This Torta Maria Luisa is simple to make and perfect for any occasion. You can layer the cake with your favorite fruit preserve or jam.
As I've mentioned before, I get a lot of e-mails from my readers asking me for traditional Colombian recipes, Torta Maria Luisa being one of them. Well, after some phone calls to my family and friends in Colombia, I finally have this recipe for all of you that have requested it.
What is Torta Maria Luisa?
It's a cake layered with jam or dulce de leche very popular in Colombia and other Latin American countries.
Like many traditional recipes there are many versions of this cake depending of the cook and country. It's made with flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, milk, orange juice and zest. You can use your favorite preserves to layer your cake, but it is traditionally filled with berry preserves or jam.
Torta Maria Luisa Recipe (Maria Luisa Cake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1 cup berry marmalade for the filling or your favorite flavor
- