Spekkoek is a layered spice cake originating from Dutch settlers in Indonesia. It contains cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves, and is made with a batter similar to sponge cake. The cake is time-consuming to make and is reserved for special occasions.
Spekkoek is a thick spice cake made in many layers. It is a dessert most commonly served in the Netherlands and Indonesia. The cake is usually reserved for special occasions as the process of creating the layers is time consuming and labor intensive.
History suggests that spekkoek was developed by Dutch settlers in Indonesia and the East Indies. The cake was an adaptation of Dutch baking with spices indigenous to the area. It may be related to German baumkuchen or Hungarian torte dobos, both of which are cakes containing many layers.
The term spekkoek literally translates as pork belly – or bacon – pie, a name derived from the appearance of the dark and light layers. Its Indonesian name is lapis legit, or layer cake. The English translation is often given as a thousand layer cake, or a thousand spice cake. In some parts of Indonesia, the cake is known as spiku.
Lapis lazuli contains several spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and cloves. It may also contain ginger or anise, and sometimes vanilla extract is also used for flavouring. A spice mix called spekkoek powder, which contains the common spices used in cake, may be available in grocery markets in Indonesia and the Netherlands.
The cake batter is similar to that of a sponge cake. It holds a lot of eggs – usually at least 10, and sometimes up to 45 or more. Some versions of the cake incorporate both yolks and whites, though some use more yolks than whites and some contain yolks only.
Butter or margarine is beaten together with sugar and egg yolks to make cake. Some recipes also include condensed milk, which is added to this mixture. Egg whites, if used, are beaten separately until stiff peaks form. They are then folded into the mixture of butter, sugar and egg yolks.
The flour is sifted and folded into the batter. The spices used in the cake are mixed separately. The batter is divided equally into two bowls, then the spices are folded into a bowl of batter.
Spekkoek is usually baked in a round cake pan or springform pan. The oven grate is turned on so that each layer cooks from the top. A thin layer of one of the batter mixes is spread into the pan and baked for a few minutes. Then a layer of the other batter mixture is added and the cake is placed back in the oven. This procedure is repeated until all the batter is gone. Lapis lazuli usually has at least a dozen and up to 40 layers.
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