The beak cake is a typical cake from Lucca. It is a shortcrust pastry-based dessert, a traditional cake for “Santa Zita” celebrated on April 27th. Santa Zita is the patron saint of housewives and maids as well as bakers.
The beak cake originated as a herb pie, but over the years many variations have been added.
The characteristic of this cake is the beaks, triangles of pastry cut and folded along the edge.
Today I present the chocolate version, perfect for any occasion.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 8/10 people
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Easter
Ingredients for Beak Cake
- 2 cups All-purpose Flour
- 9 tbsps Butter
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 packet Baking powder
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 packet Vanillin (or lemon zest)
- 3 Eggs
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 2/3 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 quart 1/2 l Milk
- 1 1/2 shot Brandy or rum
- 1/3 cup Cornstarch (cornflour)
Tools
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Springform Pan
Beak Cake Preparation
Sift the flour and arrange it in a mound. Add the room temperature butter, cut into pieces, and the sugar, and start mixing. Then add the vanillin, baking powder, and a pinch of salt, always mixing.
Now start adding the eggs one at a time, working the dough well until it is smooth and homogeneous.
Let it rest for 1 hour in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap.
Now let’s prepare the cream.
In a saucepan, mix well the sugar, eggs, and flour, then gradually add the hot milk, place on the heat until it thickens, remove from heat and add the cocoa and brandy, continuing to stir until it is nice and smooth.
Take the pastry dough again and roll it out, (set aside a little dough) it should be at least 1/4 inch thick. Place in a buttered and floured pan, leaving more dough on the edges. Pour the cream inside, trying to level it well.
Let’s make the beaks. With the help of a knife, cut the edge of the dough making a diagonal cut, take the cut part and fold it back on itself forming points along the entire edge. With the dough set aside, form strips and decorate the cake.
Brush the dough with egg white and sugar.
Bake at 390°F for about 40 minutes, consider that it should be well colored.
Notes
If there are leftovers, keep in a cool, dry place for 3/4 days.
The recipe contains affiliate links.
