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Šakotis
Branch-shaped spit cake
Šakotis: Lithuanian branch-shaped spit cake
Šakotis, 'branched', is the tall, spiky cake that crowns Lithuanian weddings and christenings: a rich egg batter dripped over a turning spit in front of an open fire, layer after layer, so the drips harden into branches that stick out like a fir tree. Specialist bakers around Druskininkai and Vilnius make them to order. At home, a foil-wrapped rolling pin turned slowly under a hot grill builds a smaller version. A common mistake is a thin batter, which runs off instead of forming spikes. Chef's tip: turn the spit slowly as you ladle on each layer and let the drips set before the next coat; the spikes form where the batter drips and hardens.
- Total time
- 280 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
For the batter
- 9 oz soft butter
- 9 oz sugar
- 10 eggsseparated
- ½ cup double cream
- 9 oz plain flour
- 1 ¾ oz cornflour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp sunflower oilfor the paper
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Wrap a wooden rolling pin in foil, then baking paper, and brush with 1 tsp sunflower oil. Set it on a frame or between two bricks under the grill so it can be turned, about 12 cm from the heat.
Step 2: Beat 9 oz soft butter and half of 4 ½ oz sugar until fluffy, then beat in the yolks from 10 eggs, ½ cup double cream, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp lemon zest. Fold in 9 oz plain flour and 1 ¾ oz cornflour.
Step 3: Whisk the whites with the rest of 4 ½ oz sugar to soft peaks and fold into the batter. It should be thick and drip slowly.
Step 4: Heat the grill to high. Ladle batter over the turning pin, rotating slowly, until coated. Grill-bake for 3–4 minutes, turning, until golden. Common mistake: thin batter; no spikes form.
4 minStep 5: Keep adding layers, letting the drips set into spikes, until the batter is used, about 2–3 hours.
180 minStep 6: Cool completely, then slide off the pin and cut into rings.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does šakotis take?
- About 280 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 240 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 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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