SPAGO'S CHOCOLATE CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• NOTE: Recipe has been printed in various places with 3/4 cups of oil.
• Cake is softer but tends to sink in middle.
• Note: cake can also be made in a bundt pan.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter or coat with vegetable spray and line with parchment round one 9-inch round cake pan.
• Dust with flour, tapping out any excess flour.
• Set aside.
• Sift together 1 cup sugar, the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Set aside.
• In the large bowl of an electric mixer, with paddle or beaters, beat the egg yolks at hight speed.
• Turn speed to low and pour in the oil, water and vanilla.
• Gradually add the sifted ingredients, and when almost incorporated turn speed to medium and beat until well combined.
• Remove bowl from machine.
• In another clean large bowl, with whip or beaters, whip the 6 egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Start on medium speed and raise speed as peaks begin to form.
• Gradually pour in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and whip until whites are shiny and firm but not stiff.
• With a rubber spatula, fold 1/4 of the whites into the chocolate mixture, then scrape the chocolate mixture back into the whites, quickly folding until completely incorporated.
• Scrape into the prepared pan (Note: do not fill cake pans more than 2/3 full. If you have some batter leftover make cupcakes.) and bake until edges of the cake pull away from the pan and a tester, gently inserted into the center of the cake, comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Cool on a rack.
• To remove, run a sharp knife around the inside of the pan to loosen cake.
• Invert onto rack.
• Place 9-inch cardboard round on cake and invert cake onto round.