Mamon (Sponge Cakes)

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 cups vegetable oil
• 8 eggs yolks
• 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.33 cups orange juice
• 0.33 cups water
• 8 eggs whites
• 0.5 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 0.5 cups white sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease 16 muffin cups.

2. 2

   Stir flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl until well combined. Make a well in the center and add oil, egg yolks, orange peel, vanilla, orange juice, and water. Mix well by hand until smooth with no lumps. Set aside.

3. 3

   Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a large glass or metal mixing bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, continuing to beat until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: egg whites should form soft mounds rather than a sharp peak.

4. 4

   Fold flour mixture into egg whites until incorporated. Pour batter into the prepared muffin cups to about 2/3 full.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.