Preheat the broiler.

Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake pan or springform pan.

Line the pan with parchment paper and butter the paper.

Set the prepared pan aside.

In a small bowl, combine the ground nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mace, cardamom, ginger, and anise.

Set the spice mixture aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the softened butter, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until light and fluffy.

Add the egg yolks and beat until the mixture is smooth.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold the all-purpose flour into the batter using a rubber spatula.

In a clean bowl, using clean beaters, beat the egg whites with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar until stiff peaks form.

Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the egg yolk mixture, being careful not to overmix.

Divide the batter between 2 bowls.

Add the combined spices to 1 bowl and stir well to combine.

Pour about 1/2 cup of the spiced batter into the prepared pan, spreading to form a thin, even layer.

Place the pan under the preheated broiler for 2 minutes, or until the layer is firm and very lightly browned.

Remove the pan from the oven and spread about 1/2 cup of the plain batter over the top of the spiced layer.

Broil until the plain layer is firm and very lightly browned.

Repeat the layering process with the spiced and plain batters, broiling each layer until all the batter is used.

Cool the cake on a wire rack, then turn it out from the pan.

Place the cake on a cake plate and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Thinly slice and serve warm or at room temperature.