Pão de Ló

Name: Pão de Ló
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: Portuguese
Ingredients: 6 large eggs; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted; 1 tsp lemon zest, finely grated; 1/8 tsp kosher salt; 1 tbsp vegetable oil

A light Portuguese sponge cake made from whole eggs whipped with sugar until thick and airy, with flour folded in and no leavening. It is a classic from Portuguese convents and celebrations.

65 minMediumServes 10220 cal/serving

PortugueseDessertOvenVegetarianDairy-FreeNut-FreeShellfish-Free

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Ingredients

6 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions

1

Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with 1 tbsp vegetable oil, then line the bottom with parchment.
2

Set a pot of water to simmer. Whisk 6 large eggs and 1 cup granulated sugar in a heatproof bowl set over the water until warm to the touch, about 3 minutes.
3

Remove the bowl from the heat. Beat with an electric mixer on high 8 to 10 minutes, until pale, thick, and tripled in volume.
4

Gently fold in 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour, 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest, and 1/8 tsp kosher salt in two additions, keeping the air in the batter.
5

Pour into the pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes, until golden and a skewer comes out clean with the center reading 200°F. Cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a rack.

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Questions

What oven temperature does Pão de Ló need?

For Pão de Ló, the oven is set to 350 F (about 175 C) in step 1. The longest stretch at that heat is 40 minutes, in step 5. The oven is also used at 200 F (about 95 C) in step 5.

How do I know when Pão de Ló is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 3: cook until pale, thick, and tripled in volume. Step 5: cook until golden and a skewer comes out clean with the center reading 200°F.

Why fold instead of stir in Pão de Ló?

Step 4 reads: "Gently fold in 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour, 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest, and 1/8 tsp kosher salt in two additions, keeping the air in the batter." Folding keeps the air you just beat in. Stirring at step 4 would knock it out and the result would come out dense.

Do I need any special equipment for Pão de Ló?

Beyond a knife and a board, the method uses a hand mixer (step 3), skewers (step 5) and parchment paper (step 1). If you do not have one, a whisk and a few minutes of effort replace the electric mixer.

Can I make Pão de Ló gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Pão de Ló is 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Does Pão de Ló contain eggs?

Yes: 6 large eggs. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten and eggs. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

Serve it with

Strawberry Milkshake drink
Boulevardier drink

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