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Kvæfjordkake
Kvæfjordkake: northern Norway's 'world's best cake' of sponge, meringue and cream
Kvæfjordkake comes from the Kvæfjord district in Troms, northern Norway, and Norwegians voted it their national cake, which is why it is also called 'verdens beste', the world's best cake: a thin buttery sponge baked with a layer of meringue and almonds on top, then cut in half and sandwiched with vanilla custard cream. It is baked for confirmations, May 17th and birthdays. A common mistake is underbaking the meringue, which goes sticky. Chef's tip: bake in a shallow tray and let the meringue turn pale golden and crisp; cool completely before filling.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 5 ½ oz soft butter
- 4 oz sugar
- 5 ½ oz plain flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 5 tbsp milk
For the meringue
- 7 oz sugar
- 2 ⅛ oz flaked almonds
For the filling
- 1 ¼ cups thick vanilla custardchilled
- 1 ¼ cups double cream
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 325°F (fan 275°F) and line a 30 × 40 cm tin with baking paper.
Step 2: Beat 5 ½ oz soft butter and 4 oz sugar until pale, then beat in 5 egg yolks. Fold in 5 ½ oz plain flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder and 5 tbsp milk and spread thinly in the tin.
Step 3: Whisk 5 egg whites to soft peaks, then whisk in 7 oz sugar a spoon at a time until stiff and glossy. Spread over the batter and scatter with 2 ⅛ oz flaked almonds.
Step 4: Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the meringue is pale golden and crisp. Common mistake: underbaking; it goes sticky. Cool in the tin.
30 minStep 5: Whip 1 ¼ cups double cream and fold into 1 ¼ cups thick vanilla custard.
Step 6: Cut the cake in half across. Put one half meringue-side up on a board, spread with the cream, top with the other half, meringue up. Chill 1 hour before cutting.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 24 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kvæfjordkake take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 30 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 soft 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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