Cielaviņa is a typical Latvian cake that combines crunchy meringue with a tasty chocolate cream. It reminds me of my childhood; when I was little we always bought it from “Staburadze” – a Latvian confectionary manufacturer. But I always wanted to try a home-made version of it and my last birthday seemed to be the right occasion! Now I’m publishing this recipe right before Latvian National Day (the 18th of November). So, try this delicious Latvian cake to celebrate it!
Cielaviņa
Ingredients: Meringue
- 400g powder sugar
- 6 egg whites
- a pinch of salt
- 2 table spoons of corn starch
- 200g hazelnuts
Chocolate butter cream
- 6 egg yolks
- 4 table spoons of sugar
- 40g water
- 250-300g butter (room temperature)
- 200ml sweet condensed milk
- 4-5 table spoons of cacao
- a pinch of salt
- 1-2 table spoons of rum
Chocolate glaze:
- 100g dark chocolate
- 50ml sweet cream
Decoration:
- 50-100g hazelnuts
This summer when I visited my family in Latvia, I went to a new restaurant in Jurmala called ¨Legend¨. This is a special place not only because my cousins’s husband, Janis Zvirbulis, is a chef there, but also because the food is delicious. Unfortunately I couldn’t try everything I wanted (yet!), but there is this one dessert that I still have dreams about: a chocolate cake with cream and blueberries on top. Wonderful combinations! I didn’t get the secret recipe but I’ve created my own version of a chocolate cake with blueberries and ice-cream.
