Why This Malakoff Cake Recipe
Will Become Your New Favorite Dessert

Indulge in the rich flavors of Malakoff Cake, a delightful dessert that combines espresso-soaked ladyfingers with a creamy coffee custard. Perfect for coffee lovers and dessert enthusiasts alike, this recipe promises to elevate your sweet treats and impress your guests at any gathering!

If you’re someone who loves coffee and enjoys experimenting with new dessert recipes, then the Malakoff Cake Recipe is a must-try. This rich, indulgent dessert has been a classic for many years and is sure to steal the hearts of coffee lovers everywhere. But what makes this cake so special, and why is it destined to become your new favorite?

Let’s take a deeper look at this deliciously coffee-infused treat.

The Origin of the Malakoff Cake

The Malakoff Cake is a celebrated dessert with deep roots in European pastry traditions, particularly within Austrian and Hungarian kitchens. It’s a cake that marries the elegance of coffee with the creamy sweetness of a layered dessert, making it a beloved choice for those who adore both.

Legend has it that the cake is named after the Battle of Malakoff during the Crimean War, a nod to the French general who, after the battle, supposedly indulged in this creamy treat.

Its fame spread across Europe, with various interpretations of the original recipe emerging over time. However, the essence remains the same: it’s a soft, moist, and beautifully creamy cake, where the contrast between coffee-soaked ladyfingers and fluffy coffee cream will captivate your taste buds.

What makes this particular Malakoff Cake recipe stand out is the balance of bold coffee flavor and delicate sweetness, with just a hint of rum, which makes it ideal for coffee enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates the finer things in life.

Why You'll Love This Malakoff Cake Recipe

This isn’t just any dessert; it’s a celebration of coffee, cream, and layers of texture that make each bite an experience. With espresso-infused ladyfingers, rich coffee cream, and a luxurious texture, this cake strikes the perfect balance between indulgence and sophistication.

Coffee lovers will appreciate the deep, aromatic flavors, while dessert enthusiasts will fall for the smooth, velvety cream that holds everything together. Whether you’re making it for a special occasion or as a weekend treat, this cake is sure to impress!

Let’s take a look at the ingredients that make this Malakoff Cake recipe so extraordinary.

Ingredients: What Makes This Malakoff Cake Recipe So Special?

Ingredients for the Cake

600 ml of espresso
3 tablespoons of rum
1 tablespoon of sugar
35 pieces of ladyfingers

The magic of the Malakoff Cake begins with the cake base, which is a combination of espresso, rum, and sugar-soaked ladyfingers. These ingredients create a perfect balance of bitterness from the espresso, sweetness from the sugar, and depth from the rum. The ladyfingers, when dipped in the coffee mixture, absorb just the right amount of liquid to become tender but not soggy, providing the ideal texture that holds the layers together.

Ingredients for the Coffee Cream

150 gr of icing sugar
24 gr of vanilla sugar
6 egg yolks
2 teaspoons of edible starches
100 ml of strong espresso
400 ml of milk
100 ml of water
20 gr of gelatin powder
400 ml of whipping cream

The coffee cream is what truly elevates this dessert. The combination of egg yolks, icing sugar, and starches creates a smooth, custard-like base that is rich and creamy. The espresso adds a depth of flavor, and the gelatin helps the cream set to the perfect consistency, ensuring that each slice is neat and holds together. The whipped cream is folded into the custard, giving the cream a light, airy texture that contrasts beautifully with the soaked ladyfingers.

Ingredients for Garnish

Whipped Cream
Hazelnut Waffle Rolls

The garnish is simple but elegant: a dollop of whipped cream and hazelnut waffle rolls. These additions not only enhance the cake’s visual appeal but also add texture and a hint of nutty flavor that perfectly complements the richness of the cream and coffee.

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Malakoff Cake

Now that you know what makes this Malakoff Cake so special, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of making it.

Follow these instructions carefully, and you’ll have a dessert worthy of any occasion.

