Ladyfingers

5 large eggs, separated

2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated sugar, divided

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup (120 grams) cake flour

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1/3 cup (40 grams) powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Have ready a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) plain round tip. To make the piping of the cookies easier, use a pencil and ruler to divide the parchment paper into four - 3 inch (7.5 cm) rows, spacing the rows about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.

Separate the eggs while they are still cold, and cover the whites and yolks with plastic wrap to prevent a film from forming on the egg yolks and the whites from drying out. Let the yolks and whites reach room temperature before using (this will take about 30 minutes).

Then, in your electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, (or with a hand mixer) beat the egg yolks and 1/3 cup (65 grams) white sugar on high speed until the mixture becomes thick and pale yellow. (When you raise the beaters the batter should fall back into the bowl in a slow ribbon.) (This will take between 5-10 minutes.) Beat in the vanilla extract. Sift the cake flour and salt over the batter but do not fold in.

In a clean bowl, with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/3 cup (65 grams) white sugar and whip until stiff peaks form and the whites are glossy. Fold the whites into the egg yolk and flour mixture in three additions, mixing only until incorporated.

Transfer the batter to your pastry bag and, holding the bag at about a 45 degree angle to the baking sheet, pipe the batter into 3 inch (7.5 cm) long ladyfingers, using the lines drawn on the parchment paper as your guide. Space the ladyfingers about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.

When you have piped all the cookies, place the powdered sugar in a fine strainer, and lightly sift the sugar over the tops of the cookies. Bake for about 8 minutes or until the ladyfingers are firm but barely brown and are still soft and spongy when lightly pressed

Remove the baking sheets from the oven and immediately slide the parchment paper (with the ladyfingers) from the baking sheet onto a wire rack. Let the ladyfingers cool for a minute and then remove the ladyfingers from the parchment paper, using a flat spatula or knife, and let cool completely on a wire rack. (If you left them completely cool before removing them from the parchment they tend to stick and are hard to remove without breaking.) The ladyfingers are best the day they are made. So if not serving that day, it is best to freeze them. To freeze, place in a plastic bag between layers of wax or parchment paper and freeze up to one month.