Let’s give some new form and flavor to the traditional lemon sponge cake with a quick and simple Lemon Sponge Pie recipe. The form and fluff of this pie are what make it a must-have for any table. This pie has been beloved for ages for its inviting and inspiring flavor.
It is a perfect blend of soft and moist filling with a crunchy crispy crust at the bottom.
You can practically create any variety of flavor by changing the ingredients of the filling. If you have a sweet tooth, make a sugary sweet filling with loads of cream. However, you can also dial down the sweetness as per your preference. Sponge pie is different from the rest, due to the super fluffy texture of its filling. Every bite of this pie feels like pure pleasure. Then again, you can add any flavors to a sponge pie as desired.
Lemon sponge pie is one of its amazing derivations. You have probably have tried it at some restaurant or a formal dinner, but this time you can try it in your home by following a few simple cooking steps to bring a few basic baking ingredients together in balance and proportion.
Lemon Sponge Pie
The filling to crust proportion for lemon sponge pie is a lot greater than most other pies. You will witness a large volume of spongy filling covering the whole thin crust.
The secret behind this fluff lies in one simple word: ‘eggs.’
That’s right! Good use of whisked eggs along with other ingredients makes this pie very spongy. If you are an expert at baking, you would know this. Beaten eggs, when baked, kind of traps air bubbles in the batter which results in a sponge-like texture. When baked the pie also gets a very tempting golden brown color on top.
Experts may vary in their method of baking the lemon sponge pie, or the proportion of the ingredients used. However, the list of the items remains the same.
One crust, either store-bought or homemade, along with eggs, milk, sugar, flour, lemon juice or essence and a pinch of salt. Keep this list in mind if you are planning to bake a perfect flavory lemon pie for your family.
Many people get confused between a simple lemon sponge pie and the Amish version of it. Let me clear you up on that; there is no marked difference between the two.
In fact, the recipes are the same. Due to its Amish origin, lemon sponge pie is often associated with its Amish name. There is a only a minute difference in the texture of this pie, as it is softer and contains bit more fat than an ordinary sponge pie.
Nutritional Values of Lemon Sponge Pie
Health concerns are natural when you are thinking about any recipe. Especially for those struggling with obesity, hypertension, heart complexities or other ailments. That is why it is important to look into the relevant nutritional information before going for the actual recipe.
Since lemon sponge pie does not make use of cream, cheese or any other high-fat ingredients, its fat and cholesterol content is quite low. It is, therefore, suitable for anyone having issues with the cholesterol. Carbohydrates, however, are present in a great amount. If you are cutting it down, then substitute sugar with low carb alternatives like swerving, stevia, erythritol, etc. This will bring down the carbs to a desirable level.
Besides these macronutrients, there is protein, vitamins, iron, and potassium. Each serving of lemon sponge pie contains about 307 calories.
The following table will illustrate the detailed account of how the nutritional values of a lemon sponge pie can offer you 307 calories per serving. Other than that, you will intake 8 g of fat, 54g of carbohydrates and 4 grams of protein. It has low sodium and high sugar.
When to Enjoy Sponge Pie?
Pie of all sorts are loved and enjoyed by people of all ages and places. No menu is complete without a pie on the table. If you are bored with the traditional pie recipes and want to explore something new and exciting then trying a sponge pie isn’t a bad idea.
Its super fluffy texture will make you go crazy. Trust me! I’ve seen people react this way about a nicely baked sponge pie, especially when it is filled with juicy and creamy lemon filling. Here are few ways to experience the magic of this pie:
- After meal dessert: Since this pie is easy to store in the refrigerator without the loss of texture or softness, it can be served as an after-meal dessert. Bake it once and enjoy it for the rest of the week if you live all by yourself.
- Savory breakfast: The fun thing about lemon sponge pie is that you can practically turn it into any flavor desired. You can keep it completely sweet or entirely sugar-free. Both varieties can be served as a morning meal. A slice in the morning is enough to give your day a kick start. It is usually best to keep its makings ready in the fridge ahead of time to bake whenever you get a craving.
