Kuih Lapis Batavia (Indonesian Layer Cake)

Ok, I have to work on these pictures and the layers better !


In the process of baking



Whipped egg whites




Beaten egg yolks mixture

Beaten butter mixture.

Ok, this cake takes quite a bit of effort due to the constant application of each layer of the cake for baking. However, you will be extremely happy at the end result. This cake is so fragrant and the whole kitchen smells so good ! This cake is available all around Singapore and at the airport, it is sold in a store called Bengawan Solo. You cannot leave Singapore airport without buying it. My sister Elsie sent the cake to me. So it's about time I learn to bake this from the Limited Edition Best of Singapore recipe book I got from her.

Ingredients:

455 g (1 lb) of butter

1 tsp of mixed spice (recipe below)

115 g (4 oz) of plain flour

17 egg yolks (large)

255 g (9 oz) of sugar

5 egg whites

2 tbs of brandy

Method:

In a bowl, beat butter until creamy, set aside

Sift mixed spice and flour together into another bowl. Set aside.

Place egg yolks and 200 g(7 oz) of the sugar in a bowl and beat until thick. Set aside.

Place the remaining sugar in another bowl with the egg whites and beat until thick.

Alternately fold in the egg yolk mixture and the egg white mixture into the creamed butter. Add a little flour each time until all is blended. Lastly, add the brandy.

Grease the bottom and sides of a baking pan with butter.

Cut a piece of greaseproof paper to snugly fit the base of the pan. Place the paer in the pan and grease with butter.

Heat the pan in oven at 390 deg F for 1 min. Remove it and pour one ladleful of cake batter into the pan allowing it to spread evenly over the base of the pan.

Bake for 5 mins or until light brown, then remove the pan from the grill. Prick the top of the cake using a bamboo skewer to prevent air bubbles from foaming.

Pour another ladleful of cake batter over the cooked layer and bake again. Repeat the process as for the first layer, until all the batter is used up.

When done, remove the cake out of pan and let it cook for 1/2 hour and slice the cake rectangular.

Mixed Spice.

Ingredients

1 oz of cinnamon quill

20 cloves

1 star anise

20 green cardamom

Method:

Wash the cinnamon quill, cloves, star anise and let them dry in the oven at 350 for 10 mins.

Remove the stems from the cloves.

Place them in saucepan and roast over low heat for 20 mins

Remove the husk from the cardamom to extract the seeds.

Grind the spices in a spice grinder and pass them through a fine sieve. Store in a clean dry bottle for future use.