Spongy Queque: Easy Latin American Pound Cake with Citrus Zest 2026

Queque esponjoso is what much of Latin America and the Canary Islands call a simple, tender sponge cake. Made with flour, eggs, sugar, butter and milk, it bakes up light and airy with a soft, fine crumb that's perfect for everyday baking.

The beauty of this cake is how little it asks of you: about ten minutes of mixing and twenty-five minutes in the oven. Just bring everything to room temperature first, whisk the batter until smooth, and let the oven do the rest.

Serve it plain or dust it with powdered sugar for a pretty finish. Either way, it's a lovely addition to breakfast, an afternoon merienda, or any moment that calls for a slice of something homemade.

Ingredients for Spongy Queque

This recipe makes 9 servings and uses 8 simple ingredients. You'll also need a round 20 cm (8-inch) cake pan.

• 165 g sugar
• 60 g butter, at room temperature
• 150 g all-purpose flour
• 8 g baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 150 ml whole milk, at room temperature
• 2 large egg whites
• 20 g powdered sugar, for decorating (optional)

How to Make Spongy Queque Step by Step

1. Cream the Sugar and Butter

Use all ingredients at room temperature for the best result. Whisk 165 g of sugar with 60 g of butter until the mixture turns pale and creamy, and preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Electric beaters or a stand mixer make this easier, though you can do it by hand with a little more time and patience.

2. Sift the Dry Ingredients

Sift 150 g of flour together with 8 g of baking powder and 1 pinch of salt into a bowl. Using a mesh strainer keeps the flour fine and lump-free, which gives the cake the texture you want.

3. Add the First Egg White, Flour and Milk

Add 1 large egg white, part of the 150 g of flour and 75 ml of the milk to the sugar mixture. Beat everything together with the whisk until well combined.

4. Beat in the Remaining Ingredients

Without stopping the beating, add the other egg white, the rest of the flour and the rest of the milk. Keep going until you have a completely smooth, homogeneous batter.

5. Fill the Pan

Grease a cake pan with butter and dust it with flour, then pour the batter into it.

6. Bake for 25 Minutes

Bake the queque at 180 °C (350 °F) for about 25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, since timing varies from oven to oven. Take it out and let it cool for 5 minutes in the pan on a wire rack.

7. Unmold and Cool Completely

Turn the cake out of the pan and let it cool completely on the rack.

8. Dust with Powdered Sugar

Before serving, dust the queque with 20 g of powdered sugar.

9. Serve

Slice and enjoy the queque at breakfast or as an afternoon snack. A light dusting of powdered sugar makes it look lovely, but you can also serve it just as it is.

Tips for the Best Spongy Queque

Start with Room-Temperature Ingredients

Butter, milk and egg whites at room temperature blend into a smoother batter and trap air more easily. Take them out of the fridge about half an hour before you begin.

Sift the Flour for a Fine Crumb

Passing the flour, baking powder and salt through a mesh strainer keeps lumps out of the batter. This small step is what gives the cake its light, even texture.

Check Doneness with a Skewer

Ovens vary, so start checking at 25 minutes. The cake is ready when a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, and letting it cool briefly in the pan before unmolding keeps it from breaking.

30 Top Dishes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Much like me, you probably like having a rotation of fuss-free comfort dishes, well-known global plates, and desserts that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, I tend to reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And any time a fruity, cozy dessert sounds good, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

On mornings when I want something quick and on lighter days, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, I'm fond of making this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean flavors, I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit fancier.

Come lunchtime cravings or a cozy evening meal, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Any time street-food style or party-ready plates are calling, I'll usually fix this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a light starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole spread are on the agenda for company, I'll typically serve dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. Then to fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes to Cook for Loved Ones

After years of trying and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the greatest dishes balance ease, dependable methods, and big flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the very ones I keep coming back to, time and again—whether I'm throwing together a fast meal just for me or putting on something memorable for friends and family.

For a sweet finish, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to whenever I want something elegant yet effortless. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe shows exactly how I make it at home.

Whenever something light and uncomplicated is what I'm craving, I reach for the familiar Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For fuller comfort meals, I'm quick to point to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm equally fond of passing along dishes rooted in tradition from across the globe, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the timeless Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that baked pasta classics can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying minus the gluten.

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