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Lagkage
Layer cake
Lagkage: Danish birthday layer cake with custard, berries and whipped cream
No Danish birthday is complete without lagkage, the tall layer cake brought out after the flag-decked breakfast or at the afternoon party, and every family from Odense to Copenhagen has its own version. Three thin sponge layers are spread with vanilla custard, berries or jam, then covered in whipped cream and decorated with fresh strawberries or raspberries. It needs a few hours in the fridge to settle. A common mistake is assembling with warm custard, so the cake slides. Chef's tip: brush each sponge layer with a little fruit juice so it is moist without going soggy.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 4 eggs
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- 2 ⅝ oz plain flour
- 1 ¾ oz potato flour or cornflour
- 1 tsp baking powder
For the custard
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 1 ¾ oz sugar
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
To assemble
- 4 tbsp apple or berry juice
- 3 ½ oz raspberry jam
- 1 ¾ cups double cream
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F and line three 22 cm tins (or bake one deep sponge and slice it into three).
3 minStep 2: Whisk 4 eggs and 5 ½ oz sugar for 6–8 minutes until very thick and pale and a ribbon holds on the surface. Sift over 2 ⅝ oz plain flour, 1 ¾ oz potato flour or cornflour and 1 tsp baking powder and fold in gently.
8 minStep 3: Divide between the tins and bake for 10–12 minutes until golden and springy (about 25 minutes for one deep cake). Cool on a rack.
12 minStep 4: For the custard, whisk 1 ¼ cups whole milk, 3 egg yolks, 1 ¾ oz sugar and 2 tbsp cornflour in a pan and stir over a medium heat for 5–6 minutes until thick and just bubbling. Stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract, cover the surface and cool completely.
8 minStep 5: Set the first sponge on a plate, brush with a third of the 1 ⅜ tbsp apple or berry juice and spread with 3 ½ oz raspberry jam. Top with the second layer, brush with more 1 ⅓ tbsp apple or berry juice, then spread with the cold custard and half the 7 oz strawberries and raspberries, sliced. Add the last sponge and brush with the remaining 1 ⅓ tbsp apple or berry juice.
10 minStep 6: Whip 1 ¾ cups double cream to soft peaks, cover the top and sides, and decorate with the rest of the 7 oz strawberries and raspberries. Chill for at least 2 hours before cutting.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lagkage take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 50 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 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 eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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