Preparing the Baking Pan

Preparing the baking pan carefully is another small detail that can make a big difference in the success of a sponge cake, especially round sponge cakes. The base of the baking pan should be buttered and then lined with parchment paper; the butter helps the parchment stick and lie flat. But neither the butter nor the parchment should extend too far up the sides of the pan. As the cake bakes, it will stick a little to the pan’s sides, but that is a benefit rather than a problem. The sticking helps to prevent the cake from deflating as it cools. Recipes include tips about how much to butter the pan and how big to cut the parchment paper.