serves
20
prep
20 minutes
cook
1 hour
difficulty
Mid
serves
20
people
preparation
20
minutes
cooking
1
hour
difficulty
Mid
level
Ingredients
- 150 g margarine, plus extra, to grease
- 300 g unsalted butter, chopped, softened
- 60 ml (¼ cup) sweetened condensed milk
- 15 egg yolks
- 275 g (1¼ cups) caster sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla powder (see Note) or ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 105 g (¾ cup) plain flour
- 1 tbsp spekkoek powder (see Note)
Instructions
Preheat a grill to high. Grease and line a 20 cm square cake pan.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter and margarine until pale. Add condensed milk and beat until combined. Set aside.
In a clean bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla for 3 minutes or until pale and thick.
Add butter mixture to egg mixture and stir until combined. Fold in flour and spekkoek powder in 2 batches until well combined.
Spread cup batter into prepared pan and place on the lowest rack in the oven. Grill for 5 minutes or until dark brown and firm to the touch. (It must be dark brown to achieve layers). Repeat process, one layer at a time, with remaining batter. (Batter will start to melt; just ensure it is spread evenly using the back of a spoon.) Makes 12 layers. Cool completely before cutting into 5 cm x 4 cm pieces.
Note
Vanilla powder is from specialist food shops.
Spekkoek is a Dutch-Indonesian spice mix, from Indonesian food shops and selected Asian food shops. To make your own, combine 1 tsp each of ground cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, and ½ tsp each of ground nutmeg and ground cloves.
As seen in Feast Magazine, Issue 14, pg76.
Photography by Armelle Habib
As seen in Feast Magazine, Issue 14, pg76.
Photography by Armelle Habib
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
