Spiced Coffee Sponge Cake Recipe

Combine coffee and milk in a saucepan, bring to a boil. Steep over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain through several layers of cheesecloth into a measuring cup. There should be 1/2 cup flavored milk. Keep milk warm over low heat.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. Reserve.

In a large bowl, beat eggs for about two minutes at high speed until thick. Slowly add sugar and beat for 4 to 5 minutes until very light.

With a mixer at low speed, slowly beat in flavored milk until just blended. Beat in vanilla. With mixer at low speed or by hand, fold in flour mixture just until blended. Do not overbeat.

Gently fold in melted butter.

Pour into two greased and floured 8-inch round cake pans. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 20-25 minutes until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cake cool for 10 minutes, then turn out onto racks to cool completely.

Frost with Coffee Butter Frosting.

Yield: 1 two-layer cake

• Coffee Butter Frosting Recipe

Recipe Source: National Federation of Coffee Growers of Columbia
Reprinted with permission.