Kievsky aka Kiev Cake Recipe

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Ooooh, this will knock your socks off! If you’ve made the Biskvit cake, you know how to make the bulk of this cake. It has a special layer sandwiched between the biskvit called “byuze or beze” which is a crunchy meringue.

The cakes have a unique syrup discovered by my Mama-in-law with apricots. You don’t know Ukrainian desert until you’ve tried Kiev Cake! The meringue part is quick to make, but it does take a long time to bake/dry-out and you can make it a day ahead. Ooooooh it’s so worth it!

This is definitely a special occasion cake, or a “make it on a Tuesday so you can share the recipe quicker and hope your family comes over to eat it” cake. For maximum meringue crunchiness, this cake should be eaten the same day it’s assembled. There are many different recipes of this cake, this one is my mom’s version.

Kiev Cake Biskvit Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour *measured correctly
8 eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Beze/ Meringue Ingredients:

6 egg whites, at room temperature
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted  for wax paper

Syrup/ Puree Ingredients:

15 oz Can Apricot Halves in light syrup (I used DelMonte Brand)
1/4 cup water
1 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp granulated Sugar

Click Here for the Frosting Recipe

The frosting from the Russian Cherry layer cake (whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk) is also fantastic for this recipe.

How to Make the Byuze/ Beze/ Meringue:

1. Line a 9×13 non-stick cake pan with wax paper. Melt 1 Tbsp butter and brush the top of the wax paper with butter.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the whisk attachment, over high-speed, beat 6 egg whites and 1 1/3 cup of sugar together for about 6 minutes, or until stiff peaks form (see picture). It will be white and fluffy.

3. Spread the egg whites evenly into the cake pan lined with wax paper. Bake at 250˚ F for 4 hours and 10 minutes. When the time is up, remove from oven and peel off the wax paper. Set on a tea towel and cool to room temperature. The Meringue can be left on the counter overnight, covered with a dry tea towel.

How to Make the Russian Sponge Cake Beskvit: 

1.Preheat the Oven to 350˚ F and line 1 non-stick cake pans with wax paper. Use a (13×9) non-stick pan.

2. First, separate egg whites from yolks. Next, in a medium bowl, whisk together 8 yolks, 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Add 1 cup of flour until well blended.

3. In a large bowl, beat 8 egg whites on high-speed until they foam and are about 3-4 times in volume (about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes). Don’t beat too long or you will begin to lose volume.

4. Use a spatula to gently fold the yolk mixture into the egg whites until well combined. Don’t mix too much or you will lose volume. The batter should have a fluffy texture.

5. Place the batter into the lined cake pan and bake 22 minutes until the top is golden.

6. As soon as the cake is done, turn the cake out onto a clean surface and peel off the wax paper. This is much easier to do while the cake is still very warm. Use a knife to remove rough edges. Let cakes cool to room temperature.

Assembling the Cake:

(note: for maximum crunchiness of the meringue layer, this cake should be eaten the same day it is assembled). 

1. Drain the apricots reserving the syrup. Mix all of the syrup ingredients (drained apricot syrup, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp sugar) together until sugar dissolves. Puree Remaining Apricots in a Blender.

2. Slice the cake evenly into two layers. Place the first cake layer(with the cut side up) on the dish you will be serving it on. Once you put the syrup on, it will be very difficult to move it.

3. Pour half the syrup evenly over the first cake layer and spread half of the apricot puree over it.

4. Spread about 1/4 of the frosting evenly over the puree. Click here for Russian Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe that I used.

5. Set baked meringue over the cake and trim it to fit evenly over the biskvit cake. Reserve Crumbs for the top of the cake. Place the meringue on top of cake and spread frosting over the top

6. Place the second cake on top of the meringue . Pour the second half of syrup evenly over the second cake and spread the rest of the apricot puree on the top.

7. Frost the top and sides of the cake.

8. Crush the meringue crumbs and Sprinkle them all over the cake. It helps to hold  a spatula next to the side of the cake as you sprinkle crumbs to keep more of them on the cake. Or you can use a fine mesh sieve if you have one for more even distribution. You may need to tilt the cake a little to cover the sides, just do this cautiously.

