Indonesian Spice Cake Recipes

INDONESIAN SPICE CAKE (SPEKKUK BUMBU)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit; grease and flour a bundt pan.
• In a medium bowl, resift the sifted flour along with the baking powder, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and salt; resift one more time, then set aside.
• In another bowl, beat the softened butter until it is soft and very pliant, about one minute, gradually add the sugar and beat on high speed until it is pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Beat in the 4 whole eggs by hand, one at a time, until the butter and egg mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add the flour mixture to the butter and egg mixture in 3 equal parts, beating on low speed (or stirring with a wooden spoon) until the batter is smooth and the flour is well combined with the butter and eggs; add the lightly beaten egg yolks and the vanilla, and continue to beat or stir until they are well mixed into the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it until the surface is even; then place the pan in the middle reack of the oven and bake about one hour, test with a wooden pick; this cake will nearly double in size as it cooks.
• Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes, when cool enough , invert the cake onto a wire rack to finish cooling; then transfer the cake to a serving platter and sprinkle the top with sifted confectioner's sugar.

INDONESIAN SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and lightly flour a 9 x 3-1/2-inch tube cake pan (or - my preference - use a nonstick pan of that size, and don't grease and flour it).
• 2. In a medium bowl, resift the sifted flour along with the baking powder, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and salt. Resift the flour mixture one more time, then set it aside.
• 3. In another bowl, beat the softened butter until it is soft and very pliant, about 1 minute (or about 4 to 6 minutes by hand with a wooden spoon). Gradually add the sugar, and beat on high speed until it is pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes (or about 6 to 8 minutes by hand).
• 4. Beat in the 4 whole eggs by hand, one at a time, until the butter and egg mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes (or 5 minutes by hand).
• 5. Add the flour mixture to the butter and egg mixture in 3 equal parts, beating on low speed or stirring with the wooden spoon until the batter is smooth and the flour is well combined with the butter and eggs. Add the lightly beaten egg yolks and the vanilla, and continue to beat or stir until they are well mixed into the batter.
• 6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it until the surface is even.
• 7. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the thickest part of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. This cake will nearly double in size as it cooks.
• 8. Remove the pan from the oven and set the cake on a wire rack to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. If necessary, run a thin knife around the perimeter and the inner rim of the cake to help detach it from the pan. Invert the cake, turning it out upside down onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
• 9. Transfer the cake to a serving platter and sprinkle the top with sifted confectioners' sugar, if desired.

SPEKKOEK (THOUSAND LAYER SPICE CAKE)

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar together with an electric mixer. Beat in egg yolks. In another bowl, using clean beaters, beat egg whites with salt until stiff. Fold into yolk mixture. Fold in flour.
• Divide batter between two bowls. Add combined spices to one bowl; stir well.
• Line the bottom of a buttered 9" round cake pan (or springform pan) with wax paper and butter the wax paper. Pour about 1/2 cup of the spice batter into the pan, spreading to form a thin layer. Place pan under a preheated broiler for 2 minutes, or until the layer is firm and very lightly browned. Spread 1/2 cup of the plain batter over the top and broil until firm. Repeat layering and broiling until all batter is used.
• Let cake cool, then remove from pan. Sprinkle top with confectioners' sugar. Serve in thin slices with strong, hot coffee.