March 18, 2011

A Lemon Sponge Pudding to die for!




In these busy weeks I tend to bake with whatever I have available in the fridge. Doing with what you have available is, I believe, a great skill. It also forces me to “keep it simple”. Sometimes I find recipes that make me drool as soon as I see the picture but then I get to the list of ingredients only to discover that they require some weird ingredient or a long list of ingredients and/or steps to be made. In these days, I really have no time for complicated recipes so I put those in my wish-to-bake-soon list and I move ahead…not knowing if or when I will be able to make them.

When I stumbled upon this Lemon Sponge Pudding at Joy of Baking, the opposite happened. I fell in love with the concepts of the recipe and when I went to look at the ingredients list and method I could not believe how doable this recipe was with things that everybody always has at home! (p.s. I omitted the cream of tartar of the original recipe because I did not have it at home and everything still worked fine. So you see? Everybody will have all the other ingredients at home!)

On top of it, going through the post I read this sentence What is so unique about this Lemon Sponge Pudding is what happens as it bakes - the batter separates into two layers. The top layer becomes a light and airy sponge cake, yet underneath is a deliciously tangy lemon sauce”. I knew I could not put this recipe in my list and forget about it. I had to make it! Immediately! So I did.

It was love at first sight. And at first bite!



I apologize if the pudding doesn’t look perfectly shaped but I had to unmold it and show you all this “underneath lemon sauce”. It created this juice layer that tasted just heaven in my mouth.

This dessert is a winner for all those who, like me, love lemon flavored desserts. If you are not a big lemon or citrus flavor fan, then this is not really for you…sorry J


Lemon Sponge Pudding
Ingredients
Makes 4 individual puddings

140 g (4.9 oz) sugar
30 g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs, separated
5ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract
5 g (1 tsp) lemon zest
30 g (1.13 oz or ¼ cup) all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
60 ml (2 fl oz or ¼ cup) fresh lemon juice
160 ml (5.4 fl oz or a bit less than ¾ cup) whole milk


Method

Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees F and butter 4 ramekins.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the sugar (minus two tbsp to be used to whip the egg whites) and the butter until light and fluffy.

Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and beat until they are well incorporated. Beat in the vanilla extract and the lemon zest.

Add the flour and the salt and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually pour in the lemon juice and the milk. Set aside while you beat the egg whites.

In a clean bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the egg whites until you obtain soft peaks, then gradually add the remaining 2 tbsp of sugar and keep beating until you obtain stiff peaks.

Gently fold the egg whites into the batter, in three additions, mixing only until incorporated. The batter will be very liquid. I was concerned I did something wrong but don’t get scared! It’s fine!

Carefully pour the batter into the prepared ramekins. Place the ramekins in a large baking pan and pour in enough hot water so that the water is halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Bake for about 40 - 45 minutes or until the sponge cakes are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out clean. 

When ready, remove the ramekins from the water bath and cool slightly before serving. If you want to unmold them, let them cool completely before trying to do so.


Source: adapted from Joy of Baking

36 comments:

  1. Ok, anything with a "to die for" recommendation from you is a hit in my book!! I love lemon, and I can just imagine the lemon flavors oozing out of that juice layer... the top looks simply luscious! This is on my list!!!

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  2. My hubby would kill for this dessert! I may have to surprise him :)

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  3. This sounds so good! That lemon sauce layer would definitely pique my interest too.

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  4. That looks simply amazing! I love this idea, and the fresh lemon... Just makes me excited for spring!

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  5. I love lemon desserts and these look great. You are so right, I do have all of these ingredients at home right now. I may have to double the recipe because I don't think 4 will be enough :)

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  6. as a huge lemon fan, thank you for this!!

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  7. My husband loves anything lemon, and so do I. Lemon speaks of Spring to me, and we need Spring here!

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  8. Hi, I have recently found your lovely site. Everything always looks so scrumptious! I have an old school scale I have not used very often, and my family eats gluten free, so I will give this a try. If it works, I will do a post with a link back to your site, thanks for sharing!

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  9. Oh my goodness does this lemon sponge pudding look amazing. I love lemon desserts and wish I had some of this right now! I'm going to have to try this recipe, my mama adores lemon desserts too. :)

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  10. Sara, I'm definitely making this. I'm with you on baking with what's available at home. My last cake used up what I already had in the kitchen. This one looks so good that I would buy the ingredients to make it. It's a bonus that I do, in fact, have everything available already. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us. I love that you unmolded it so we can see the two layers.

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  11. Lemons were on sale at Pedrick's yesterday - now I know what to do with them. This looks amazing!

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  12. Anything with lemon in my book is "too die for".
    I can just imagine how delish this is and light! Yummy!!!

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  13. This does look so simple and simply wonderful! My daddy would love it if I baked it for him!! Buon Weekend!:)

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  14. Wonderful treat. It looks like it would hit the spot.

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  15. Ah OMG! Lemon sponge pudding is one of my FAVOURITE desserts from my childhood and here is a super easy recipe just BEGGING to be made. They look fabulous!

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  16. oh my, I love lemon desserts and your sponge pudding sounds amazing and refreshing. thanks for sharing.
    hope you'll get some rest soon.

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  17. I love recipes that can be made easily because the ingredients are all in the kitchen. This one looks like a winner for that reasons...and the lemon flavor! Yum :)

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  18. hi Sara

    I love lemons and I still have a bag of meyer lemons in the fridge. Those lemon sponge looks so very very good with that creamy topping....its amazing how it separates when baking!
    hope you are having a happy weekend
    Dennis

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  19. Oh my! My my this looks lovely! Thanks for sharing! ♥- Katrina

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  20. I want to go home right now and make these!!

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  21. This is for me! This is for me! This is for me! I am one of those who love lemon. But, of course, you already know that. :)

    Hugs, my friend.

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  22. This looks amazing! I am in love with anything lemon right now, and your pudding looks so decadent...soft at the top and cakey at the bottom! Heavenly!

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  23. I've gotten so I love anything lemon. Your pudding looks delish! Great job!

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  24. Oh honey, it LOOKS to die for. Seriously. I'm a sucker for creamy citrus treats.

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  25. I have to make this for my family... spring always brings visions of lemons and this looks delish! Thanks for sharing!

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  26. This sounds absolutely fabulous and super springtime :) I love lemon flavored desserts once it gets a little warm out! I can't wait to give this a go!

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  27. How cool that it makes two layers! I love lemon and this looks so amazing!

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  28. For sure I could die for it !! yuuummmmyyyy !!!!

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  29. Sara, as a "slightly" lemon obsessed dessert lover these little delicious looking gems would certainly hit the spot. YUM!

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  30. My my, does this sound wonderful! I believe it's a must try for any lemon lover!

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  31. I am absolutely a lemon lover! I love your picture at the top of your blog as well!

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  32. I made your lemon sponge pudding. It was indeed to die for! I will certainly make it again. I made a picture of it and put de recipe on my blog, referring to your site.
    greatings from Holland, Caroline

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  33. Hi Caroline, I'm glad you like it! I've heard several people now who tried this recipe and loved it so I really feel confident it's a keeper :)

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