Lemon Sponge Pie
Germanus, 31 July 2026
Lemons typically need to grow at a minimum temperature of 45 F, but that has not deterred many Pennsylvania Dutch folks from trying their hand at growing them.
Johannes Schneider, as an example, nurtured a lemon tree for around forty years in Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County. It sold as part of his estate in 1865 for $14 (about $280 today) with nearly 300 lemons on it.¹
Like many other fruits, the sunny lemon has found its way into that noble Pennsylvania Dutch institution: PIE. And it is one of my favorite pies.
Lemon Sponge Pie looks to descend from some nineteenth century Lemon Sponge Cake recipes in the Dutch Country. This one from Lititz is similar, though I’ve not yet made it.
A nineteenth century recipe for Lemon Sponge Cake²
Plenty of cakes found their ways into pie shells among the Pennsylvania Dutch, and its in that form that we know it best today. A creamy lemony-curdy custard settled at the bottom, a fluffy sponge layer on top, and a dark brown exterior are all things that make Lemon Schwamm a tasty treat.
The recipe I’m sharing here is from the beautiful Oley Valley in Berks County:
1 c sugar
1 T butter
3 T flour
1 lemon
3 eggs (separated)
1 c milk
1 unbaked 9” pie shell
Beat the egg whites. Cream together the sugar and butter. Stir in beaten egg yolk, flour, grated lemon rind, lemon juice, and milk. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then 20 minutes at 325 degrees. The top should be dark brown.
Lemon Schwamm Boi
Based on the photo, I’m not winning any decorative crust awards from Martha Stewart. I prefer the unfussy crimping that my grandmother did with the tines of a fork.
I usually yearn for lemons most in midwinter, when their bright yellow color and bright taste are a welcome sight and taste on gray days. So, make sure to have this recipe in the wings till then.
Notes
¹ “Go in Lemons!,” Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, Mar 14, 1865, p. 2.
² “Lemon Sponge Cake,” The Lititz Express, December 22, 1883, p. A2.