Kuih Lapis (Steamed Layer Cake)

 

Steamed Kuih Lapis is a popular snack in Malaysia and Singapore and it literally means layer cake in Malay. When I was a little girl, I enjoyed eating this kuih by peeling the different coloured layer by layer. This Kuih Lapis recipe was adapted from a Chinese coobook ~ Malaysian Delicacies. I was a little hesitant at first whether to try this recipe or not when I  saw more tapioca flour rather than the rice flour is used. Since I only have a packet of tapioca flour and little rice flour on hand, I just went ahead to try this recipe. The Kuih Lapis turned out very fragrant and with acceptable texture as well. But I'll definitely want to try the rice flour and mung bean flour mixture next time, so that I can compare the texture of this Kueh Lapis. Oh... due to my laziness and as I wanted to complete the process fast, you will notice a thick layer on two colours, Only 6 layers were made instead of 9 and the lapis will definitely looks taller and prettier if I were to use a smaller cake pan.

Kuih Lapis (Steamed Layer Cake)

Ingredients:

    350g Tapioca flour
    100g Rice flour
    50g Sago flour
     500ml Water
     400g Sugar (used 280g)
     4 Pandan leaves
     500ml Thick coconut milk with a pinch of salt
     Rose pink colouring

     Method:

• In a pot boil water,sugar and pandan leaves together till sugar dissolved. Turn off heat, discard pandan leaves and add in coconut milk. Stir well and leave aside to cool.
• Mix tapioca flour and rice flour together and gradually blend well into coconut liquid with a hand whisk. Then strain mixture through a sieve to ensure it is free from lumps.
• Divide mixture in two equal portions and add desire colouring into one portion, keeping one portion white. (You can use more colours if you prefer to have more colourful layers)
• Grease a 7 inch square or round cake pan and place in steaming pot for few minutes over high heat.
• Pour about 100-125ml of white liquid into the heated pan and steam at high heat for about 4 minutes or until batter is cooked. Then add 100-125ml  of pink liquid onto it and steam for another 4 minutes. (reduce liquid for thinner layers)
• Repeat the procedure, alternating white and pink liquid until all the batter is used up. Remember to stir the batter every time before pouring out the liquid to steam each time.
• Add a little more rose pink colour to the last layer to make it a deeper shade of pink, and steam the whole cake for about 15 mins.
• Leave Kuih Lapis to cool completely after steamed and invert the cake pan to knock out the kuih.
• Grease knife with little oil before cutting. You may also brush a little oil on the surface as gloss finishing.