Spanish Layer Cake With Pastry Cream and Marzipan Recipe

Name: Ponche Segoviano
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: For the Cake:; 6 large eggs; 3/4 cup sugar; Pinch of salt; 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; For the Pastry Cream:; 16 oz. milk; 6 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch; 2/3 cup sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; For the Topping:; 16 oz. marzipan (or almond paste)

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Total: 50 mins

Servings: 8 to 10 servings

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
478	Calories
18g	Fat
69g	Carbs
12g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories	478
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g	22%
Saturated Fat 3g	15%
Cholesterol 153mg	51%
Sodium 98mg	4%
Total Carbohydrate 69g	25%
Dietary Fiber 3g	9%
Total Sugars 48g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 162mg	12%
Iron 2mg	12%
Potassium 285mg	6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This wonderful cake is perfect for the holidays, or any time of year. It is not difficult, but there are several steps. First, make a light and fluffy cake and cut into thin layers. Fill with pastry cream in between each layer, then top with marzipan, (the sweet almond candy that the Spanish love).

For the Cake:

6 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
Pinch salt
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Pastry Cream:

2 cups milk
6 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Topping:

16 ounces marzipan or almond paste

First, prepare the cake. Heat oven to 360 F. Place eggs and sugar into a medium mixing bowl and beat with an electric beater until eggs turn a light yellow color and frothy. Add the salt and vanilla extract. Gradually add in the flour while beating. Make sure that there are no lumps in the batter.
Grease a round cake pan, then flour it. Pour batter into pan and bake on middle rack for 30 to 35 minutes. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
While the cake is baking, prepare the pastry cream. Pour all but 1/3 cup milk into a medium saucepan. Place the milk on the stove and heat to a boil. Just as it boils, remove from the heat.
Pour the remaining cold milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and the cornstarch in a medium saucepan, and stir with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs. Beat with an electric hand mixer until thoroughly blended.
Slowly pour the milk into the sugar mixture, while stirring with a wire whip. Return pan to the stove on medium heat. The mixture should begin to thicken within 3 to 4 minutes. Thickening will happen suddenly, so as soon as there is resistance while stirring, turn off heat and continue to stir rapidly to prevent clumping. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir.
Place crema into a plastic storage container and immediately cover with plastic wrap to prevent a film from forming. Allow to cool for 20 minutes. If not using right away, place in refrigerator until ready to assemble the cake.
Use a rolling pin to roll out the marzipan to a circle slightly larger than the cake. (Since marzipan is sticky, use parchment paper underneath and on top.)
Assemble the cake by spooning the pastry cream between each of the 3 layers. Top with the marzipan and cut away any excess. Decorate with powdered sugar on top, or use a butane kitchen torch to burn designs in the marzipan.