Who can resist delicate, super fluffy sponge cake layered with Mascarpone cream and lemon curd that balances all the flavors? Impossible!
This cake it perfect for a big celebration or just as a simple weekend treat for yourself 😉
Both Mascarpone cream and lemon-orange curd are super simple to make.
Sponge cake base might seem a bit more trickier but there’s seriously nothing to worry about.
If you follow the recipe to a T you’ll have a perfect sponge cake every single time.
Here’s THE BEST plain Sponge Cake recipe where I talked about do’s and don’ts in detail.
Happy baking!
Full Recipe
Layer Cake with Mascarpone and Lemon Curd
Ingredients
For the sponge cake base (9 inch pan)
- 5 eggs room temperature
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup corn starch
- 1 lemon zest only
- Pinch of salt
- Butter + some more flour for the baking pan
- 9-inch baking pan
For lemon curd:
- 1 ½ cup lemon + orange juice (3 oranges, 1 lemon)
- 3 tablespoon corn starch
- 3 tablespoon heavy cream
- ¼ cup sugar (more to taste)
For Mascarpone cream:
- 8 oz Mascarpone cheese
- 2 cups whipping cream
- ½ cup confectioners sugar
Instructions
Sponge Cake Base
- Preheat oven to 320F.
- Beat eggs with a pinch of salt until foamy. Start adding sugar a few tablespoons at a time. Add next portion once previous sugar has been dissolved.
- Continue beating egg and sugar mix for 10 more minutes (should take around 15 minutes total). Stand mixer will be handy.
- Mix corn starch with flour.Sift in corn starch and flour mix into the beaten eggs. Fold it gently moving your spatula from the bottom to the top. Once first portion of flour mix is incorporated, add in another portion. Continue until you have used all the mix.As a result you should get very light and airy batter.
- Grease and flour the baking pan, remove access flour.Pour in the sponge cake batter into a baking pan. Level with a spatula if needed.
- Bake in a preheated to 320F oven for 40-50 minutes.
- Do a toothpick test at 40 minute mark. If toothpick come out dry (not sticky and without any crumbs on it) sponge cake is ready. Otherwise leave for another 5-10 minutes.
- Let the cake cool in the pan. Remove from the pan. Using a cotton thread or a big bread knife cut the cut horizontally in half.
Lemon Curd
- Squeeze juice from 3 oranges and 1 lemon. Add a bit of water if needed to make it to 1½ cup.
- Mix together granulated sugar and corn starch.
In a small stove-top pot add juice, corn starch and sugar mix. Whisk well until smooth and lumps free mix. Heat on a stove-top whisking continuously until the mixture thickens. - Let the curd cool. Add in 2-3 tablespoons on whipping cream until medium thick consistency. Whisk well.
Mascarpone Cream:
- Beat Mascarpone cheese. In a separate bowl beat whipping cream with confectioners sugar.
- Mix whipped cream with Mascarpone cheese, adding a few tablespoons at a time.
Assemble the cake:
- Add a spoon of Mascarpone cream in the center of a serving plate if you want to prevent the cake from moving.
- Set first layer of sponge biscuit. Add half of Mascarpone cream, top with half lemon curd.
- Cover with the second sponge cake layer and repeat the process.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Want to get really naughty? Brush sponge layers with limoncello liquore before assembling the cake.
Or drink a plain shot right after the cake 😉
Italians call it “digestivo”. And it’s not an excuse - a shot of good quality alcohol (especially homemade) really helps digest better.
Now YOU.
Do you like limoncello in the cake or on the side? 😃And seriously, how do you like Mascarpone and lemon curd pairing in the cake?
margaret voorhaar
sigh.
I did not see that you had altered your print recipe, so tried with 1/2 tsp of corn starch. what a mess.
Also, you did not mention to divide the flour/corn starch BEFORE putting it in the egg mixture.
Italian Recipe Book
Hey Margaret, yes, I've fixed the amount of corn starch when I replied to your first question. Sorry it was not updated for you. As to the flours/corn starch, there's no need to divide them. In fact you should MIX them before adding to the eggs as directed in the recipe. Hope you can give this delicious cake another try.
margaret voorhaar
untried. How much corn starch?????
Italian Recipe Book
Hey Margaret, thanks for stopping by 🙂 Fro 5 eggs you'll need 1/2 cup corn starch.