Amarula Cake is a soft, fluffy and Amarula-Cream drenched cake – absolutely decadent served at tea time or as an everyday dessert !
Amarula Cake – another South-African recipe ! This one was not planned – I received my leaflet from MOIR’S yesterday. They send out one every six months with the most delicious recipes
What is Amarula ?
It is just one of the most popular cream liqueurs in South-Africa!!
Here is what the leaflet had to say about Amarula:
“AMARULA cream liqueur is a South-African classic made from the fruit of the Marula Tree. When ripe, the fruit drops off the tree and ferments naturally. Many wild animals love this fruit and can be seen falling over and very drunk when they eat the fallen fruit that has turned rather alcoholic! “
I know this fruit is not easy to find but now and then we go to the North West Province which is quite popular over weekends (only an hour’s drive there).
Especially for brunches and laid back lunches and it is very scenic around the Hartebeestpoort Dam area.
Anyhow, a few years ago we parked at one of these restaurant/street vendor sites, under a huge tree, and as I got out of the car, I stepped on these little fruits on the ground.
When I picked it up, my hubby, (who grew up on a farm), told me it’s a Marula fruit.
Very excited, because I finally saw a fruit of which I already knew the liqueur very well, I asked him whether one can eat it as is… dumb question !
He laughed and said I shouldn’t try that, as he had a nasty experience on the farm as a child, and if I REALLY wanted the fruit, I should rather see if there was a vendor selling them when they were handpicked and not lying on the ground.
Amarula Cake
Amarula Cake
Ingredients
CAKE:
- 2 ¼ cups Flour
- 1 ⅓ cups Sugar
- ½ TB Baking Powder
- ½ t Salt
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter melted
- 1 cup Milk
- 6 TB Amarula Cream Liqueur **see note below for substitution suggestion if unavailable
- 2 Extra-Large Eggs
- 1 t Caramel Essence
- ¼ cup Fresh Cream (double cream)
GANACHE:
- 100 g Milk Chocolate melted (3.5 ounces)
- 2 TB Amarula Cream Liqueur
- 2 TB Pecan Nuts chopped
- Icing Sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
CAKE:
- Pre-heat oven to 180 deg C (350 deg F) – Spray a medium bundt pan with cooking oil
- Sift together the Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder and Salt in a large bowl
- Beat together the melted Butter, Milk, 4 TB Amarula, Eggs and Caramel essence in a medium bowl – add to the dry ingredients and stir until just mixed (do not over mix)
- Pour batter into the prepared ring pan and bake for 50 – 60 minutes until a tester comes out clean
- Remove from oven – un-mold the cake and place on a wire rack (wax paper underneath to catch any dripping)
- Heat the Fresh Cream and the remaining 2 TB Amarula until just warm – pour over the cake. Let the cake cool completely
GANACHE:
- Combine the melted Milk Chocolate and the Amarula – pour over the cake, followed by the chopped Pecan Nuts – Dust with Icing Sugar
Notes
Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea!
LINDA
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Norma
Tuesday 4th of July 2023
Good day
Is it possible to bake the amarula cake in 8inche tins?
Norma
Wednesday 5th of July 2023
@Linda Nortje,
That's great 🙂 If you don't mind please guide me a bit further... 1. How will adjust the time? By adding or removing on the time given on the recipe? 2. Would you suggest I use 2 or 3, 8" pans.
I want to use this recipe for a birthday cake.
Linda Nortje
Wednesday 5th of July 2023
Yes, absolutely ! You can use 8" baking pans, just remember to adjust your baking time
KJ
Saturday 16th of November 2019
Is caramel essence the same as caramel extract? The items I find that are labeled “essence” appear to be oil based and come with a dropper. That seems like it would be very strong to use a teaspoon of it? Thinking of just using vanilla extract?
Linda Nortje
Saturday 16th of November 2019
Caramel extract is a bit stronger than the essence. Not sure about the oil based essence :/ Vanilla extract would work just fine !
Angélique Rey
Monday 15th of May 2017
Bonjour linda, le gâteau a l'air divinement bon et je découvre l'amarula. De quel autre fruit son goût se rapproche t'il?car en France je ne suis pas sûre de trouver. Bonne après midi.
Linda Nortje
Monday 15th of May 2017
Hi Angelique, I do not think there is anything that comes even remotely close to the Amarula Fruit. You can however use any Cream Liqueur to make the cake, but it will definitely not taste the same. Try Googling for an online store in your area ? I do hope you find a bottle (or three!) as this is delicious !
Agos
Saturday 13th of October 2012
I finally made this cake and it was really good. Yours is prettier though!
Agos
Saturday 13th of October 2012
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fumani Mofokeng
Wednesday 31st of July 2019
Can I replace the butter with canola oil for the vanilla cake?