 Genoise sheet and rounds | |
| Alternative names | Genoese cake, Genovese cake |
|---|---|
| Type | Sponge cake |
| Place of origin | France |
| Main ingredients | Flour, sugar, eggs |
| Variations | Chocolate genoise |
A génoise (US: /ʒeɪˈnwɑːz, ʒəˈ-/, UK: /dʒeɪˈ-, dʒɛˈ-/,[1][2][3][4] French: [ʒenwaz]; usually spelled genoise in English), also known as Genoese cake or Genovese cake, is a French sponge cake named after the city of Genoa and associated with French cuisine. It was created by François Massialot in the late 17th century.[5] Instead of using chemical leavening, air is suspended in the batter during mixing to provide volume.
Genoise should not be confused with pain de Gênes (lit. 'Genoa bread'), which is made from almond paste, but it is similar to pan di Spagna (lit. 'Spanish bread').[6][7]
It is a whole-egg cake, unlike some other sponge cakes for which yolks and whites are beaten separately, such as Pão de Ló. The eggs, and sometimes extra yolks, are beaten with sugar and heated at the same time, using a bain-marie or flame, to a stage known to patissiers as the "ribbon stage". A genoise is generally a fairly lean cake, getting most of its fat from egg yolks, but some recipes also add in melted butter before baking.
- ^ "genoise". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins.
- ^ "genoise". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.[dead link]
- ^ "Genoise". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins.
- ^ "genoise". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
- ^ Paris, FERRANDI (2017-11-14). French Patisserie: Master Recipes and Techniques from the Ferrandi School of Culinary Arts. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-2-08-020318-2.
- ^ Carole Bloom, The Essential Baker: The Comprehensive Guide to Baking Page 601 2007 "American sponge cake traditionally has no fat and has a light, airy, delicate texture. It is a close relative of the classic French génoise cake, which is made with a small amount of butter. "
- ^ Amy Brown Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation - Page 480 2010 "Unshortened cakes are also known as sponge or foam cakes and include angel food, sponge, meringue, dacquoise, génoise, and roulade. The term sponge in food preparation is frequently used to denote foods made with beaten egg whites."