Sapin-Sapin is as tasty as it is pretty! Soft, chewy, and topped with golden latik, this Filipino steamed glutinous rice cake is a delicious midday snack or after-dinner dessert.
I’ve wanted to make sapin-sapin for the longest, but I was intimidated by what I thought to be a very complicated process. So when I went home to the Philippines a few years ago, I asked our suking magkakanin to teach me, along with other kalamay recipes.
As it turned out, I didn’t need a 7,185-mile trip to learn how to make this Filipino steamed cake. The whole process is easy; it’s almost child’s play!
Sapin-sapin, which means layers, is one of the easiest Filipino desserts you can make. All it takes is mixing glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, condensed milk, and sugar into a smooth batter which you then divide into three portions, color, and steam one on the top of the other.
I had so much fun making it again this afternoon; adding in the extracts and watching everything come together into one colorful sweet treat!
Half of the work in the recipe is making the latik. Although you can skip this step and use toasted coconut shreds instead, I urge you to take the extra effort. These golden curds taste so much better than dried coconut, and their rendered oil can be brushed on the sapin-sapin to add aroma and flavor.
To speed up the process, use coconut cream or kakang gata (first extraction) as it’s more concentrated and will reduce quicker.
Cooking tips
- The rice batter is about 6 cups which fits perfectly in an 8 x 2 round baking pan. You can also use an 8 x 8 square pan which has an 8-cup capacity.
- Liberally grease the inner sides and bottom of the baking pan to be able to remove the sticky rice cake easily after steaming. You can also use wilted banana leaves to line the pan or parchment paper if you like.
- To make the sapin-sapin extra special and more traditional, stir in about 1/2 cup of mashed cooked ube to the purple-colored mixture and 1/4 cup finely chopped jackfruit (langka) to the yellow-colored mixture.
- I use about 3 to 4 drops of each extract to achieve the color I like. Note that the colors of the tinted batters will be light but will deepen when steamed and cooked.
- Do not cover the kalamay until sufficiently cooled as the steam will cause water puddles on the cake.
Give this sticky rice cake a try. You’ll be amazed at how something so gorgeous and delicious can be put together in less than an hour. It will be the perfect centerpiece for your next party!
For more kakanin using glutinous rice flour, check out my Palitaw, Kapit, Royal Bibingka, and Kalamay Hati recipes. Enjoy!
Ingredients
For the Latik
- 1 cup coconut cream (kakang gata)
- 3 1/2 cups glutinous rice flour
- 2 cans (13.5 ounces each) coconut milk
- 1 can (14 ounces) condensed milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 drops ube flavor extract
- 3 drops langka flavor extract
Equipment
Instructions
- In a pan over medium heat, add coconut cream and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally until liquid starts to thicken.
- Lower heat and continue to cook. As oil starts to separate and solids begin to form, regularly stir and scrape sides and bottom of the pan to prevent from burning. Continue to cook and stir until curds turn golden brown.
- Drain latik from the oil and store in separate containers until ready to use.
- Generously brush inner sides and bottom of an 8-inch round baking pan with the oil.
- In a large bowl, combine glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, condensed milk, and sugar. Stir together until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Strain the batter using a fine-mesh sieve and divide evenly into three bowls.
- In one bowl, add ube extract and stir until color is well dispersed. In another bowl, add Langka extract and stir until color is well dispersed. The remaining portion will be white and plain.
- Pour ube-flavored batter into the prepared baking pan. Steam for about 10 minutes or until set and toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Carefully pour langka-flavored batter over purple layer. Steam for about 10 minutes or until set and toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Gently pour plain batter over yellow layer. Steam for about 10 minutes or until set and toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove cake pan from steamer and allow to cool completely.
- Run a knife around the sides of the pan to loosen the rice cake. Place a wide, flat serving platter over cake pan and gently invert. Tap the pan a few times to release the sapin-sapin onto the platter (purple layer will now be the top layer).
- Liberally brush top and sides of sapin sapin with coconut oil. Sprinkle latik on top and cut the cake into serving portions.
Notes
- The rice batter is about 6 cups which fits perfectly in an 8 x 2 round baking pan. You can also use an 8 x 8 square pan which has an 8-cup capacity.
- For easy removal of steamed cake, liberally grease the inner sides and bottom of the baking pan. Or use wilted banana leaves to line the pan or parchment paper.
- To make the sapin-sapin extra special, stir in about 1/2 cup of mashed cooked ube to the purple-colored mixture and 1/4 cup finely chopped jackfruit (langka) to the yellow-colored mixture.
- Allow the kalamay to cool completely before covering as the escaping steam might cause water puddles on top of the cake.
Video
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Gigi says
This recipe doesn’t fit in 8 inch pan. It’s too much. Better to use 10 inches
Aurea says
Hello there! You mentioned about not to cover coz it will cause paddle of water in the cake. Do you mean do not cover while steaming or do not cover after it is already steamed and took it out from the steamer. Thank you! I would definitely try to make this. Sapin Sapin is one of my favorite !
Ana Marie Pauig says
So fun and so good. To enjoy and love the cooking series❤😍..I missed the cooking process of my Nanang (lola). Please do send me also the ingredients and procedures too. Thank you and God Bless🙏
Estrella says
Really good!
Helen Wilkey says
This is my first time so I will try to make it now.
Thank you,
Helen
Emelito Ersando says
Thank you po sa info
Jazmin says
This is what I’m looking for Sapin Sapin recipe I will try it now .. Thank you for sharing the recipes
Jacq says
My sapin sapin did not come out cooked even when following the instruction. I even exceeded the time alloted in the recipe. What to do with uncooked sapin sapin?