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Bolo formigueiro
Bolo formigueiro: soft vanilla sponge speckled with chocolate sprinkles, Brazil's 'anthill cake'
Slice into a bolo formigueiro and the crumb is dotted with dark specks, like ants on a sandy anthill, which is where the name comes from. This is the cake a Brazilian kid would want at merenda time: a soft, buttery vanilla sponge with chocolate sprinkles (granulado) folded through, often finished with a simple chocolate glaze and more sprinkles on top. Padarias and lanchonetes from São Paulo to Belo Horizonte sell it by the slice with a coffee. The cake contains wheat flour, eggs and milk. People often stir the sprinkles into the batter at the start, so they melt and turn the cake muddy grey. Chef's tip: fold the sprinkles in last, with a light hand, and use the chocolate kind (not candy-coloured), which hold their shape in the oven.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the cake
- 4 oz buttersoftened, plus extra for the tin
- 9 oz sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 10 ½ oz plain flourplus a little for the tin
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 ½ oz chocolate sprinkles
For the glaze
- 3 ½ oz dark or milk chocolate (optional)chopped
- ¼ cup double cream (optional)
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Butter and flour a 24 cm ring tin.
Step 2: Beat 4 oz butter and 9 oz sugar with an electric mixer for 4 minutes, until pale and fluffy.
4 minStep 3: Beat in 3 eggs one at a time, then 1 tsp vanilla extract.
Step 4: Mix 10 ½ oz plain flour, 1 tbsp baking powder and 1 pinch salt. Add to the bowl in three goes, alternating with 1 cup whole milk, beating on low just until smooth.
Step 5: Fold in 3 ½ oz chocolate sprinkles with a spatula in a few strokes, then spread the batter in the tin.
Step 6: Bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden and a skewer in the thickest part comes out clean.
45 minStep 7: Cool for 15 minutes in the tin, then turn out onto a rack. For the glaze, heat ¼ cup double cream until steaming, pour over 3 ½ oz dark or milk chocolate, stir until smooth and spoon over the cooled cake.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bolo formigueiro take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 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 butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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