Kiev Cake

This will knock your socks off! Kiev Cake has a special layer sandwiched between the sponge cake — a crunchy meringue — with apricot jam in the middle and roasted peanuts all around. You don't know Ukrainian dessert until you've tried this one. It's definitely a special-occasion cake.

Ingredients

Meringue

• 6 egg whites, room temperature
• 260g (1 1/3 cups) sugar

Sponge Cake

• 6 eggs, separated
• 200g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
• 250g (1 1/4 cups) sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup water (add more if dry)

Apricot Glaze

• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 350-400g apricot jam (about 1 jar)

Caramel Frosting

• 250g (1 cup) butter, room temperature
• 1 can caramel or boiled condensed milk (~240ml)
• 600ml (2 cups) double/heavy cream, room temperature

Decorations

• Roasted peanuts
• Dark chocolate & raspberries

Directions

1. Make the meringue: whisk egg whites on high speed until foamy, slowly adding sugar. Whisk for 5 minutes until soft peaks form. Spread onto a lined, greased baking tray and bake for 3 hours at 120°C/250°F.

2. Make the sponge: separate eggs. Whisk yolks with sugar, vanilla, and water, then gradually add flour mixed with baking powder until smooth and pale. Whisk whites until foamy, fold into the yolk mixture gently. Pour onto a separate lined, greased tray and bake 20-25 minutes at 180°C/350°F until golden. Cool completely before removing the parchment.

3. Make the apricot glaze: combine water, lemon juice, and apricot jam in a pan, cook a few minutes until smooth.

4. Make the caramel frosting: whip soft butter, add caramel, combine. In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream to soft peaks and fold into the caramel butter mixture.

5. Assemble: cut the sponge in half. Place one layer down, spread apricot glaze, then caramel frosting, then the meringue layer, then more cream. Add the second sponge layer, more apricot glaze, and cover the whole cake in cream. Press roasted peanuts around the sides.

6. Chill 2-4 hours until set. Decorate with chocolate and raspberries if you like. Best enjoyed the same day.

Hugs, Alla xox

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