genoise

(zhə-nwŏz')
n.
A delicate buttery sponge cake.

[French, from feminine of genois, Genoese, after GENOA.]

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[zhayn-WAHZ; zhehn-WAHZ] This rich, light cake is made with flour, sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla. It's similar in texture to a moist sponge cake. It was developed in Genoa, Italy, adapted by the French and is now baked by gourmet cooks throughout Europe and the United States. Génoise is an extremely versatile cake and is used for many elegant presentations such as petits fours cake rolls and baked alaska.

For a list of words related to genoise, see:

• Cakes

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