Prepare the Coffee Mixture – Start by brewing 600 ml of strong espresso and allowing it to cool. Once cooled, mix it with 3 tablespoons of rum and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Set this aside.

Make the Coffee Cream Base – In a mixing bowl, combine 150 gr of icing sugar and 24 gr of vanilla sugar with 6 egg yolks. Whisk until smooth. Add 2 teaspoons of edible starches and 100 ml of strong espresso, then mix again.
Heat the Milk – In a separate pot, heat 400 ml of milk almost to boiling point, then gradually whisk it into the sugar-egg mixture. This creates a smooth, slightly thickened custard base.
Cook the Cream – Place the custard mixture over a double boiler, stirring constantly. Cook until the cream thickens. This process may take several minutes, so be patient and keep stirring to avoid lumps.

Add the Gelatin – Boil 100 ml of water, then remove from heat. Stir in 20 gr of gelatin powder until fully dissolved. Add this gelatin mixture to the thickened cream, stirring until smooth. Let it cool slightly while continuing to stir.
Whip the Cream – In a separate bowl, whip 400 ml of whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cooled custard mixture. This creates a light, airy coffee cream.

Assemble and Garnish

Assemble the Cake – Line a 24 cm cake pan with parchment paper. Dip the ladyfingers one by one into the coffee mixture, making sure not to soak them too long. Arrange them in the bottom of the pan.
Layer the Cake – Spoon one-third of the coffee cream onto the ladyfingers, then add another layer of dipped ladyfingers. Follow this with half of the remaining cream, then another layer of ladyfingers. Finally, spread the last of the cream on top.
Chill the Cake – Refrigerate the cake for a few hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld together and the cake to set completely.
Garnish and Serve – Once the cake is chilled and set, remove it from the pan and place it on a cake platter. Top it with whipped cream and hazelnut waffle rolls for a final touch.

Who Should Try This Malakoff Cake Recipe?

This cake is perfect for coffee lovers, dessert enthusiasts, and anyone looking to create a show-stopping treat. Whether you’re planning a special occasion or simply want to indulge in something new and exciting, the Malakoff Cake is a wonderful choice. It’s also an excellent dessert for gathering friends or family to share. Its rich, indulgent flavor makes it a real crowd-pleaser.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves experimenting with new dessert recipes. I’ve been a fan of coffee-based desserts for years, and this one stands out as a true gem. For me, it’s an experience rather than just a treat.

A personal experience...

I come from a family of serious sweet tooths, but let’s face it - I take the crown as the ultimate dessert enthusiast. While chocolates will always have a special place in my heart, I’ve got a soft spot for desserts packed with fluffy, airy creams. And even though I’m a die-hard chocolate fan, fruity-flavored cakes have always been my go-to.
Now here’s the twist: despite being a huge coffee lover (like, “can’t function without it” kind of huge), the thought of a coffee-flavored dessert? Hard pass. It just didn’t click for me. That is, until one fateful day when I tried tiramisu.

Cue the angels singing! That first bite was nothing short of a revelation. Suddenly, coffee desserts weren’t just on the table - they became the table! Since then, I’ve been on a mission to taste anything and everything coffee-infused.
Enter the Malakoff Cake. Oh, this beauty didn’t just walk into my life. It strutted in, almost knocking tiramisu off its imaginary dessert throne. These days? Let’s just say they’re sharing the spotlight at the top of my dessert podium. Who knew coffee and dessert could be such a perfect match?

What’s your favorite coffee dessert?

Let me know in the message box below!

Variations on the Malakoff Cake Recipe

While this classic Malakoff Cake recipe is absolutely delicious, you can make it your own by experimenting with a few variations. For a lighter flavor, consider replacing the rum with a bit of orange liqueur or hazelnut syrup for a unique twist. For an extra touch of decadence, you can even layer the cake with a bit of chocolate ganache or sprinkle cocoa powder over the whipped cream for a sophisticated finish.

