The cake has no fat or oil content and is predominately a whipped egg white and egg yolk light cake that absorbs flavored easily when served with fruits, drowned in liqueurs, or simply delicious with some jam.
A tender cake as it sounds due to its light texture, the cake is very sold in many bakeries
We prefer the cake with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream but the cake is great with a dusting of powdered sugar and has a fresh lovely lemony taste.
Only on a special birthday would Grandma split the layers and add an Italian homemade pastry cream to the layers, recipe is also included below.
Scroll down to get Grandma's vintage printable recipe.
Easy and Homemade Scratch Cake Steps
These are simple steps and have proven to be effective for years by just combining wet and dry ingredients gently for the best results.
Over mixing will ruin the tenderness, so please read the recipe before starting to mix the ingredients together.
Folding the two well-beaten eggs separately is key to the success of sponge cakes.
Ingredients You Will Need To Make
Scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements
- flour
- baking powder
- salt
- egg whites
- egg yolks
- sugar
- water
- cornstarch
- lemon flavoring
- lemon zest
Tips
- use parchment paper to line pans is a best practice for us
- keep the cake in the refrigerator to prevent mold on any fruits lightly covered
- use the toothpick method in the center to make sure it's finished baking
- use any size baking pans round, loaf, springform, angel food cake pan etc.
- the cake is great plain with a dusting of powdered sugar
- always wash and blot fruit dry first before adding
- cool completely before cutting cake or filling separately with wax paper
- the cake is great served with whipped cream
Fruit Suggestions
- Diced Mango
- Chopped Apples
- Diced Fresh Cherries
- Diced Peaches
- Chopped Pears
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries chopped
Pin for later
Making Italian Sponge Cake from Scratch
- Remember a few things about making sponge cake from scratch
- it takes time so have patience
- always use good grade fresh eggs at room temperature they whip up better
- always sift the flour
- preheating the oven first is a must
- make sure your baking powder is new and not old
- enjoy Grandma's recipe and happy baking!
Grandma Italian Spongecake
Yield: 12
Prep time: 16 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 Hour
This is a delicious easy sponge cake and the recipe is from the early 1900s when grandma would make this for special occasions. It's light in lemon flavor and perfect with fresh fruits.
Ingredients
- Cake Batter
- 6 eggs separated
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cup sifted flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- pinch a salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon flavoring
- 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
- (optional)
- Dark rum to your preference pour over the bottom layer
- See below for the Italian Pastry Cream recipe Grandma would fill the cake layers with for special occasions
Instructions
- Beat whites until very stiff, set aside.
- Beat yolks in a separate bowl until thick and lemon-colored.
- Add sugar, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, sifted flour, and flavoring.
- Fold in egg whites.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Pan recommendations:
- Use two small 8 inch rounds, or a brownie pan for tiramisu do not grease the sides of the pan just the bottom only.
- You can also use a tube pan if you just want a plain cake with no fillings or topping.
- Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or till brown. Cool.
- Your cake is now ready for your favorite creation.
- Grandma would pour straight rum on the first layer, you can see some of it in the picture above.
- Then top with fresh fruit of choice her actual favorite was either peaches or pineapple.
- Suggested fruits would be pineapple, peaches, strawberries, blueberry, cherries, red or blackberry, banana, or just plain with powdered sugar or whipped cream.
- Cake can be baked, split in half then filled with pastry cream
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 teaspoons dark rum
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 egg yolks
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Filling: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and vanilla to a boil.
- In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the cornstarch and whisk vigorously until no lumps remain.
- Whisk in 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture until incorporated with milk and vanilla.
- Whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture.
- Using strainer into the saucepan, pour the mixture through a strainer back into the saucepan.
- Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and slowly boiling.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and rum Let cool slightly.
- Chill at least 2 hours
- Fill cake layer. Top with whipped cream.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
252.14Fat (grams)
4.31Sat. Fat (grams)
1.29Carbs (grams)
45.97Fiber (grams)
0.49Net carbs
45.48Sugar (grams)
29.84Protein (grams)
5.71Sodium (milligrams)
175.41Cholesterol (grams)
111.09Pin for later
More of Grandma's Recipes
Grandma's Bread Pudding
Grandma's Rice Pudding
I love the pictures with the whisk. Looks so good!
