Saint Mark Cake (12th Century Recipe) (2024)

Introduction: Saint Mark Cake (12th Century Recipe)

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Saint Mark cake is one of the most popular traditional cakes from Spain. It was first made in the 12th century in the convent of Saint Mark in León (Spain). The convent was founded by the queen Sancha to host pilgrims of the Way of Saint James on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The cake was traditionally made for Saint Mark's day (April 25th), but as the centuries passed by it became a cake for any other occasion.

The recipe is a little labourious, having to prepare four components, but the final taste is unforgettable.

Step 1: Ingredients

SPONGE CAKE

140g Sugar

160g Self raising flour

4 Large eggs

40g (3 tbsp) Butter

SOAKING SYRUP

200ml Water

200g Sugar

100-150ml Liquor

TOASTED YOLK TOPPING

180g Sugar

60ml Water

4 Egg yolks

7g Cornstarch

1/2 tsp Vanilla extract (not really needed; be careful when adding extracts because you can accidentally put too much)

FILLING
600g Whipping cream

160g Sugar

2 tbsp Cocoa powder

Step 2: Sponge Cake (classic Genoise Sponge Cake)

The base for the cake will be a classic Genoese sponge cake. It's the easiest and most effective recipe for a sponge cake that I know. I like it because it always rises a lot, has a very spongey texture and does not have a strong taste, so it's good for soaking and adding other flavours on its surface.

- Separate the egg yolks from the whites.

- Mix the egg yolks with the sugar until you get a smooth mix.

- Melt the butter and add it to the mix.

- Add the self-raising flour and mix.

- In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and add them to the other ingredients making gentle circular moves (we want to keep the foamy texture of the whites).

- Put the mix in a mold (20cm / 8 inches) for about 30 minutes at 180ºC (355ºF).

- Take it out of the oven and once it has cooled down cut it into 3 layers.

Step 3: Soaking Syrup

- Put the sugar, water nd liquor in a pot and bring the mix to boil.

- Once all the sugar has dissolved, turn off the stove and let it cool.

Step 4: Toasted Yolk Topping

- Bring to boil the water and sugar in a pot. Cook it for about 5 minutes.

- Remove to pot form the stove and let it cool down a bit.

- Beat the egg yolks along with the cornstarch.

- Incorporate the yolks to the pot and stir rapidly so that they don't get cooked before you have mixed them in.

- Cook this mix at very low temperature until it thickens, stirring often so that the bottom does not get burnt.

- Let it cool down to room temperature.

Step 5: Sweetened Whipped Cream Filling

- Whip the cream and add the sugar at the end.

- Divide the whipped cream into two bowls: 2/3 for one layer of the filling and the coating; 1/3 for the chocolate layer of the filling.

- Add the powdered cocoa to the 1/3 of the whipped cream.

- Keep both bowls in the fridge until you assemble the cake.

Step 6: Assembling the Cake

In order to get a perfect flat top, I flip the sponge cake upside down to change the order of the layers. Like this, the uneven top surface is now touching the dish and the flat bottom surface of the sponge cake is the one on top.

I like to put the sides of the springform mould I baked the cake in around the cake while assembling it. Like this the layers will remain aligned and no cream will fall down the sides, but the main reason why I do it is because you can gently push the cake layer to distribute and level the cream beneath it, making sure that it has the same thickness and has no air gaps.

- Put the first layer of the sponge cake on the dish and soak it with the syrup.

- Put all the chocolate cream on top.

- Put the middle layer of the sponge cake. Push it downwards to level the previous cream layer. Soak it with the syrup.

- Put half of the white cream on top.

- Put the last layer of sponge cake. Push it downwards to level the previous cream layer. Soak it with the syrup.

- Cover the top with the toasted yolk.

- Remove the mould and cover the sides with the rest of the whipped cream. You can also put sliced or chopped almonds on the sides to add a crunchy texture to the cake.

- Dust some caster sugar on top. If you want, you can also toast this sugar with a kitchen blowtorch or spray a little vodka on top and flambe it.

Step 7: Enjoy

I know that it may seem like a lot of work for such a simple cake, but once you try it you will love it.

I give you a 100% guarantee that your favourite part will be the yolk topping!

Saint Mark Cake (12th Century Recipe) (5)

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Saint Mark Cake (12th Century Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What was the first cake ever made? ›

Early cakes were actually more like what we would today consider biscuits or cookies. They were flat and dry, and often had fruit or nuts added to them for flavor. The first cakes were probably made in ancient Egypt. Yeast was used to making them light and fluffy.

