Panetela Borracha |
We of the Maryland Prats Clan know it as Panetela Borracha, and versions with this name are island-wide Cuban pastry classics. After Elia’s death, her husband Ventura Martínez continued the tradition, bringing this and other of her deserts to Prats and López gatherings and parties. After his passing it was Mariana’s and her sisters’ turn.
For the sponge cake
10 whole eggs
pinch of salt
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
3 teaspoons of Royal (baking powder)
¼ lbs (one stick) butter, melted
For the syrup
5 cups water
3 cups sugar
a long piece of lime peel
¼ teaspoon of lime juice
½ cinnamon stick (optional)
¼ cup of good rum (optional)
¼ cup of good rum (optional)
Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt until they whiten (about 15 minutes by hand, says her recipe, but I would use an electric mixer), then mix in the sugar and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture little-by-little alternating with the melted butter. Pour into the greased pan and bake for 40 minutes, more or less. Let it bake until you see the deep golden color top you see in the photograph.
While the cake is baking, make the syrup. Heat the water, sugar, lime peel, and cinnamon stick. Boil gently for a few minutes, stirring until the crystals dissolve and the syrup looks clear. Remove from heat, discard the peel and stick, and add the lime juice, and optionally the rum. Stir well and set aside.
Panetela Borracha This cake was cut into 28 portions. Four instead of three long cuts gets you 35 portions. |
Should serve 18 or more. If you cut the cake into 2 inch squares, you should have 35 portions. When serving, ask each person if they want one or two portions on their plate. Spoon up syrup from the bottom of the pan to add to each serving.
I will note that the liquor called for in the recipe always stayed optional at Prats family gatherings. The Martinez were for the most part teetotalers (by personal choice, not by zealotry) and our drunken spongecake was never found to be inebriated.