Lemon Sponge Cups

Emily Rees Nunn

Food52

"This is what to make when you’re in need of something that’s just the right amount of impressive. A twist on a classic lemon pudding cake, these sponge cups are a little like a layman’s soufflé, using some similar processes like: beating the separated eggs for the batter and baking the cups in a water bath. When these little light-as-air cakes—each in a pool of lemony custard, come out of the oven, you’ll feel accomplished. You’ll know they were a breeze to make, but no one else has to."—Emily Rees Nunn, Food52 Baking and The Comfort Food Diaries

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • Thin slices of lemon, for garnish

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Put the butter, sugar, flour, lemon zest and juice, and salt in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer or creaming vigorously with a wooden spoon, beat until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is thoroughly mixed.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Add the milk and whisk until smooth. Gradually stir this into the butter-sugar mixture, whisking by hand as you pour.

Put the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl. Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or whisking vigorously by hand, whip the whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the sugar mixture. Since the sugar mixture is loose and liquidy, your batter might be a bit lumpy after folding in the egg whites—do not be alarmed.

Pour the mixture into four to six ramekins or individual soufflé dishes. Put them in baking pan and pour in enough hot water to reach about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 45 minutes; when done, the sponge cups will be lightly browned on top, with a layer of lemon custard beneath.

Let the cups cool slightly before serving, either in the ramekins or turned out onto serving plates. Garnish each with a slice of lemon.

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(This recipe originally appeared in The Comfort Food Diaries by Emily Rees Nunn.)

https://www.jamesbeard.org/index.php/recipes/lemon-sponge-cups