Maria Luisa

Maria Luisa is an elegant cake popular in El Salvador and Colombia. A variation is the English tea cake called a Victoria sandwich.

6 to 8 servings

• Flour -- 1 1/2 cups
• Baking powder -- 1 teaspoon
• Unsalted butter, room temperature -- 1 cup
• Sugar -- 1 1/4 cups
• Orange, zest only -- 1 tablespoon
• Vanilla -- 1 teaspoon
• Eggs, room temperature -- 6
• Orange juice -- 1/4 cup
• Orange marmalade -- 1 cup
• Powdered sugar -- 1/3 cup

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans. Sift the flour and baking powder together in a large bowl.
2. Place the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and light, about 3-5 minutes. Add the orange zest and vanilla and beat for another 15 seconds or so.
3. With mixer at medium speed, add one egg at a time, incorporating each egg before adding the next.
4. Reduce mixer speed to medium-low. Add the flour in three parts, alternating with the orange juice and beating just until smooth. Don't overbeat.
5. Spoon the batter in equal parts into the three cake pans. Bake for about 25 minutes. Remove cakes and cool completely.
6. Mix the marmalade with a little water and stir until it is almost pourable. Spread half the marmalade over one of the layers. Place the next layer on top and spread with the other half of the marmalade. Top with the last layer. Sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar by shaking it through a sieve.

Variations

• You may omit the orange zest and substitute milk for the orange juice if you like. Use any jam you wish. Raspberry is very good.
• Victoria Sandwich (England): Omit the orange zest. Use only 4 eggs. Place in 2 cake pans, not 3. Use strawberry jam. If you like, top the jam with a layer of whipped cream. Serve with tea.