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Ciaramicola
Red Easter ring cake
Ciaramicola: Perugia's red Easter ring cake with white meringue and sprinkles
Ciaramicola is Perugia's Easter cake, a ring tinted red under a cloud of white meringue and coloured sprinkles, the red and white of the city's flag. It was traditionally baked by girls on Holy Saturday for their sweethearts, and it is eaten at Easter breakfast. The red colour usually comes from alchermes, a spiced liqueur; this version uses beetroot juice and a pinch of cinnamon and clove, so it is alcohol-free. The meringue is baked until set. Chef's tip: spread the meringue right down to the base all round, so it seals in the cake and stays glossy.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
For the cake
- 3 ½ oz buttersoft
- 6 ½ oz caster sugar
- 3 eggsyolks and whites separated
- ¼ cup beetroot juice
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 1 lemonzest only
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ cup milk
For the meringue
- 4 oz caster sugar
- 2 tbsp coloured sprinkles
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and butter a 24 cm ring (savarin) tin.
Step 2: Beat 3 ½ oz butter and 6 ½ oz caster sugar until pale, then beat in the yolks from 3 eggs one at a time. Keep the whites for the meringue. Stir in ¼ cup beetroot juice, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, 1 pinch ground cloves and 1 lemon.
Step 3: Fold in 10 ½ oz plain flour and 2 tsp baking powder alternately with ¼ cup milk, to a thick, deep-pink batter.
Step 4: Spoon into the tin and bake for 35–40 minutes, until risen and a skewer comes out clean. Turn out onto a lined tray and cool slightly.
40 minStep 5: Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, then add 4 oz caster sugar a spoonful at a time and whisk until stiff and glossy. Spread over the warm cake, covering it completely, and scatter with 2 tbsp coloured sprinkles.
Step 6: Bake at 300°F (275°F fan) for 15–20 minutes, until the meringue is crisp and only faintly golden. A common mistake is a hot oven, which browns and cracks the meringue.
18 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ciaramicola take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 60 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 butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Easter