From North SumatraCakes & Snacks
Bika Ambon (Honeycomb Coconut Cake)
Bika Ambon
Medan's legendary cake with a chewy honeycomb texture, perfumed with lime leaf and lemongrass, sweet and rich.
- Time
- 4 hr
- Serves
- 16 people
- Origin
- North Sumatra
- Type
- Cakes & Snacks
Ingredients
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Starter
How to Make
Mix the starter ingredients and leave 15 minutes until foamy.
Simmer the coconut milk with lime leaves, lemongrass and salt until fragrant. Strain and cool to lukewarm.
Whisk the eggs and sugar only until the sugar dissolves; do not whip until fluffy.
Add the flour, starter and coconut milk alternately, stirring well.
Cover and rest the batter 2 to 3 hours until the surface is bubbly.
Heat the oven to 175°C with bottom heat only. Heat an oiled 22 cm tin.
Pour in the batter and bake 45 minutes with bottom heat until honeycombed, then turn on top heat for 10 minutes to brown.
Kitchen tip
The honeycomb comes from proper fermentation and a tin that is already hot when the batter goes in.
Questions
Where does Bika Ambon (Honeycomb Coconut Cake) come from?
Bika Ambon is a traditional dish from North Sumatra (capital: Medan), in the Sumatra region of Indonesia.
How long does Bika Ambon (Honeycomb Coconut Cake) take to make?
It takes about 4 hr in total to make 16 servings, including preparation.
What is the secret to a good Bika Ambon (Honeycomb Coconut Cake)?
The honeycomb comes from proper fermentation and a tin that is already hot when the batter goes in.