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.
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.
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!
Ingredients
- 5 pieces eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
FILLING
- 1 stick margarine, softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Instructions
- Separate egg yolks from egg whites.
- In a bowl, beat the egg whites using a mixer at low speed for 1 minute or until frothy.
- Sprinkle the cream of tartar on top and continue beating until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar, a tablespoon at a time, while continuously beating. Once all sugar is added, turn up the speed to medium and continue beating the meringue until it forms stiff glossy peaks.
- In a large bowl, cream together the egg yolks, the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until it becomes light in texture and color.
- Sift the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder and add to the egg yolk mixture. Mix well.
- Gently fold in a third of the meringue into the egg mixture and then add the rest and fold until well combined.
- Pour the batter into a 15x10x1-inch pan lined with wax or parchment paper.
- Bake in a 375 F oven for about 15 minutes or until the cake is golden.
- Remove from the oven and loosen the edges of the cake. Transfer the cake including the wax paper to a rack and allow to cool.
- Dust a wax or parchment paper with powdered sugar and invert cake onto the paper. Gently peel the other wax paper off the cake.
- Beginning with the narrow side, roll the cake up together with the wax paper. Let it cool down completely, seam side down, for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Once the cake has cooled, gently unroll and spread cake with softened margarine and sprinkle with granulated sugar and re-roll.
- Cut into 1-inch thick slices to serve.
Notes
Video
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Kousar Parveen says
I love Filipino food culture & traditions. Thanks for the recipe.
Lalaine Manalo says
You’re very welcome Kousar 😀
chelleey says
Thank you for sharing this recipe! My family loved it so much that 1 roll wasn’t enough for everybody in our house ^^
Lalaine Manalo says
Hi Chelleey! One is never enough! 🙂
Darlen G. Doblada says
I love to try this recipe of yours soon🙂
Lalaine Manalo says
Happy baking!
Carrot says
I made this for my Culinary Arts 8 project and I got full marks! It was easier to make than the other jelly roll-like things I’ve made in the past. I recommend this recipe to anyone who wants to make a simple jelly roll.
Lalaine Manalo says
Thank you so much for the feedback! I am glad it helped you in school 🙂
Cku says
Can I use butter instead of margarine? I don’t use margarine.
Lalaine Manalo says
Yes, you can. 🙂
Mary Gene C Luztre says
I just so love pianono because of its simplicity, with a few ingredients and not so complicated to bake. The taste is perfect, just the way I like it. I will definitely be baking for more pianonos to sell in my store. Thank you for sharing this recipe. 😊
Lalaine says
I am glad the recipe worked well for you! Goodluck with the business 🙂
Suzanne says
This looks kinda doable for me. Thanks, Bebs and Lalaine! I appreciate the tips plus the history and origins and pianono. 🙂
Rely Pablo says
I am a lover of pianono… it is one simple cake/bread we love to eat… I really want to try preparing this and it helps that my son who is a special kid is into baking now a days. One of these days we will try baking pianono. Thanks for the recipe… more power!!!
Lalaine says
Thanks, Rely! I hope you enjoy the recipe! Happy baking. 🙂