Vegan Sponge Cake
A light and airy vegan sponge cake made with sparkling water for extra fluffiness. Perfect for teatime or as a base for seasonal fruit toppings.
This vegan sponge cake is incredibly easy to prepare and yields an impressively soft texture without any eggs or dairy. By using sparkling water, we achieve that classic aerated crumb that makes every bite melt in your mouth.
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius (top and bottom heat). Line the bottom of a 26 cm springform pan with parchment paper. Do not grease the sides.
- 2
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 3
Stir together the soy milk, vanilla paste, and oil. Then add the sparkling water and vinegar and whisk well. It is perfectly normal for the mixture to curdle slightly.
- 4
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a whisk or mixer only until just combined into a smooth batter. The batter will be rather thin.
- 5
Immediately pour the batter into the prepared pan, spread it evenly, and bake for about 25 to 28 minutes, until the surface is golden brown. When tested with a toothpick, no liquid batter should stick, and the base should spring back elastically when lightly pressed, without leaving an indentation.
- 6
Let the vegan sponge cake cool briefly in the pan, then carefully remove it from the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack. Only then cut or top it.
I absolutely love how the high carbonation in the sparkling water creates such a delicate crumb; it's remarkably light for being vegan. This baking style is much more forgiving than traditional egg-based sponge methods, though it lacks the heavy richness found in some classic Italian Pan di Spagna recipes. The result is a wonderfully clean and sweet taste that pairs beautifully with tart berries.
How much of a capolavoro is this?
Share your opinion. Ago will say it the Italian way.
Pick a hand and tell Ago what you think.
Related Recipes
Honey Cake
A moist and flavorful honey cake with a sweet glaze and creamy frosting.
Lemon Cake
Juicy lemon sponge cake, creamy mascarpone cheesecake filling, and a touch of lemon curd on top: this lemon cake tastes heavenly!
The Best Strawberry Chia Pudding
Strawberry chia pudding is a celebration of texture and flavor, where the humble chia seed transforms into a creamy, luscious base that carries the brightness of fresh strawberries and the deep sweetness of a homemade compote. This recipe respects each ingredient’s integrity, balancing freshness with richness.