Egyptian Jam Cake (Pastaflora)

 

Before Baking make lattice pattern

When I serve this to my Mum & Dad they remember this cake when they were younger and reminisce about the old days in Egypt when their mothers used to make it for them. It was a forgotten cake that has re-emerged.

This is a light cake that is more of a pastry rather than a cake it depends on the type of tin you use as to what the final result will be if using the smaller square tins you will have a more softer cake, if you use the larger rectangle tin you will end up with a more biscuit/ pastry type cake.

My brother in law gave me this recipe when I first got married and I never forgot the ingredients and measurements due to the fact he used to sing them... "one of this and one of that, three of this and three of that ......." remember Tata.

Once you make this you will keep making it - its a good cake to have on hand when you get drop ins and its great with a cup of tea or coffee.

Preheat oven to 170C

Prepare the tin - you can use 2 x 20cm square tins or a large rectangle slice tin 45x30 - ther is no need to grease the tin if it is a non-stick, otherwise grease well.

1 Pk (250g) unsalted Butter

1 cup caster sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups Self Raising Flour

250g Jam - your favorite flavour - I prefer Rasberry- use enough to cover the top of the cake.

1. In a mixer, Cream the butter and sugar together until it turns white and fluffy.

2. Add the eggs, one at a time beating well to incorporate.

3. Add the vanilla

4. Add the flour and only beat to incorporate to make a soft dough, do not over beat as this will result in a tough cake.

5. using wet hands take pieces of the dough and pat down in the tin about 2 cm thick as this will rise in the oven (reserve 1/4 of the dough for the top)

6. spread the Jam over the top of the dough.

7. take the other 1/4/ of the dough and make long thin logs (don't handle too long as the butter will melt) and make a lattice pattern over the jam.

8. bake in the oven for 30 - 40 mins - until golden brown.
9. cool and slice into squares.

After baking