East African Jugu Cake
A traditional East African peanut cake made with roasted peanuts and flour, baked into logs and sliced like biscotti, often enjoyed with tea or coffee.
Ingredients
- 3 cup roasted unsalted peanuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1½ tsp baking powder heaped
- 3 eggs beaten (reserve one egg yolk separately)
- 1/2 cup margarine (about 1 stick), melted
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
Preheat the oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Grease a baking tray.
Prepare the peanuts:
- Grind the roasted peanuts until they reach a coarse, mealy texture.
- Do not grind into a fine powder.
Mix dry ingredients:
- In a large bowl combine ground peanuts, flour, sugar, and baking powder.
Add margarine and eggs:
- Melt the margarine and pour it over the dry ingredients.
- Add the beaten eggs (3 egg whites and 2 yolks) and mix.
Prepare the milk mixture:
- Warm the milk in a pan until hot but not boiling.
- Add baking soda to the milk; it will foam slightly.
Combine the dough:
- Quickly pour the milk mixture into the bowl and mix until the dough comes together.
- The dough should be soft and pliable but not sticky.
Shape the logs:
- Divide the dough into 5 equal portions.
- Roll each portion into a log about 12 inches long and place them on the greased baking tray with some space between them.
Brush with egg wash:
- Mix the reserved egg yolk with 1 teaspoon of milk and brush generously over the logs.
Bake the cake:
- Bake for 40–50 minutes or until the logs turn golden brown.
Slice and serve:
- Allow to cool for 5–8 minutes.
- Then cut diagonally into slices about 1½–2 inches thick, similar to biscotti.
Notes
Pro Tips
✔ Grind peanuts coarsely to maintain texture in the cake.
✔ Work quickly after adding the milk mixture so the dough binds properly.
✔ Do not overmix the dough to keep the cake tender.
✔ Slice while still slightly warm for clean cuts.
✔ Best enjoyed with masala chai, coffee, or warm milk.
✔ Work quickly after adding the milk mixture so the dough binds properly.
✔ Do not overmix the dough to keep the cake tender.
✔ Slice while still slightly warm for clean cuts.
✔ Best enjoyed with masala chai, coffee, or warm milk.
