Cassava Cake with Custard Topping

Name: Cassava Cake with Custard Topping
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted; 1 package (16 ounces) frozen grated cassava, thawed but NOT drained; 1 bottle (12 ounces) macapuno strings, drained; 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk; 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 egg yolks; 7 ounces condensed milk; 6 ounces evaporated milk

by Lalaine Manalo last updated April 21, 2019 posted April 7, 2019 90 Comments

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Cassava Cake with Custard Topping made with grated cassava and coconut milk. Soft and moist with a creamy flan topping, this classic Filipino treat is the ultimate snack or dessert. And it’s naturally gluten-free, too!

Cassava Cake with Custard Topping in a baking pan — Cassava Cake with Custard Topping

As a Filipino in the U.S. without complete access to indigenous ingredients, I, at times, have to make substitutions when recreating the Filipino dishes I grew up with. A good example would be my chicken tinola and ginisang munggo with chicharon; I usually use spinach leaves because the traditional malunggay or ampalaya leaves are not always easy to find even at Asian supermarkets.

These later years, however, have seen a considerable variety of Filipino food products now being imported and made available for us Filipino-American consumers. On most occasions, I have to forgo of “freshness” as these items come pre-packaged or frozen, but the convenience and time-saving elements are tradeoffs I don’t entirely mind.

If I have to peel and grate cassava roots, crack and milk coconut heads myself, I’d just as soon forget about making this cassava cake with custard topping. But by just heading to the freezer section for already-grated cassava and walking down the aisle for canned coconut milk, I can have it baking to sweet perfection in the oven in a matter of minutes.

What is Cassava Cake Made Of

Cassava cake in its basic form is made of grated cassava, coconut milk, and sugar which are combined into a batter, and then baked in the oven until set. The cooked cake is usually crowned with a choice of topping, ranging from a simple sprinkling of shredded cheese to a more elaborate custard made with eggs, condensed milk, and evaporated or coconut milk, and then baked a second time until golden.

As with most dishes, the recipe may vary depending on the cook and may include other additions to the batter mixture such as sweetened macapuno strips, young coconut meat, desiccated coconut, nata de coco or cheese.

How to Prepare Fresh Cassava

Depending on the length, you might need to cut the tuber crosswise into halves or thirds to make peeling more manageable.
With a sharp paring knife, slice the tuber lengthwise through the thick bark and carefully insert the thin end of the knife between the bark and the flesh to loosen. If the skin won’t peel easily, cut off the ends of the tuber and stand the root up on its end. With the knife, slice vertically down the sides of the root to peel the skin.
Wash thoroughly and soak in a bowl of water until ready to grate to keep from discoloring.
Grate the cassava using the small holes of a grater or run in a food processor into a fine texture.
Using a cheesecloth, squeeze the grated cassava of the liquid which could be bitter. Please note that I use frozen cassava which I don’t drain when thawed; if using fresh, moisten with about 1/4 cup of water to yield the soft, moist texture of this recipe.

Tips on How to Make Cassava Cake with Custard Topping

If using frozen grated cassava, thaw completely but DO NOT drain. If using freshly grated, which is usually squeezed dry, add about 1/4 cup water to moisten it. The recipe requires 16 ounces or two cups.
I use a baking pan I bought in the Philippines which is 9 x 6-inches in size. If using a less-wide pan, adjust the cooking time as the cake will be thicker. Insert a toothpick in the center; if it comes out clean the cake is ready to top for the second baking.
Aside from a few dark spots at the edges, you can see that the cake is mostly even in color. Make sure to use a light colored baking pan, so the bottom of the kalamay doesn’t darken too much through the twice-bake process. If the cake or the custard is browning too fast before fully set, tent with foil.
Do not cover the cake until fully cooled as the escaping steam will cause water puddles to pool on top.
Leftovers should keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cover tightly with plastic film to lock in freshness.

I first published this recipe in June 2013 and am updating it today with new photos and tips. I also modified the recipe and halved the ingredients to fit one pan (the previous measurements were for two pans).

Make this cassava cake today! I know taste is subjective and bragging is not allowed on the blog 🙂 but I have to say, this is one of, if not the best cassavang kalamay you’ll ever try. I used to sell it along with mini egg pies, and they were both my bestsellers!

The cassava layer is soft, moist, and delicious on its own but the flan topping takes it over the top. It’s like having two desserts in one bite!

Looking for more ways to cook kamoteng kahoy? Check out this cassavang suman, puto lanson, nilupak, and pichi-pichi recipes and enjoy!

slice of cassava cake on a wooden plate with a spoon

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