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Hawaiian Chantilly cake
Chocolate layer cake with caramel-custard Chantilly frosting
In Hawaii, Chantilly cake means a chocolate layer cake covered in a rich, caramel-coloured frosting made from evaporated milk, egg yolks and butter, not the whipped cream the name suggests. Honolulu bakeries have sold it for birthdays and graduations for decades, and it is very different from mainland cakes. Chef's tip: cook the frosting base slowly and stir constantly until it is as thick as pudding; if it is runny, the frosting will slide off the cake.
- Total time
- 85 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 14
Ingredients
For the cake
- 9 oz plain flour
- 2 ⅛ oz cocoa powder
- 10 ½ oz sugar
- 1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup hot coffee or hot water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Chantilly frosting
- 1 ½ cups evaporated milk
- 7 oz sugar
- 8 oz buttersoft, divided
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ oz macadamia nuts (optional)chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (300°F fan) and line two 23 cm round tins. Whisk the 9 oz plain flour, 2 ⅛ oz cocoa powder, 10 ½ oz sugar, 1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda, 1 tsp baking powder and ½ tsp salt.
5 minStep 2: Beat in the 2 eggs, 1 cup buttermilk, ½ cup vegetable oil and 1 tsp vanilla extract, then whisk in the 1 cup hot coffee or hot water to a thin batter. Divide between the tins and bake 30–35 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Cool completely.
45 minStep 3: For the frosting, whisk the 1 ½ cups evaporated milk, 7 oz sugar and 5 egg yolks in a heavy pan. Cook over a medium-low heat, stirring all the time, for 15–20 minutes until it turns light caramel in colour and as thick as pudding.
20 minStep 4: Off the heat, stir in a third of the 2 ⅝ oz butter and the 1 tsp vanilla extract. Cool to room temperature, stirring now and then.
60 minStep 5: Beat the rest of the 5 ½ oz butter until fluffy, then beat in the cooled custard a spoonful at a time until smooth and spreadable. A common mistake is adding warm custard, which melts the butter.
5 minStep 6: Sandwich the cakes with a third of the frosting and cover the top and sides with the rest. Scatter with 1 ¾ oz macadamia nuts and chill for 1 hour to set. Keep in the fridge.
65 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hawaiian Chantilly cake take?
- About 85 minutes in total: 50 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 14 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 plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of cocoa powder?
- Drinking chocolate, same amount (sweeter, so cut the sugar).
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