Notes:  The final layers should be: cake, syrup, puree, frosting, meringue, frosting, cake syrup, puree, frosting on all sides, covered with meringue crumbs. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve. It stays yummy in the fridge for a few days.

Kievsky aka Kiev Cake Recipe

4.93 from 40 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

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Prep Time: 1 hour hr

Cook Time: 4 hours hrs 32 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 hours hrs 32 minutes mins

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 -16

Biskvit Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 8 eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Beze/ Meringue Ingredients:

• 6 egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted for wax paper

Syrup/ Puree Ingredients:

• 15 oz Can Apricot Halves in light syrup
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp granulated Sugar

Frosting Ingredients:

• Follow the link in the post

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Instructions

How to Make the Byuze/ Beze/ Meringue:

• Line a 9x13 non-stick cake pan with wax paper. Melt 1 Tbsp butter and brush the top of the wax paper with butter.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the whisk attachment, over high-speed, beat 6 egg whites and 1 1/3 cup of sugar together for about 6 minutes, or until stiff peaks form (see picture). It will be white and fluffy.
• Spread the egg whites evenly into the cake pan lined with wax paper. Bake at 250˚ F for 4 hours and 10 minutes. When the time is up, remove from oven and peel off the wax paper. Set on a tea towel and cool to room temperature. The Meringue can be left on the counter overnight, covered with a dry tea towel.

How to Make the Russian Sponge Cake Beskvit:

• Preheat the Oven to 350˚ F and line 1 non-stick cake pans with wax paper. Use a (13x9) non-stick pan.
• First, separate egg whites from yolks. Next, in a medium bowl, whisk together 8 yolks, 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Add 1 cup of flour until well blended.
• In a large bowl, beat 8 egg whites on high-speed until they foam and are about 3-4 times in volume (about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes). Don't beat too long or you will begin to lose volume.
• Use a spatula to gently fold the yolk mixture into the egg whites until well combined. Don't mix too much or you will lose volume. The batter should have a fluffy texture.
• Place the batter into the lined cake pan and bake 22 minutes until the top is golden.
• As soon as the cake is done, turn the cake out onto a clean surface and peel off the wax paper. This is much easier to do while the cake is still very warm. Use a knife to remove rough edges. Let cakes cool to room temperature.

Assembling the Cake: (note: for maximum crunchiness of the meringue layer, this cake should be eaten the same day it is assembled).

• Drain the apricots reserving the syrup. Mix all of the syrup ingredients (drained apricot syrup, 1/4 cup water, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp sugar) together until sugar dissolves. Puree Remaining Apricots in a Blender.
• Slice the cake evenly into two layers. Place the first cake layer(with the cut side up) on the dish you will be serving it on. Once you put the syrup on, it will be very difficult to move it.
• Pour half the syrup evenly over the first cake layer and spread half of the apricot puree over it.
• Spread about 1/4 of the frosting evenly over the puree. Click here for Russian Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe that I used.
• Set baked meringue over the cake and trim it to fit evenly over the biskvit cake. Reserve Crumbs for the top of the cake. Place the meringue on top of cake and spread frosting over the top.
• Place the second cake on top of the meringue . Pour the second half of syrup evenly over the second cake and spread the rest of the apricot puree on the top.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake.
• Crush the meringue crumbs and Sprinkle them all over the cake. It helps to hold a spatula next to the side of the cake as you sprinkle crumbs to keep more of them on the cake. Or you can use a fine mesh sieve if you have one for more even distribution. You may need to tilt the cake a little to cover the sides, just do this cautiously.

Notes

The final layers should be: cake, syrup, puree, frosting, meringue, frosting, cake syrup, puree, frosting on all sides, covered with meringue crumbs.
Refrigerate cake until ready to serve. It stays yummy in the fridge for a few days.

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian

Keyword: Kiev cake

Skill Level: Difficult

Cost to Make: $