Layered Pastry with Sweetened Milk Filling

Name: Layered Pastry with Sweetened Milk Filling
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes One 9" Cake
Ingredients: 2 3 ⁄ 4 cups flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; 2 Tbsp. vegetable shortening; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 8 egg yolks, lightly beaten; 4 (14-oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk; 1 stick cinnamon; Confectioner's sugar

Serves
makes One 9" Cake

SAVEUR

The custardlike interior of this three-tiered cake—whose name, from the Arabic word for filling, has come to mean sweetmeats in Spanish—is fresh or condensed milk reduced to a thick, sweet paste. This custard is also eaten on its own and with bread.

Ingredients

For the Pastry

2 ³⁄₄ cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. vegetable shortening
2 eggs, lightly beaten
8 egg yolks, lightly beaten

For the Cake

4 (14-oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk
1 stick cinnamon
Confectioner's sugar

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Instructions

Step 1

Sift flour and baking powder together into a large bowl. Cut in vegetable shortening with a pastry cutter or 2 knives, then add eggs and egg yolks. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until dough is smooth, about 5 minutes. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, place milk and cinnamon in the top of a double boiler. Cook, stirring occasionally, over simmering water over medium-low heat until milk mixture is the color and texture of thin peanut butter, 1–1 1⁄2 hours. Remove cinnamon, cover, and refrigerate.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 375°. Divide dough into 3 equal parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a round about 9'' in diameter. Trim edges, prick each round all over with a fork, then transfer to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake, without turning, until pastry is golden, about 18 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. (Pastry rounds should look like large cookies).

Step 4

Place 1 pastry round on a large plate. Spread with half the filling (it is easiest to use the back of a spoon), cover with another round and remaining filling, then top with final round. Dust liberally with confectioners' sugar, cut into wedges, and serve.

Sift flour and baking powder together into a large bowl. Cut in vegetable shortening with a pastry cutter or 2 knives, then add eggs and egg yolks. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until dough is smooth, about 5 minutes. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, place milk and cinnamon in the top of a double boiler. Cook, stirring occasionally, over simmering water over medium-low heat until milk mixture is the color and texture of thin peanut butter, 1–1 1⁄2 hours. Remove cinnamon, cover, and refrigerate.
Preheat oven to 375°. Divide dough into 3 equal parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a round about 9'' in diameter. Trim edges, prick each round all over with a fork, then transfer to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake, without turning, until pastry is golden, about 18 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. (Pastry rounds should look like large cookies).
Place 1 pastry round on a large plate. Spread with half the filling (it is easiest to use the back of a spoon), cover with another round and remaining filling, then top with final round. Dust liberally with confectioners' sugar, cut into wedges, and serve.