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Torta de natas
Boiled milk skin cake
Colombian highland cake made from the skin of boiled milk
ColombianDairy farms in Boyacá and Cundinamarca boil their fresh milk every morning, and the thick, creamy skin that forms on top (the natas) gets lifted off and saved in a jar in the fridge. After a week or so there's enough for a torta de natas, a rich, close-crumbed cake with a buttery, slightly tangy flavour, served at onces (afternoon tea) with aguapanela or a tinto. Natas are mostly milk fat, so the cake needs no butter. If you don't boil raw milk, clotted cream loosened with a little milk is a fair stand-in. Over-beating natas is the trap: they can split into butter and whey, so beat only until smooth. Chef's tip: collect natas from whole milk simmered gently and cooled undisturbed; the slower it cools, the thicker the skin.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
- 9 oz natas (milk skin)or 200 g clotted cream mixed with 50 ml milk
- 7 oz sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lemonfinely grated zest
- 9 oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ cup milk
- ⅓ oz butterfor the tin
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Grease a 22 cm round tin with ⅓ oz butter and line the base.
Step 2: Beat 9 oz natas (milk skin) and 7 oz sugar with an electric mixer on medium for 2–3 minutes, just until smooth and creamy; stop if it looks grainy.
3 minStep 3: Beat in 4 eggs one at a time, then 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 lemon.
Step 4: Whisk 9 oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon and 1 pinch salt together.
Step 5: Fold the flour into the batter in two additions, alternating with ¼ cup milk, until just combined.
Step 6: Scrape into the tin and smooth the top.
Step 7: Bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden, the top springs back when pressed and a skewer comes out clean.
42 minStep 8: Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Serve at room temperature; it keeps for 3 days, wrapped.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 43 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does torta de natas take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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