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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.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert, snacks
Cuisine African, Tanzania
Servings 8

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.
Keyword cake, juggu