in the refrigerator and let it rise there for at least 14 hours before taking it out to use in a recipe. Be sure to compensate for the cold temperature of the starter by using warm water (85 degrees to 90 degrees F) in the dough instead of the cool water specified in the recipe. Or let the starter sit out, covered, until it reaches room temperature (this may take several hours) But don't let it collapse too much before you use it.

BASIC BREAD SPONGE FROM AMY

Steps:

• Whisk the yeast into the water. Allow to sit for about three minutes. Add the flour, mixing for another three minutes. Place in a nonreactive bowl and cover. Allow to sit in a draft-free spot until it rises and gets thick and sticky. This will take about eight hours.
• Use a spoon to stir the sponge down before measuring for use in a bread.
• Once risen, refrigerate for up to three days. Allow to come to room temperature before using. If it goes beyond three days, discard all but 1 cup of the sponge and make the recipe, adding the reserved sponge with the flour. Stir for two or three minutes before using.
• For all of the breads based upon this sponge, allow two days since the doughs require overnight refrigeration.
• For the best results, use as little of the kneading flour as possible.
• To allow yourself to slide the loaves into the oven, form them on a baking sheet without sides or on the bottom of one with sides that is turned upside-down.
• If you do not have a stone or tiles, bake directly on the baking sheet(s) upon which you formed the loaves (be sure to use either cornmeal or parchment between the dough and the sheet).
• All of the breads based upon the sponge can be frozen for up to two weeks. Don't freeze until the bread has cooled thoroughly - then wrap in foil and freeze. When ready to use, thaw them, still wrapped, at room temperature overnight. Then, unwrap and warm at 350 degrees for 5 or 10 minutes. Alternatively, you could warm the frozen and wrapped loaves at 300 for 35 to 40 minutes.

OLIVE AND THYME BREAD

Steps:

• ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT: 1 1/4 cups basic bread sponge (from my basic bread sponge recipe).
• Can use any fleshy black olive in place of Kalamatas.
• In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water. Allow to proof for three minutes.
• Stir the sponge into the water, breaking the sponge up using your hands or a spoon.
• Add 3 1/4 cups of the flour and salt and mix, scraping and folding until the dough gathers into a single mass. Mix in the olives and thyme until distributed. This dough will be wet and sticky.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead as much of the 1/3 cup of flour as is required to make a smooth and elastic dough.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Halve the dough and shape each piece into a ball and place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic. Allow to rise in a draft-free location for two hours.
• Turn out each piece of the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and press out any large bubbles. Shape each half into a loose oval. Transfer each of the ovals into a 9x5 loaf pan, with the seam on the bottom. Cover again with plastic and allow to double in bulk, which should take 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Preheat the oven for at least thirty minutes along with a baking stone or tiles on the middle rack to 425. Place a baking pan with decent sides on the bottom shelf. Boil two cups of water. Place the loaf pans on the stones and then immediately pour the boiling water into the baking pan.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes until the loaves are hollow sounding when removed from the pans and tapped on the bottom. Take the loaves out of the pans and cool on a rack.

PERFECT SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 °F.
• Beat 5 eggs (no need to separate them) on low speed and then on high speed for about 5 minutes or until it's three times in volume.
• Using a spatula, fold in flour by thirds; be very gentle with the dough so you don't over mix it and lose the fluffiness.
• Add cake batter to an oiled baking sheet. Springform baking pan works amazing, size 9-12 inches is perfect.
• Bake at 350F for 30 minutes and check it using a wooden toothpick. If the cake is ready, the dough should not stick to the toothpick.

SPONGE STARTER

Steps:

• Place the yeast and warm water into a medium size bowl and stir to dissolve the yeast. Add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or your hand for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth, and dough is elastic. The starter will be thick and stretchy. It will become more elastic after it has risen.
• Scrape the starter into a clear container with high sides, and cover with plastic wrap. Mark the height of the starter and the time on a piece of tape on the side of the container so you can see how much it rises.
• At this point, you have two options. If you plan on making the dough the same day, let the sponge rise at room temperature until it has risen to the point where it just begins to indent on top. This may take 6 to 8 hours. It will triple in volume, and very small dents and folds will begin to appear in the top of the surface as it reaches its peak and begins to deflate. Use it before it sinks too much.
• If you plan to make the dough the following day, let the sponge rise for 1 hour after mixing, then place it in the refrigerator and let it rise for at least 14 hours before taking it out to use. Be sure to compensate for the cold temperature of the starter by using warm water in the dough. Let it sit out, covered, until it reaches room temperature. This may take several hours.