The term French Sponge Cake is composed of two words: BABA and GATEAU. BABA is a type of small, cylindrical cake made with yeast dough that is soaked in rum syrup. It originated in the Middle East and is popular in many European countries. GATEAU is a French word for cake. It is usually a light, airy cake made with eggs, sugar, and flour. French Sponge Cake is a combination of these two cakes, with the BABA providing a moist, spongy texture and the GATEAU providing a light, fluffy texture.