Cooling and Unmolding a Sponge Cake

When hot, sponge cakes are so light and fragile that they seem almost to defy gravity. If they are left in the pan, the moisture from within will cause them to deflate like a soufflé. It is therefore necessary to have ready two unmolding racks that have been lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray, and to unmold the cakes as soon as they are baked.

Except when baking the cake in a fluted tube pan, always run a small metal spatula between the sides of the pan and the cake, pressing it against the pan, to ensure complete release of the cake’s sides with crumb intact.