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Amarula Cake

Amarula Cake is a soft, fluffy and Amarula-Cream drenched cake – absolutely decadent served at tea time or as an everyday dessert !

Amarula Cake

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! “

Amarula Cake

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.

~~ Quick PIN Link ~~

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.

Soft, fluffy and Amarula-Cream drenched cake - absolutely decadent !

Amarula Cake

Amarula Cake
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 
Amarula Cake is a soft, fluffy and Amarula-Cream drenched cake - absolutely decadent served at tea time or as an everyday dessert !
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: South-African
Servings: 8 Servings
Author: Linda Nortje
Ingredients
CAKE:
  • 2 1/4 cups Flour
  • 1 1/3 cups Sugar
  • 1/2 TB Baking Powder
  • 1/2 t Salt
  • 1/2 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
  • 1/4 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:
  1. Pre-heat oven to 180 deg C (350 deg F) – Spray a medium bundt pan with cooking oil
  2. Sift together the Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder and Salt in a large bowl
  3. 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)
  4. Pour batter into the prepared ring pan and bake for 50 – 60 minutes until a tester comes out clean
  5. Remove from oven – un-mold the cake and place on a wire rack (wax paper underneath to catch any dripping)
  6. Heat the Fresh Cream and the remaining 2 TB Amarula until just warm – pour over the cake. Let the cake cool completely
GANACHE:
  1. Combine the melted Milk Chocolate and the Amarula – pour over the cake, followed by the chopped Pecan Nuts – Dust with Icing Sugar
Recipe Notes

Any Cream based Liqueur can be used (the taste will however NOT be the same as with an Amarula Cream Liqueur)

Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea!

LINDA

Soft, fluffy and Amarula-Cream drenched cake - absolutely decadent !

You might also like :

Amarula Chocolate Caramel Cake

https://www.withablast.net/2015/02/amarula-chocolate-caramel-cake.html

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?

Debi Bolocofsky

Thursday 20th of September 2012

Hi Linda,This looks delicious. I can just see the drunk animals. Too funny. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. Have a great week.Debi

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