ReplyDeletelooks so fine!a great treat for 4'th of july!
ReplyDeleteI love all kinds of foam cakes! I shall try using some dark rum to saok the cake next time. It sounds really wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, your the photo grandmother's picture is so tender ^_^ The cake is wonderful and looks so deliciuos. Grandmothers' recipes never wrong. Bye bye :X
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are lovely and the cake looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteOh Claudia, I want to use this cake to make that cream filled rum cake like you used to get with Grandma Victoria. That sounds so wonderful. I have a big bottle of aged rum too...
ReplyDeleteHmmm?
This look delicious!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is precious! I'm loving all the photos, wishing the cake was on a plate on my lap! The fruit is even a bonus (and the rum... hehe)
ReplyDeleteViciously scrumptious Claudia!!
ReplyDeleteRich and creamy cake - love it :)
All the best,
Gera
Beautiful memories of your Grandma! And a beautiful cake! I bet the rum made it extra special.
ReplyDeleteOh man Claudia I can see a bit of Grandma Victoria in your face! And for sure her cooking spirit. What a beautiful photo and wonderful post! Hope you have a Happy 4th ♥ Redkathy
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious Claudia...I've been looking for a good sponge cake recipe. Will definately give this one a try. Thanks!1
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're all set for a tasty 4th!!
ReplyDeletenot just for the 4th... any day is a rum day, right - this just sounds like a wonderful cake, cake wait to try it out too, boy are you keeping me busy,,,,
ReplyDeleteI love Grandma's glasses and I love her cake. I do remember when the cream rose to the top. And I adore that she continued to love that delicious rum-soaked cake all of her life. My Grandmother was very patriotic on July 4th and kept her American citizenship papers close to her heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story. There is nothing like a grandmothers cooking. I have fond memories of my great grandmother all 4'11" of her and the delicious aromas coming from her kitchen. Great recipe!
ReplyDeleteA great recipe and fantastic pictures! I would love to try this - thanks for sharing your grandmother's recipe!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great 4th July!
Looks like Grandma had a great recipe for Victoria Sponge! Your cake came out wonderful, the dark run was very nice addition!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing some memories with of of your grandma.
Have a safe and happy fourth!
Dennis
Happy 4th of July! Beautiful cake. My grandmother says that rum is good for the complexion especially with you soak sultanas in rum.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of your grandmother's very nice and tender!!!...mmm...the cake is very good...kiss, Luciana
ReplyDeleteLoved the cake! Your grandma looks so adorable, she seems like she was the sweetest lady!
ReplyDeleteI was going though the Foodbuzz posts and realized that I missed this recipe. I need a good sponge recipe and this looks really delicious.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Patricia
Una sponge cake che é una vera poesia...bravissimissimaaaaa!!!
ReplyDeleteUn caro abbraccio e felice week-end!
Laura<3<3<3
My parents had Italian sponge cake at their wedding sixty years ago. The bakery that made it has long since closed. I used your recipe to recreate their wedding cake for their anniversary party and it was a huge hit - my dad said it tasted exactly the same, down to the hint of lemon. Molte grazie for making their day!
ReplyDeleteThank you we love her recipe its easy and delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this recipe! The cake sounds so flavorful with lemon zest in it.
ReplyDeleteGranma's recipes are the best! such a wonderful recipe!Loved the photos!
ReplyDeleteThis cake is light and fluffy! Perfect with fresh berries and whipped cream!
ReplyDeleteI love a good sponge cake, and I am definitely going to give this one a go! Thank you so much for this recipe :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so delicious, we'll have to make it soon! Grandma knows best :)
ReplyDeleteThis cake is so delicious and fluffy. Perfect for this weekend and I can’t wait to share this recipe with my family. Everyone is going to love thus!
ReplyDelete- Beth
This Italian sponge cake is by far one of the best I have ever tasted! I have had several. My husband is from Italy and said,” mi piace .. la faro ancora” Thank you for all the pointers and photos with your recipe. All so important to achieve the results. Simplicity & patience.
ReplyDelete