Chocolate Sponge Cake

Preparation time: 25 min
Baking time: 45 - 50 min at 350 F
Difficulty level: easy
Servings: 10 to 12

Ingredients:

Eggs – 4 (at room temperature)
Butter (melted and cooled) or Oil – ¾ cup 
Sugar – 2 ¼ cups
Flour – 1 1/3 cup
Baking powder – 2 teaspoons
Unsweetened dark cocoa - ¾ cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tspSalt – just a pinch
Water – 1/2 to 3/4 cup (hot water)
Buttermilk - 1 cup
Bake at 350 F
Pan size - 8" round/8" bundt/13"x9" rectangular/ 24 cupcakes

Procedure:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Grease the baking pans, line them with parchment paper and dust with a little flour.
2. Sieve flour, baking powder, salt in a small bowl and keep aside.
3. Stir cocoa into half a cup of hot water, until well blended. Allow it to cool.
4. In a medium blow, beat sugar and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
5. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
6. Using a spatula or stir attachment on low speed, stir in half of the flour mixture until just smooth, alternately with the cocoa mixture.
7. On low speed, mix in the buttermilk and finally, add vanilla extract.
8. Pour batter into prepared pan(s).
9. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

White cake

Preparation time: 20 min
Baking time: 30 - 40 min
Difficulty level: easy
Source: Cake Boss on Rachel Ray's show
Pan size: 13" x 9" pan or 24 regular muffins or 8" round pan

Serves: up to 25 people

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup butter, softened or oil

4 eggs (room temp.)

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/4 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk (room temp.)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour baking pan.
2. Sieve flour and baking powder. Keep aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat sugar and eggs using wire whip, until slightly thickened, about a minute.
4. I  prefer using a spatula or stir attachment from here  on wards.Stir sieved mixture into the batter, alternately with oil. 
5. Add milk.
6. Blend in vanilla extract.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan.
8. Bake for 30 - 40  minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about half hour before tapping out to cool completely on a wire rack.
10. Frost and decorate the cake once it has completely cooled.

Strawberry cake

Preparation time: 20 min
Baking time: 25 - 30 min
Difficulty level: easy
Source: allrecipes.com, less the strawberry puree
Pan size: 13" x 9" pan or 24 regular muffins or 8" round pan

Serves: up to 25 people

Ingredients:

2  and 1/8 cups sugar

3 oz strawberry flavored jello

1 cup butter, softened

4 eggs (room temp.)

2 3/4 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk (room temp.)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour baking pan.
2. Sieve flour and baking powder. Keep aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and jello using wire whip, until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
5. Stir sieved mixture into the batter, alternately with milk.
6. Blend in vanilla extract.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan.
8. Bake for 25 - 30  minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about half hour before tapping out to cool completely on a wire rack.
10. Frost and decorate the cake once it has completely cooled.