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Goxua

Goxua: Vitoria-Gasteiz layered dessert of cream, syrup-soaked sponge, custard and caramel

The name means 'sweet' or 'delicious' in Basque, and goxua was created in Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 1970s, where cafés still serve it in small glasses or terracotta pots. From the bottom up you get whipped cream, a disc of sponge soaked in syrup, thick vanilla pastry cream and a crackling layer of burnt sugar. It is a make-ahead dessert for a Sunday lunch, since the layers need to chill. A common mistake is spooning in custard that is still warm, which melts the cream into a puddle. Chef's tip: caramelise the top just before serving, so the sugar crust is still glassy when the spoon goes in.
Total time
70 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
6
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Ingredients

Serves6

For the sponge

For the syrup

For the pastry cream

For the cream and top

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What you'll need

Fresh ingredients (6)

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Method

0/8 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the oven to 350°F and grease a 20 × 30 cm tray with ⅓ oz butter, then line it with baking paper.

    5 min
  2. Step 2: Whisk 3 eggs and 3 ⅛ oz caster sugar with an electric mixer for 6–8 minutes, until pale, tripled in volume and thick enough to leave a ribbon trail. Gently fold in 3 ⅛ oz plain flour with a large spoon, keeping as much air as possible.

    10 min
  3. Step 3: Spread the batter in the tray and bake for 10–12 minutes, until golden and springy when pressed. Cool, then cut out 6 discs the size of your glasses.

    12 min
  4. Step 4: Boil ½ cup water, 1 ¾ oz sugar and 1 strip of lemon peel for 2 minutes until the sugar dissolves. Cool.

    3 min
  5. Step 5: Bring 2 cups whole milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract almost to the boil. In a bowl, whisk 4 egg yolks, 3 ½ oz caster sugar and 1 ⅜ oz cornflour until smooth, then whisk in the hot milk. Return everything to the pan and stir over a medium heat for 3–4 minutes, until it bubbles and is thick enough to hold a trail. Cover the surface with cling film and cool completely.

    10 min
  6. Step 6: Whip 1 ¼ cups double cream, well chilled with 1 oz icing sugar to soft peaks that just hold their shape. Divide among 6 glasses or small pots.

    5 min
  7. Step 7: Lay a sponge disc on the cream, spoon over the syrup until soaked but not soggy, then cover with the cold pastry cream right to the edge. Chill for at least 2 hours.

    5 min
  8. Step 8: To serve, sprinkle 1 tbsp of 6 tbsp caster sugar over each pot and burn with a kitchen blowtorch until deep amber and bubbling. Leave for 1 minute to harden.

    5 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
430 kcal
Protein
8 g
Carbs
48 g
Fat
23 g
Fibre
0 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does goxua take?
About 70 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
What can I use instead of eggs?
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
What can I use instead of caster sugar?
Caster sugar, same amount.

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