Ready to eat a sponge?

Your first thought surrounding the sponge is probably the scrubbing sponge or bath sponge. Neither of these would be very appetizing. Then, there are the sea sponges from which the idea of scrubbing or bathing with a sponge was popularized by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Of course, these sea 'animals' are also not for ingesting. So-o-o-o-o, what is on the menu for celebration that is related to the sponge?

August 23 is...

National Sponge Cake Day

Delicious American Sponge Cake Recipe

What is sponge cake? Springy, full of holes? In a sense, yes. Sponge cake has a firm, yet well aerated structure, similar to a sea sponge. It is a cake based on flour, sugar and eggs. There are some occasions when it is leavened with baking powder. Traditionally, there is no addition of cooking oil, shortening or butter.

Believed to have originated in the Caribbean, the earliest English printed recipe for sponge cake is in the 1615 book of English poet and author Gervase Markham entitled: “The English Huswife, Containing the Inward and Outward Virtues Which Ought to Be in a Complete Woman”.

~Recipe Time~

Victoria Sponge with Fresh Strawberries Recipe

  Ah, good old Queen Victoria and her penchant for a bit of sponge cake with her afternoon tea! There is nothing quite as classically British, quite as light and summery, quite as ridiculously easy to make than this delicious combination of butter sponge, jam and cream.

 Victoria Sponge Cupcakes Recipe 

Adorable light and airy sponge cupcakes filled with raspberry jam and topped with buttercream frosting.

 

 Japanese sponge cake is very light and fluffy.  It is a very important component for Japanese Western-style sweets.

The beauty of the sponge cake is the many added variations on the timeless classic. What may begin as basic ends most surprisingly when you dress it up with your passion!

 

Sponge Cake Genoise Recipe

One type of Italian sponge cake known as genoise is far lighter and more subtly sweet than your average store-bought cake. This delicate, melt-in-your-mouth sponge is a more balanced complement to strawberries and other spring fruits.

A favorite Italian dessert is Tiramisu. Ditch the ladyfingers! Substitute a moist sponge cake roll filled and topped with classic tiramisu filling, made with egg yolks and mascarpone! Plus, decorating tutorial! This simple yet elegant dessert is perfect for a special occasion dinner!

Orange Sponge Cake Recipe

A bit of the citrus adds flair and flavor perfect for a hot summer day. Florida oranges, mandarin oranges, lemon curd, lemon zest, key limes cut through the sweetness of the cake providing a little tanginess and balance to the taste palette.

yum, yum, yum . . . yummy!