This is a typical Portuguese cake. I have done it before, but some years ago so time to repeat. And this is the original recipe.
Carob can be used as a replacement for chocolate. It is a pity is not used much more.
Ingredients:
- 6 eggs (divided into whites and yolks)
- 200g sugar (brown if possible)
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 200g melted butter
- 180g of self-rising cake flour (if not, normal flour)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 60g carob powder (as much pure as possible)
- 50g chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc)
- optional: 1 tbsp of alfarroba (carob) liquor or almond liquor (amarguinha)
Process:
- Pre-heat oven 180C
- Beat the egg yolks, sugar, vanilla and butter until it becomes an aerated mix. You can use a hand mixer for this.
- Shift the flours and baking powder together, and add gradually into the wet mix. Mix with a wood spoon!
- Beat the egg whites into soft peaks, then fold into the batter.
- Once all mixed, add the chopped nuts. Be sure they spread equally
- Butter a cake pan. Then spread evenly the batter.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes. The goal is to have a kind of brownie, moist. So try to not get the center fully dry. This is the most difficult part for me. So if the top is baked (with a crust) and using a toothpick doesnt come 100% clean, it is ok.
- Take the cake and let it cool down
Before getting into the oven
Day after:
The look is quite “chocolaty” and tastes very good! But I overbaked it… the cake should be less dry.