Another variation could involve adding a bit of chopped nuts – such as hazelnuts or almonds – between the layers for added crunch. Or, if you prefer a slightly sweeter twist, use a caramel syrup instead of rum for a sweet, warm flavor that complements the coffee beautifully.

Final Thoughts

This Malakoff Cake recipe is an incredible treat that blends the comforting flavors of coffee, rum, and cream into an irresistible dessert. It’s perfect for those who love coffee-based cakes, enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, and appreciate the art of making beautiful, delicious desserts. Try it for yourself, and I’m sure it will become one of your go-to recipes for impressing guests or treating yourself to something special.

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Malakoff Cake Recipe

Discover the decadent Malakoff Cake, a coffee-infused dessert that blends the boldness of espresso with the sweetness of ladyfingers and a luscious cream. Ideal for special occasions or a cozy treat, this recipe will quickly become your new favorite way to enjoy coffee in dessert form!

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Prep Time 1

Course Dessert

Cuisine International

Servings people

Equipment

Espresso Machine
Cake Pan
Bowls

Ingredients

Ladyfinger Layers

600 ml espresso coffee
35 pcs Ladyfingers
3 tbsps rum
1 tbsp sugar

Coffee Cream

100 ml strong espresso
400 ml milk
100 ml water
150 g icing sugar
24 g vanilla sugar
6 pcs egg yolks
2 tsps edible starches
20 g gelatin powder
400 ml whipping cream

Garnish

whipped cream
hazelnut wafel rolls

Instructions

Prepare Ladyfinger layers

We mix the brewed and cooled black coffee with rum and sugar, and set it aside. We will then dip the ladyfingers into the rum coffee before layering them in the cake pan with the cream.

Prepare Coffee Cream

We add the vanilla sugar and egg yolks to the icing sugar, mix until smooth, then add the edible starches and black coffee as well.
We heat the milk almost to boiling point, then gradually stir it into the sugar-egg mixture. Then, over a double boiler, while stirring constantly, we cook it until the cream thickens, then remove it from heat. (It needs to be cooked and stirred for quite a few minutes before it thickens.)
We boil the water. Remove from heat, add the gelatin powder, and stir until completely dissolved. Then, we add it to the thickened cream and mix until smooth, then cool while stirring. (The cream will be slightly thinner after adding the gelatin). Whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form, then gradually add it to the cream mixture to obtain a smooth cream.

Assemble the Cake

Line the cake-pan with baking parchment. Dip the Ladyfingers individually into the rum coffee, then line the bottom of the cake-pan with them. (Be careful to dip them only for a moment, so that the Ladyfingers don’t soak up too much coffee and get soggy, because then we won’t be able to slice the cake.)
We spoon one-third of the cream onto the coffee Ladyfingers, then add another layer of Ladyfingers dipped in coffee. Next, we spoon half of the remaining cream, followed by another layer of coffee-soaked Ladyfingers, and finally, we evenly spread the rest of the cream on top. The finished cake is placed in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight to set completely and allow the flavors to meld together.

Decorate & Serve

We take the well-chilled cake out of the cake pan, then place it on a cake platter together with the parchment paper. Then, we decorate the top of the cake with whipped cream and hazelnut wafel rolls.
I recommend using a 24 cm diameter cake pan for making this cake.

Notes

While this classic Malakoff Cake recipe is absolutely delicious, you can make it your own by experimenting with a few variations.

For a lighter flavor, consider replacing the rum with a bit of orange liqueur or hazelnut syrup for a unique twist.

For an extra touch of decadence, you can even layer the cake with a bit of chocolate ganache or sprinkle cocoa powder over the whipped cream for a sophisticated finish.

Another variation could involve adding a bit of chopped nuts - such as hazelnuts or almonds - between the layers for added crunch.

Or, if you prefer a slightly sweeter twist, use a caramel syrup instead of rum for a sweet, warm flavor that complements the coffee beautifully.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Why This Malakoff Cake Recipe Will Become Your New Favorite Dessert