If there’s one thing I’d like to hire someone to help me with, it would be washing dishes. After shopping, prepping, cooking, styling, shooting, and editing, the last thing I want to do is stare down the towering pile of dirty pots, pans, and plates teetering dangerously in the sink. Energy flagging, I’m mentally done with the work already, and then this tedious chore blindsides me right when I start to wind down. Yes, it’s my mess to clean up, and yes, I will still throw a tantrum like a spoiled child asked to pick up their toys, no matter how old I get.

Washing Dishes Is The Pits

Between the grease, baked-on grime, and shredding dish sponge, it’s just a textural nightmare. Getting an actual dishwasher was the holy grail, the surefire fix for all these horrors, but the reality was an even greater let down. It turns out it functions best is as overflow storage, not even aiding with a pre-rinse assist.

There’s only one way to I know to take down this daily task…

Eat it! At least, when it’s a sponge cake, half the work is done before you ever bring your plate to the sink! I don’t think this is April fooling anyone, but I’m more about silly puns than outright pranks. For a gentle trompe l’oeil, much like last year’s ramen cake, the punchline still pays off in spades. If you’re with me, grab a fork and start cleaning up your act.

What’s In A “Sponge” Cake?

The “Brillo” scrub is made from a olive oil matcha struesel, admittedly thicker than the genuine article, but we can all agree the crumb topping is the best part. For that, I’m willing to take a hit on realism. Underneath, a tender golden cake enriched with turmeric and pumpkin puree shines with bright lemon flavor.

Washing dishes is still a pain, but having the right supplies at hand definitely sweetens the deal.

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Yield: Makes 8 - 10 Servings

"Sponge" Cake

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A sponge in appearance and a crumb cake in reality, this fun trompe l'oeil is a great April Fool's treat! The "Brillo" scrub is made from a olive oil matcha struesel, and underneath, a tender golden cake enriched with turmeric and pumpkin puree shines with bright lemon flavor.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

Matcha Streusel:

• 1 1/3 Cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Matcha
• 1/8 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil

"Sponge" Cake:

• 1/2 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
• 1/2 Cup Pumpkin Puree
• 1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 2 Teaspoons Lemon Zest
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric
• 3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/8 Teaspoon Salt

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 × 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving a good amount overhanging for easier removal. Lightly grease and set aside.
   
   
2. Make the crumb topping by combining the flour, sugar, matcha, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk well, making sure there are no clumps of matcha remaining. Drizzle in the oil and stir gently until combined; it should remain a slightly dry, sandy texture that sticks together when pressed.
   
   
3. For the cake batter, mix together the non-dairy milk, pumpkin, sugar, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth. Separately, whisk together the flour, turmeric, baking powder and soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a wide spatula until just combined.
   
   
4. Transfer the cake batter into your prepared pan and smooth out the top. Sprinkle the struesel on top, using your fingers to break it up into roughly pea-sized clumps. Evenly cover the entire surface so that none of the batter remains exposed.
   
   
5. Bake in the center of your oven for 34 - 36 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

For "soap" bubbles, lightly whip aquafaba with a touch of sugar and spoon the foam onto the plate right before serving.

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

• 
  Simply Organic, Turmeric
• 
  La Tourangelle, 100% Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 25.4 fl oz (750 ml)
• 
  Wilderness Poets, Organic Ceremonial Matcha, 1 oz (22 g)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 266Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 4g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.