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Delizia al limone
Lemon cream sponge domes
Delizia al limone: the Amalfi Coast's sponge domes soaked in lemon syrup and lemon cream
ItalianDelizia al limone was created in 1978 by a pastry chef in Sorrento and became the signature dessert of the Amalfi Coast: small domes of light sponge, filled and soaked with syrup made from the coast's huge, fragrant sfusato lemons, then covered in a lemon custard lightened with whipped cream. Traditionally the syrup includes limoncello; this version uses a lemon syrup so it is alcohol free. Chef's tip: soak the sponges generously but slowly with a spoon; they should be moist through without falling apart.
- Total time
- 85 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 4 eggs
- 4 oz caster sugar
- 2 ⅞ oz plain flour
- 1 ⅜ oz potato starch or cornflour
- 1 lemonzest only
For the lemon cream
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar
- 1 oz cornflour
- 2 unwaxed lemonszest and juice
- 1 ¼ cups double cream
For the syrup
- ¾ cup water
- 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Grease eight dome moulds or muffin holes. Whisk 4 eggs and 4 oz caster sugar for 8 minutes, until very thick and pale. Fold in 2 ⅞ oz plain flour, 1 ⅜ oz potato starch or cornflour and the zest of 1 lemon. Fill the moulds and bake for 15–18 minutes, until springy. Cool.
26 minStep 2: Heat 1 ¼ cups whole milk with the zest of 2 unwaxed lemons. Whisk 3 egg yolks, 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar and 1 oz cornflour, pour in the milk, return to the pan and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring, until thick. Stir in half of the lemon juice, cover and chill.
5 minStep 3: Boil ¾ cup water and 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar for 2 minutes, then add the rest of the lemon juice. Cool.
2 minStep 4: Whip 1 ¼ cups double cream to soft peaks. Fold half into the cold custard; mix the rest of the custard with a few spoonfuls of milk to a pouring cream. Common mistake: folding cream into warm custard; it melts and goes runny.
Step 5: Hollow the base of each sponge a little, fill with the thick lemon cream and turn dome side up. Soak each with the syrup, spoon by spoon.
Step 6: Coat with the pouring cream, chill for at least 2 hours, and serve cold.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does delizia al limone take?
- About 85 minutes in total: 60 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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