Mother's Day Cake Recipe: Coffee Sponge Cake

Aimee Seavey

The warm weather has arrived, and the change in season has many of us throwing open our windows, filling vases with tulips and forsythia, and digging out our sneakers for an after-supper stroll around the neighborhood. Breathing in the clean, fresh air sure feels good.

Another way we welcome the warm weather is with our taste buds, leaning away from winter’s soups, casseroles, and rich desserts for lighter fare like salads, grilled veggies, and airy desserts complemented with citrus, berries or fresh whipped cream.

Sponge cakes are wonderful in the spring and summer, and I particularly love this coffee version for Mother’s Day. Mom deserves a special treat, but since May is too early for fresh berries (my favorite way to dress up a dessert), the subtle aroma and flavor of coffee really make it something special.

Photo: Aimee Seavey

Sponge cakes get their lift from pillowy mounds of meringue-like, foamy beaten egg whites, which are gently folded into the cake batter.