Have you ever wondered if there is any kind of Indonesian traditional cake? As an archipelago country, Indonesia contains different tribes that have their traditional cake as well. Most of them bring a different taste of traditional cake depending on where they live.
Most Indonesian believe that most Indonesian traditional cakes are influenced by Dutch colonialism. At that time, most women work for the Dutch, which makes them capable to make some cakes. Later, they modify the recipe with available Indonesian ingredients that makes it more Indonesian.
If you are wondering what kind of Indonesian traditional cake you can consume while exploring the country, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!
1. Lapis Legit
Lapis Legit is one of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes among Indonesian foodies. This kind of traditional cake was influenced by the Dutch in the colonial era. Indonesian used to modify the recipe with Indonesian spices that cook within a long process.
Lapis Legit has a typical sweet Indonesian cake that contains 18 layers of spongy cake. The layers should be done properly to make this type of traditional cake be made within the patient and a big effort.
Lapis Legit can be easily found around the Indonesian bakery house. Commonly they offer different prices depending on the difficult process and ingredients quality behind.
2. Bika Ambon
Bika Ambon is one of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes that originally comes from Medan in North Sumatra which is popular as the city with the largest population in Indonesia.
This kind of traditional cake is made with tapioca flour, sago, egg, sugar, and coconut milk. It has a sweet taste which nowadays people combine with chocolate, cheese, or Pandan leaves flavor.
Bika Ambon is a typical Indonesian traditional cake that influences by the Malay tribe. The cake is popular since the colonialism era which used to become the main trade of Indonesian traditional between locals, the Dutch, and the Chinese around 18 century.
3. Onbitjkoek
Onbitjkoek is one of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes that influence by the Dutch colonialism era. This kind of traditional cake is made with wheat flour that mixes properly using palm sugar, egg, and some Indonesian herbs and spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Onbitjkoek is perfect to consume with a cup of hot tea or coffee in the morning. Some Indonesian love to consume it for afternoon snacks and dinner time as well. You can find them in most Indonesian bakery houses that offer this kind of traditional cake.
4. Sumping Tanah
Sumping Tanah is one of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes that originally come from Jambi in South Sumatra. This kind of traditional cake is made of banana that mixes properly with rice flour. Commonly, Indonesian love to add some sugar and turmeric as well.
Sumping Tanah in Jambi becomes one of the most popular traditional cakes for breaking the fast during Ramadhan. Most Muslim believe that the sweet taste of it makes their break the fast time can be more worthwhile than any other time.
5. Meuseukat
Meuseukat is one of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes originally come from Aceh in North Sumatra which has the most remote area in Indonesia. This kind of traditional cake also calls as the Dodol Nanas by locals because of the sweet pineapple inside.
Meuseukat contains the rich culture of Aceh that represents the higher caste of people among the Aceh people. That is why this kind of traditional cake commonly serve occasionally on some specific celebration days such as weddings, welcoming guests, Eids Al Adha traditions in Indonesia, and many more.
6. Kue Tat
Kue Tat is one of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes that originally come from Bengkulu. This kind of traditional cake is used only to serve the kingdom family in Bengkulu. As time goes by, common people can consume it as well.
Kue Tat has a sweet and a bit savory taste from the coconut milk. It has a sense of banana taste and pineapple inside, which makes the texture soft and creamy. Local Bengkulu commonly serves this kind of traditional cake for the wedding ceremony, welcoming guests, Eid Fitr, Eid Al Adha, and other celebrations as well.
7. Kue Cucur
Kue Cucur is one of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes that originally comes from Betawi tribes. This kind of traditional cake is made with rice flour and palm sugar, cooked deep-fried, and similar to some Indonesian deep-fried dishes.
Kue Cucur has a sweet taste and soft texture even if it is cooked deep-fried. It used to become the most popular cake for trading and serving kingdom families only. As time goes by, everyone can consume it.
Even so, some tribes in Indonesia still use Kue Cucur for special occasions such as welcoming guests or weddings. It becomes a part of their culture that is difficult to vanish.
8. Kue Serabi
Kue Serabi is one of the most Indonesian traditional cakes that originally comes from the Javanese and Sundanese tribe, the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia. Both tribes have their unique Kue Serabi that makes the Indonesian traditional cake richest with the different cultures.
Kue Serabi in Sundanese serves by dipping it into the sweet sauce of sugar palm, while in Javanese some of them dip it with the sauce and some other don’ts. Even so, they have a similar taste of sweetness from the sugar palm inside and a soft texture from the rice flour inside.
So, there are some of the most popular Indonesian traditional cakes that come from different regions in Indonesia. Most of them bring the most delicious taste of sweetness that is dominated by palm sugar in their ingredients.
