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Liivakook (Sand Cake)

A layered cake with many variations, liivakook, or sand cake or torte, is made here with a plum filling. Recipe Servings: Serves 10

Prep Time
5 minutes
+ 2 minutes resting
Cook Time
1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time
1 hour 12 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal

Ingredients

Dough:
Filling:
  • 3 packages pudding mix (not instant)
  • 3 cups (700 ml) milk
  • 1 lb (450 g/4 sticks) butter
  • 3 12-oz (3 40-g) jars plum preserves

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, butter, and sugar. Mix until a coarse mixture develops.
  2. Add orange zest and juice. Mix well.
  3. Make a well in the mixture, and slowly add the whipped eggs.
  4. Add the milk while continuing to mix.
  5. Form the dough with your hands but do not knead.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.
  7. Divide the dough into 6 parts. On a floured surface, roll out one part so it is about 9 x 12 in (23 x 30 cm) in size.
  8. Place the dough on the cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. 
  9. Cut about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the circumference of the dough. Reserve to make crumbs later. 
  10. Repeat the rolling, baking, and cutting for the remaining 5 parts of dough.
  11. Cook pudding according to package directions, but use half the amount of milk. Allow to cool.
  12. In a large bowl, cream the butter. Add butter to the pudding.
  13. Put one cooled cake layer on a cake plate. Spread preserves over the cake.
  14. Place a second layer of cake on top. Spread with pudding.
  15. Repeat this with remaining layers. 
  16. Spread a thin layer of pudding around the top and sides of cake.
  17. Put leftover cake pieces into a food processor to make crumbs. Sprinkle cake crumbs over top of cake.
  18. Chill for 2 to 3 days to allow flavors to blend.