Genoise Cake

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350F, slide rack onto the lower-middle level, and prepare your pan (see Note).
2. 2
   Sift the flour with the 1 tablespoon sugar and salt and reserve the clarified butter in a 2-quart bowl.
3. 3
   Beat the eggs in your mixer bowl with the remaining sugar and the vanilla until you have formed the ribbon.
4. 4
   At once, rapidly sift on and fold in a quarter of the flour, then half the rest of the flour, and finally the last of it.
5. 5
   Fold a large plop of this cake batter into the clarified butter, then fold the butter-batter back into the remaining batter.
6. 6
   Turn batter into prepared pan, filling it to no more than 1/4 inch of the rim.
7. 7
   Bang lightly on work surface to deflate bubbles, and bake 30 to 35 minutes, until puffed, lightly browned, and showing a faint line of shrinkage from sides of pan.
8. 8
   Let cool 20 minutes before unmolding onto a rack.
9. 9
   Let cool completely before filling and icing.