Panqueque Naranja Orange Thin Layer Cake is trendy in Chile, and the best-filling combination can be a matter of in-depth discussion. My personal favorite is dulce de leche, but close behind is orange curd-like, the one shown here.
Usually, this cake is bought at the bakery. My mother, a very accomplished baker, never did it at home. But that is not an option for me here in Houston. That’s why I spent last year experimenting with how to achieve this fabulous cake with moderate work.
The method, I know, sounds weird, but I have done it at least ten times, always with fantastic results (I have used dulce de leche, jams, and ganache for fillings). Remember to use only the broiler setting on the maximum heat (and nothing else, no fan).
And yes, I know you are wandering. Did she mean the first crepe to be “baked” 10-12 times? And the answer is YES, but as the heat only comes from above, it doesn’t overcook or harden. Remember to make the filling the day before and refrigerate until ready.
MAYBE YOU WILL ALSO LIKE THE RECIPE: EASY DULCE DE LECHE FLAN
PrintPanqueque Naranja Orange Thin Layer Cake
A fabulous delicate flavorful cake.
- Total Time: 2 hour
- Yield: 20
Ingredients
For the filling,
- 3 oranges, grated orange peel, and juice
- 6 eggs
- 500 grams of granulated sugar
- 125 grams of butter
- 1 teaspoon of cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon of cold water, optional
For the cake,
- 225 grams of butter unsalted at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
- 10 eggs, yolks, and whites separated
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
For the filling,
In a medium pot, whisk the orange juice with the eggs until blended, about 2 minutes. Add the grated orange peel and sugar. Set over medium heat, stir well. Add the butter cut into small pieces, cook in a double boiler until thickened, about 20 minutes. Add the dissolved cornstarch, if need it, and cook one more minute. Allow cooling before assembling the cake. Keep refrigerated.
For the cake,
- Preheat the oven, turn on the grill, no fan. You will use the broiler for cooking the crepes. Place the oven rack in the middle position.
- Prepare a cake mold with high sides (I used an 8×3″). Butter very well and put parchment paper at the bottom.
- In a bowl, beat butter and sugar until it is creamy, about 5 minutes. Keep beating on low speed, adding the yolks one at a time, beating until fully incorporated in between.
- In another bowl with very clean beaters, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff, do not overbeat because they will dry up.
- In a large bowl, mix the two batters with light movements.
- Working with a wooden spoon or spatula (do not use a whisk), add the sifted flour and incorporate gently.
- Pour 1/2 cup of batter into the buttered pan and spread with a spoon or spatula across the bottom. Cook for 1 minute and a half to 2 minutes until lightly golden. You can open the oven and look.
- Remove and cover with three tablespoons orange filling, spread.
- Add 1/2 cup of the batter on top of the filling and spread gently. Bake the second crepe in the same way.
- Continue cooking until you have no more batter, and always alternate filling and crepe batter.
- Let cool entirely on a rack.
- Unmold cool (I refrigerated the cake in the pan for at least 2 hours), cover with the orange filling left.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Taste better after a night on the fridge.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Cake
- Method: Oven-baked
- Cuisine: Chilean
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 357
- Sugar: 36.9 g
- Sodium: 175.7 mg
- Fat: 18.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 10.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 0.7 g
- Protein: 6.2 g
Marcela
Filling did NOT work for me. had to throw everything away and make a different recipe that I found online. The para cakes didn’t quite work either, I just wanted to try a new recipe, but I’ll stick to the old one
Pilar Hernandez
I’m sorry it didn’t work.
carrie
i made this cake for my Chilean neighbor’s mother’s birthday this weekend. they were impressed with how similar to the Chilean bakeries it was! thank you for taking the time to figure it out and then share it with us. one note – i discovered in your spanish version about the cornstarch as a thickener for the filling. that was crucial! please add that to the english version. my kids are asking for this for their birthdays coming up. such a refreshing alternative to our standards, and great at breakfast too 🙂
Pilar Hernandez
Thanks, Carrie. I will add the note about the cornstarch. Wow, I’m impressed you did it for a friend, how sweet of you.
I love some cake for breakfast! I’m always tinkering, and recently I made the pancakes on the stove on a crepe pan, and it was quicker even.