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Amerikaner
Iced soft cakes
Soft, flat German cakes iced half white and half chocolate
Amerikaner are a fixture of German bakery counters and children's birthday parties: soft, domed little cakes baked flat-side up, then turned over and iced on the smooth base, half in white lemon icing and half in chocolate. A pinch of custard powder in the dough gives their tender, slightly vanilla crumb. Children can ice them themselves at a party. They contain milk, egg and gluten. Chef's tip: ice the flat bottom of the cakes, not the domed tops; that's what gives the shiny, even finish.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the cakes
- 2 ⅝ oz unsalted buttersoft
- 2 ⅝ oz caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 7 oz plain flour
- ⅞ oz custard powderor cornflour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup milk
For the icing
- 7 oz icing sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp hot water
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (fan 325°F) and line two baking trays with paper.
Step 2: Beat 2 ⅝ oz unsalted butter and 2 ⅝ oz caster sugar until pale and creamy, then beat in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix 7 oz plain flour, ⅞ oz custard powder and 2 tsp baking powder and stir in, alternating with ½ cup milk, to make a thick, soft batter that holds its shape on a spoon.
Step 3: Drop 12 heaped tablespoons onto the trays, well apart, and smooth each into a 6 cm round with a wet spoon. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until risen and pale golden at the edges and the tops spring back. Overbaking is the usual mistake: they dry out and lose their soft crumb.
15 minStep 4: Cool on a rack, then turn each cake upside down.
20 minStep 5: Mix 7 oz icing sugar with 2 tbsp lemon juice into a thick, smooth icing. Spread it over half of each flat base. Stir 1 tbsp cocoa powder and 1 tbsp hot water into the rest of the icing and spread it over the other halves. Leave for 30 minutes to set; keep in an airtight tin for up to 3 days.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 200 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does amerikaner take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Kids' birthday partyTea-time