Spongata is a traditional sweet, especially associated with Christmas, filled with apple and pear jam, pine nuts, almonds, honey and candied fruit.

Its name is thought to derive either from the texture of its rich filling or from the appearance of its crust, which is pierced with holes before baking: in Italian, spongata recalls the word spugna (En. sponge). 

The origins of this festive pie are debated. Some trace it back to Hebrew tradition, while others see roots in the Etruscan world, where a fondness for honey and similar preparations was already well established. Once considered a propitiatory food, spongata has become a cherished presence on the holiday tables of the Bassa Reggiana.