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Bitter caramel and chocolate custard layer cake

Adam Liaw
Adam Liaw

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Magic: Adam Liaw's bitter caramel and cocoa custard layer cake.
Magic: Adam Liaw's bitter caramel and cocoa custard layer cake.William Meppem

This magical cake separates into a sponge layer and custard layer as it bakes. The dark bitter caramel and cocoa offset its sweetness for a moreish treat. Even if you love to bake, your repertoire can start to become ho hum – another sponge, another cheesecake, maybe a batch of biscuits. If you're starting to feel a little uninspired with your baking, this recipe will help you shake things up a bit.

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Ingredients

  • 125g butter, melted and kept warm

  • 1 cup castor sugar

  • 4 eggs, separated

  • 1 cup plain flour

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 375ml milk

  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder, plus 1 tsp for dusting

  • 1 tsp white vinegar

  • 1 tbsp icing sugar

Method

  1. 1. Heat your oven to 160C and grease and line a 20cm square cake tin. Place 3/4 cup of the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the sugar until it becomes a dark, liquid caramel, swirling occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly and doesn't burn.

    2. Reduce the heat a little, add  1/2 a cup of water and whisk for a minute or two until the caramel is dissolved. Set aside for 5 minutes, then whisk in the milk and strain.

    3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar, beating until pale and fluffy. Add a tablespoon of cold water and the warm butter and whisk to combine.

    4. With the mixer set to a  slow speed, add the flour, salt and two tablespoons of  cocoa, and add the caramel milk a little at a time until the mixture is smooth. Pass the mixture through a sieve to remove  lumps.

    5. Separately whip the egg whites to firm peaks and add the vinegar, whisking to combine. Fold half the egg whites into the batter mixture until combined, then fold in the remaining egg white. Transfer to the cake tin and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top is brown and the edges  well set. The cake should still be  wobbly in the centre.

    6. Cool to room temperature in the tin, then chill in the fridge for at least two hours. Remove from the tin and dust with the remaining cocoa mixed with the icing sugar to serve.

    The original: Adam Liaw's magical marmalade custard layer cake

    Also try: Adam's Japanese-style German honey cake

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Adam LiawAdam Liaw is a cookbook author and food writer, co-host of Good Food Kitchen and former MasterChef winner.

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Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/goodfood/recipes/bitter-caramel-and-chocolate-custard-layer-cake-20170516-gw5vd6.html