- Evening snack time: The light fluff of this pie makes it an excellent snack. Just a small slice is enough to make a good pair with coffee or tea. This combination is amazing when you are tired working and crave something savory with that cup of coffee or tea.
- Party Meal: Sliced sponge pies are great to rock the world of party menus. They are quick and easy to serve and go deliciously with other party snacks. You can add different toppings to make the taste yummier and more exciting.
Lemon Sponge Pie Recipe
This basic lemon sponge pie recipe is the most commonly used around the world. It makes good use of lemon juice to add a savory citrus sting to the pie. You can also switch to lemon essence or add some lemon zest to infuse a stronger taste to the filling.
Avoid overbaking the pie. Otherwise, it will lose its fluffy texture and will end up being too dry. When cooled well, the pie tastes absolutely delicious.
You can also store the batter in the refrigerate as a make-ahead for a few hours at least or a day at most. Keep the batter covered while it is in the refrigerator.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust homemade or store-bought
- 3 eggs separated, yolks from whites, separated
- 2/3 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
First, switch on your oven and set the temperature to 350 degrees. Let your oven preheat until the pie is ready to bake. It’s time to roll the pie crust or pie dough on a floured surface. Spread this dough into a 10-inch circle. Place the rolled pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate.
Now place this pie plate on a large baking sheet. If you are using store-bought frozen pie crust, remember to thaw it before use. Crack eggs in a bowl while separating egg yolks from the egg whites. Beat egg whites only in an electric mixer until it forms stiff, white peaks. Set the foamy egg white mixture aside.
Beat egg yolks with milk and lemon juice using a hand blender until well mixed. Stir in flour, salt, and sugar. Beat again until the batter is smooth.
It’s about time to fold in the foamy egg whites. Stir the mixture gently using a spatula. Make sure to avoid any white streaks or lumps in the batter. Pour this smooth batter into the pie plate lined with pie crust. Spread the batter evenly in the crust.
Bake the pie for 50 minutes until golden brown on top. Once done, allow the pie to cool at room temperature. Refrigerate the pie for 3 hours then garnish with whipped cream or as desired. Slice, serve and enjoy.
Lemon Sponge pie Amish
Lemon sponge pie originally came from the Amish. It was later adopted into other culinary cultures. The modern-day Lemon sponge pie is not entirely Amish. It has changed in form and content over the years. That is why the traditional Amish one is a bit different from today. The difference is mainly because of the richness of the content.
The traditional version has more butter. With the addition of the butter, the filling of this pie tastes softer and earthier. A tablespoon of butter makes this pie distinct from other sponge pies. Bake well until the pie is set and brown on top.
Allow it to cool well before serving. Layer the top with whipped cream toppings or your favorite fruits to make it more tempting.
Fluffy Lemon Pie
If you are not up for baking a pie and spending an hour just to enjoy some savory lemon flavor, then any fluffy lemon pie works to add to the table as well.
A simple lemon pie is not a sponge pie, but rather a no-bake version of it, which can give you a quick go-to option when you are not ready or well prepared ahead of time. This pie is equally fluffy and tastes roughly the same. The graham cracker crust adds crisp to the pie. It has to be chilled well until the filling is set in the crust.
Serve immediately to get the most out of it. This no-bake version of lemon pie uses graham crackers with butter to make the crust while the filling is prepared out of lemon extract and cream cheese or cream. Since this pie is not subjected to baking, it is more fluffy and softer than the baked sponge pie. Quick and easy, this pie is a must-try for every table.
Conclusion
Admit it! Rich, healthy, inviting and nourishing dessert is all you can ask for yourself and your family. Lemon sponge pie is the one option that guarantees luscious flavor and mouth-pleasing texture. A pie is known for the richness of its filling, and if it also comes with a perfectly crunchy base crust, it becomes an irresistible treat for all.
The article here has discussed the basic recipe of Lemon sponge pie, but cooking can be as creative as you want it to be. Play with the ingredients a bit and bring variety as you like. Experiment! But be careful of appropriate cooking time and the consistency of the batter prepared for the filling. With the right approach and correct understanding of the proportions used, you can too make the best of the sponge pie in your home.
