The Legacy of Lapis Legit: An Original Indonesian Cake Recipe

The Fascinating History of Lapis Legit (Spekkoek)

Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Lapis Legit

Step-by-Step Preparation: The Thousand Layers Cake

Step 1: Creaming Butter, Egg Yolks, and Sugar

The foundation of a light and airy Lapis Legit begins with a perfectly creamed butter and egg mixture:

1. Place your softened, room-temperature butter into a spacious mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer set to high speed, beat the butter for approximately three minutes until it transforms into a light, pale, and fluffy consistency. This initial aeration is vital for the cake’s texture.
2. Next, add the separated egg yolks to the creamed butter. Continue mixing on high speed for another two minutes, ensuring the yolks are thoroughly incorporated and the mixture maintains its smooth, creamy texture.
3. While the mixer is still running, gradually add the fine sugar, one teaspoon at a time, to the butter-egg mixture. This slow, steady addition allows the sugar to dissolve properly and ensures the mixture remains light and airy.
4. After all the sugar has been incorporated, continue to beat the entire mixture at high speed for one final minute. This step guarantees a perfectly light, fluffy, and uniformly combined base for your cake.

Step 2: Gently Making the Batter

Maintaining the airiness of the batter is crucial for the delicate layers of Lapis Legit. Handle with care:

1. In an impeccably clean and grease-free bowl (ensure both the bowl and your mixing hooks are thoroughly clean), beat the egg whites until they form stiff, glossy peaks. Remember, any trace of fat from egg yolk or grease will prevent the whites from stiffening properly.
2. Carefully add about one-third of the stiffly beaten egg whites to the butter mixture. Using a spatula, gently fold them in. This initial fold helps to gradually lighten the denser butter mixture, making it more receptive to the remaining fluffy egg whites. Mix just until no white streaks are visible.
3. Now, add the rest of the whipped egg whites to the bowl. Continue to fold very gently with your spatula, using an upward motion, to preserve as much air as possible, until the egg whites are fully integrated into the batter. The goal is a light, voluminous consistency.
4. Finally, add the all-purpose flour, scoop by scoop, to the batter. Gently fold it in with the spatula, mixing only until the flour is just incorporated and no dry pockets remain. Overmixing at this stage can deflate the delicate batter.

Step 3: Adding Spices to the Batter

This step creates the distinctive dual-colored and dual-flavored layers of Lapis Legit:

1. Precisely divide the prepared batter evenly between two separate bowls. For accuracy, it’s helpful to weigh the batter in the first bowl and then transfer exactly half of that weight to the second bowl.
2. Into the first bowl, add the specified amounts of ground cinnamon and ground cloves.
3. Then, add the ground cardamom and ground nutmeg to the same first bowl.
4. Using a spatula, gently mix these spices into the batter. Fold carefully until the spices are thoroughly blended and evenly distributed throughout, without deflating the airy batter. The second bowl of batter will remain ‘natural’ or unspiced, providing a subtle contrast.

Step 4: Filling the Tin and Baking the Thousand Layers Cake

The layering and baking process requires patience and precision to achieve the iconic “thousand layers”:

1. Thoroughly grease your springform pan with butter, and then line the bottom with a perfectly cut circle of baking paper. This preparation ensures that your beautifully layered cake can be easily removed once baked.
2. Spoon approximately 6 to 8 tablespoons of the natural (unspiced) batter over the bottom of the prepared pan. Using a palette knife or the back of a spoon, gently spread it into a thin, even layer across the entire base. Place the springform pan in the center rack of a preheated conventional oven at 350°F (180°C) and bake for about 4 minutes, or until the layer is just set and lightly golden. Carefully remove it from the oven.
3. Now, engage the grill (broiler) function of your oven. Carefully spread 6 to 8 tablespoons of the spiced batter evenly over the first baked layer. Slide the springform pan back into the oven, still on the center rack. Grill for approximately four minutes, but this is a critical step – stay vigilant and watch it continuously to prevent burning. The layer should be beautifully golden brown and set. Remove from the oven.
4. Continue this alternating process: first, apply a layer of natural batter and bake for four minutes under conventional heat; then, apply a layer of spiced batter and grill for another four minutes. Repeat this meticulous layering until all the batter is used. Crucial adjustment: After the fourth layer has been baked, carefully lower the springform pan to the bottom rack in your oven. This adjustment is essential to prevent the rising cake from getting too close to the heating element and burning as more layers are added.
5. Once all the batter has been layered and the final spiced layer has been grilled, switch your oven back to a conventional setting (top and bottom heat) at 300°F (approximately 149°C). Loosely cover the entire cake with aluminum foil to protect the top from further browning and to allow the interior to cook through evenly. Bake for an additional 15 minutes.
6. Remove the finished cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before attempting to remove the sides of the springform pan. Once cool, carefully release the cake. For serving, use a sharp, thin knife to cut the Indonesian layer cake into elegant, thin slices, beautifully showcasing its many intricate layers.