What flavor is Spanish Delight? ›

It features layers of moist cake infused with the rich flavors of saffron, almonds, and a hint of citrus zest, creating a harmonious blend that is both indulgent and unique. The cake's taste is reminiscent of the enchanting streets of Spain, with each forkful taking you on a culinary adventure.

What kind of cake is leavened with beaten eggs? ›

A foam cake (unshortened cake) is a light, airy, spongy cake with little or no fat. They have a high proportion of eggs to flour and are leavened primarily by air beaten into whole eggs or egg whites. Foam cakes include sponge, chiffon, meringue, and génoise.

When was the first chocolate cake made? ›

The history of chocolate cake began in the 18th century in America, when it transitioned from a beverage to an ingredient in cakes and biscuits. Early recipes emerged in the 19th century, with significant advancements such as the cocoa press by Coenraad Van Houten in 1828, making cocoa powder more accessible.

How old is the oldest cake in the world? ›

The Alimentarium Food Museum in Vevey, Switzerland has on display the worlds oldest cake, which was sealed and vacuum-packed in the grave of Pepionkh, who lived in Ancient Egypt around 2200 BC.

What are the top 10 cake flavors? ›

Top 10 most popular cake recipes
  1. Lemon drizzle cake.
  2. Ultimate chocolate cake. ...
  3. Carrot cake. ...
  4. Classic victoria sandwich recipe. ...
  5. Raspberry bakewell cake. ...
  6. New York cheesecake. ...
  7. Chocolate brownie cake. ...
  8. Chocolate marble cake. ...
Jul 24, 2023

Is cake a dessert? ›

The term dessert can apply to many sweets, such as biscuits, cakes, cookies, custards, gelatins, ice creams, pastries, pies, puddings, macaroons, sweet soups, tarts, and fruit salad (fruit is commonly found in dessert courses because of its naturally occurring sweetness).

What is Spanish Delight ice cream made of? ›

Milk, Milk Solids, Milk Fat, Liquid Glucose, Malted Chocolate, Crispy Nuts, Emulsifier & Stabilizer.

What is a cake without cream called? ›

Oil Cake. Oil cakes follow the same principles as butter cakes, but use oil as the source of fat. Because oil is liquid at room temperature, oil cake recipes skip the step of creaming the fat and sugar; usually the oil is incorporated into the wet ingredients, which are whisked or folded into the dry ingredients.

What is a cake without icing called? ›

Cake fanatics, try this new frosting technique: the naked cake. With barely-there icing, you can see all the goodness you're about to slice into.

Why shouldn't you over whip the brownie batter? ›

If the batter has eggs or even AP flour, you could unintentionally overmix it. Resulting in a dense, dry or even cracked dessert. If you don't want to overmix your batter or you fear you might overmix your batter. Mix your batter until all of your ingredients are just incorporated before proceeding with your recipe.

What was the original birthday cake? ›

However, the link between cakes and birthday celebrations may date back to ancient Roman times; in classical Roman culture, cakes were occasionally served at special birthdays and at weddings. These were flat circles made from flour and nuts, leavened with yeast, and sweetened with honey.

What was the first birthday cake? ›

Germany introduced a birthday cake during the 15th century at the festival Kinderfest, which was a celebration of children's birthdays. The cakes during this time were bread-like and very coarse. Sweeter cakes did not come about in this area until much later.

Who was the first person to have a birthday cake? ›

The Germans were the first to start the birthday cake celebration tradition. During the 18th century, they participated in a celebration called Kinderfeste. Kinderfeste was a party to celebrate a child's day of birth. These cakes were bread-like products with the same texture and likeness as a muffin.

Who made the first cake ever? ›

The first cakes were very different from what we eat today. They were more bread-like and sweetened with honey. Nuts and dried fruits were often added. According to the food historians, the ancient Egyptians were the first culture to show evidence of advanced baking skills.

Who made the first cake and why? ›

First Cake FAQ

However, the ancient Egyptians are thought to have created the first cake. Egyptians often made honey-sweetened dessert breads, which were likely the earliest version of cakes.

When was the first cake made and where? ›

The invention of cake originated in ancient Egypt as round, flat, unleavened breads that were cooked on a hot stone. The evolution of baked goods continued over many centuries through the introduction of new ingredients and the invention of new techniques of baking.

What was cake originally made for? ›

In Ancient Times, some civilizations baked cakes as a kind gesture for their gods and spirits. A round cake was meant to symbolize the cyclical nature of life, as well as the sun and the moon. Incidentally, this theory could explain why we serve cakes at special occasions like birthdays, to symbolize the cycle of life.

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