Lamaita
Base: Start by lining a baking tray with parchment paper, ensuring that you cover the sides as well to facilitate the cake's release after baking. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius to achieve an even and optimal temperature for baking the base. In a large bowl, add room temperature butter and powdered sugar. Using an electric mixer, mix the ingredients on medium speed until the mixture becomes fluffy and creamy white. This is the stage where air is incorporated into the mixture, making the base light and fluffy.
Once the butter and sugar are well combined, add the rest of the ingredients: flour, eggs, baking powder, and a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness. Continue mixing on low speed until all ingredients are fully integrated and you achieve a smooth dough. Don’t forget to stop the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, ensuring that the entire mixture is well combined.
After the dough is ready, spread it evenly in the prepared tray, using your fingers to gently press it down, forming a border of about 2 cm around the tray. This will help contain the cream that will be added later. Bake the base in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, until it feels firm to the touch and develops a slight golden color.
Cream: In the meantime, prepare the cream. In another bowl, mix all the necessary ingredients: cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs, vanilla sugar, and a splash of vanilla essence if you want a more intense flavor. Use the same mixer, but at a lower speed, to avoid incorporating too much air. Mix until you achieve a fine and homogeneous mixture, without lumps.
After the base has baked for 10 minutes, carefully remove the tray from the oven and pour the cream over the dough, ensuring it spreads evenly. Return the tray to the oven for another 15-16 minutes or until the cream sets and becomes firm, similar to well-set gelatin. When the cake is ready, take it out of the oven and, as soon as it cools slightly, generously dust with powdered sugar. The heat from the cake will caramelize the sugar, creating a delicious crust.
Let the cake cool completely, then dust again with powdered sugar for an attractive appearance. Cut the cake into slices and serve, enjoying each delicious layer. This cake is sure to become a favorite among those who taste it!
Ingredients: Base: -200 g flour -200 g ground nuts (walnuts, almonds) -250 g butter, at room temperature -125 g powdered sugar -1 pinch of salt Note: You can change the ratio of flour and nuts, noting that for one serving you need a total of 400 g (flour + nuts). Cream: -zest and juice from 3 lemons -300 g sugar -4 whole eggs -4 tablespoons flour
