Description
Kiev Cake is a luxurious Ukrainian dessert featuring layers of sponge cake, crispy hazelnut meringue, tangy cherries, and rich Russian buttercream, topped with ganache for a truly indulgent treat.
Ingredients
1 recipe Yellow Sponge Cake
1.5 recipe Russian Buttercream
1 recipe Meringue Cookies
1 cup roasted hazelnuts, chopped
1/2 cup tart cherries, frozen or canned, juice drained
Soaking Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Ganache:
3 tbsp hot heavy cream
3 tbsp chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
Instructions
- Make the Meringue: Whip meringue and pipe onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle hazelnuts on half. Bake at 225°F for 2 hours. Let cool in oven 30 minutes, then fully cool outside.
- Prepare Cake Base: Split cooled sponge cake into two layers. Place top half, cut-side up, on serving board with dab of buttercream.
- Layer with Syrup and Cream: Soak sponge with half of syrup. Spread ~2/3 cup buttercream. Dip meringues in buttercream and attach to cake. Fill gaps with crumbled meringue.
- Add Cherries and Top Layer: Sprinkle with cherries and hazelnuts. Soak second layer with syrup, spread buttercream, place over meringue layer. Press gently. Chill 1 hour.
- Frost Cake: Remove cake ring if used. Frost cake with reserved 1.5 cups buttercream.
- Make Ganache: Pour hot cream over chocolate. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Cool to pourable consistency.
- Ganache and Decorate: Pour ganache over cake, let drip. Decorate with remaining meringues and more hazelnuts if desired.
- Refrigerate: Chill at least 4 hours before serving.
Notes
Use a cake ring for neat assembly, but not essential.
Ensure meringue is fully dry and cool to maintain texture.
Let cake come to room temp before serving for best flavor.
Use canned or frozen cherries but drain well.
Make components a day ahead for easier assembly.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Assembling
- Cuisine: Ukrainian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
