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Spettekaka
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Spettekaka

Lacy spit cake

Spettekaka is the showpiece cake of Skåne, piped in lacy layers onto a cone-shaped spit turning slowly in front of the heat until it builds up into a tall, crisp, meringue-like tower. Bakeries around Ystad and Sjöbo still make them by hand for weddings and Christmas, and slices are broken off with a knife. This home method uses a foil-covered cone of card on a rotisserie or a wooden rolling pin turned under a low grill, piping layer by layer. A common mistake is piping too thick, which leaves the inside sticky and the layers sagging. Chef's tip: dry each layer until it is set and pale gold before piping the next; patience is what gives the airy lace.

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