Pianono (Filipino Sponge Cake Roll)

admin Bread And Baked Goods Recipes Leave a comment

Pianono with soft, pillowy sponge cake and sweetened margarine filling is the perfect accompaniment to coffee or tea. This Filipino-style jelly roll is delicious for breakfast or midday snacks!

What is Pianono

Pianono or Pionono is a type of pastry popular in Spain, South America, and the Philippines. It was named after the late Pope Pius IX or ‘Pio Nono’ as the good people of Italy called him, where the Pope hailed. However, the original creator of Pionono is from Santa Fe, Granada of Spain, Ceferino Ysla Gonzalez, who is a devotee of the Virgin Mary.

The story says that years after Pope Pius IX proclaimed a dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Gonzalez decided to pay homage by creating these mini bite-size cakes shaped in the likeness of the Pope and named them after him.

The Filipino version

Like its Spanish and South American counterparts, wherein bread or pastry dough is rolled around various fillings, the Filipino-style Pianono is a jelly roll consisting of a soft, pillowy sponge cake wrapped around a mixture of margarine and sugar. It’s also often adapted to include local flavors such as ube, mango, and mocha.

folding the meringue into the yolk batter

Use of cornstarch

Pianono cakes are soft and airy and the key to this light texture is using cake flour due to its low protein content.

But since cake flour is not a pantry staple in most kitchens, this recipe uses a mix of cornstarch and all-purpose flour for convenience. Part of the all-purpose flour is replaced with cornstarch to inhibit the formation of gluten in the all-purpose flour, resulting in a more tender crumb.

A sponge cake like this Filipino jelly roll is mostly leavened by eggs. The whites are whipped to incorporate air before baking and then gently folded into the yolk batter, giving the cake a lift.

Tips On Making Meringue

Eggs are easier to separate when cold, but allow the egg whites to reach room temperature before whisking to create more volume.
Use eggs that are fresh if possible, they might not create as much volume as older (3-5 day-old) eggs, but they make a more stable meringue.
Make sure there is not a speck of grease, fat, or even a smear of yolk in the whites, which will prevent them from foaming properly.
For best results, use clean, grease-free bowls and whisk attachments. Use glass or metal bowls as plastic can have a greasy film that will keep the whites from whipping up to full volume.
Avoid using high speed while whisking or beating the whites. As it incorporates more air and creates larger bubbles, it tends to deflate the meringue during or after baking.

Stages of whipping egg whites

As a guideline, here are visual examples of each step.

Frothy Stage-mixture is a foamy and cloudy liquid with large bubbles.

Soft Peaks Stage-egg whites have a slight sheen and fine-textured bubbles. Peaks begin to form when beaters are pulled from the foam but are too delicate to hold shape.

Stiff Peaks Stage-mixture is glossy, thick, and very stiff. Peaks hold up straight without collapsing.

slice of sponge roll cake on a blue plate

How to serve and store

Slice into portions and serve for breakfast or midday snack with coffee, tea, or your favorite refreshment.
To prevent the cake from drying out, transfer to an airtight container or wrap in cling wrap. Stored properly, it will keep at room temperature for up 3 days.
For longer storage, wrap the cake tightly with plastic film to lock in moisture and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to eat.

Want more delectable jelly roll treats? Try this brazo de Mercedes!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @kawalingpinoy on Facebook and Instagram!