Delicious Lapis Legit Variations

While the traditional Lapis Legit is an exquisite treat, you can explore creative variations to introduce new dimensions of flavor:

• Chocolate Thousand Layer Spice Cake: For a richer color and a delightful hint of chocolate, simply incorporate 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder into your spiced batter. To beautifully complement this, add 1 tablespoon of vanilla sugar to the natural (unspiced) batter. This combination creates a harmonious blend of warming spices, subtle vanilla, and decadent chocolate.
• Pandan Cake: Embark on a unique Southeast Asian flavor journey with a Pandan Lapis Legit. For this variation, divide your prepared batter equally among three bowls instead of two. Leave the batter in the first bowl plain (as the natural batter). Add the traditional Lapis Legit spices to the second bowl. To the third bowl, introduce ½ teaspoon of pandan extract. Pandan extract not only imparts a beautiful, vibrant light green color but also offers a wonderfully fragrant, subtly nutty, and sweet flavor often referred to as “Asian vanilla.” You can typically find pandan extract at most Asian supermarkets. Follow the standard baking instructions, simply alternating between the three distinct batters for a truly aromatic and visually striking cake.

Expert Tips for Baking the Perfect Lapis Legit

Baking Lapis Legit is a rewarding experience that benefits greatly from a few key insights and techniques:

• Room Temperature Ingredients are Non-Negotiable: Always ensure that both your butter and eggs are at proper room temperature. Ingredients at this temperature incorporate significantly more air during mixing, resulting in a lighter, smoother, and more voluminous batter. This, in turn, translates to a remarkably tender and airy final cake.
• Revealing the Layers (Optional): If you desire to beautifully display the intricate layers on the outside of your finished cake, you can carefully trim a very thin sliver off the perimeter once the cake has completely cooled. However, many (like myself!) find Lapis Legit too delicious to waste even the smallest piece, opting to skip this aesthetic step!
• Flawless Egg Whites are Key: To achieve stiff, stable egg whites, it is absolutely paramount to use an impeccably clean and grease-free bowl and mixing attachments. Even a tiny, almost invisible speck of egg yolk (which contains fat) or any residual grease will prevent the egg whites from whipping up properly. This step is critical for giving the cake its signature lift and delicate texture.
• Unwavering Attention During Grilling: Be aware that every oven’s grill (broiler) function varies in intensity and heat distribution. The four-minute baking time per layer provided in this recipe is a guideline. It is crucial to stay right by your oven and continuously monitor each layer to prevent it from burning. The goal is a rich, golden-brown hue, not a charred surface.
• Strategic Oven Rack Adjustment: Begin baking your initial layers on the middle rack of the oven. As the cake gradually builds height with each successive layer, you must carefully move the springform pan to the lowest rack in the oven after approximately the fourth layer. This adjustment prevents the top of your growing cake from getting too close to the heating element and burning prematurely.
• Effortless Batter Spreading Technique: If you encounter difficulty spreading the fresh batter evenly over a warm, baked layer without tearing or disturbing it, try this simple trick: spoon the batter onto the cake and then let it rest for about a minute. The residual warmth from the baked layers will slightly melt and soften the butter in the new batter, making it much easier to spread smoothly and uniformly without any damage to the delicate layers underneath.
• The Right Oven Type Matters: This recipe is specifically designed for a conventional oven (which uses top and bottom heating elements) in combination with a grill (broiler) function. It is strongly advised against using a convection oven for Lapis Legit, as the circulating hot air can dry out the many delicate layers, resulting in a less moist, tender, and authentic cake.

Other Delicious Desserts to Explore

If you’ve savored the intricate beauty and delightful flavors of Lapis Legit, you’ll surely enjoy exploring these other exquisite international sweet treats:

📖 Recipe Card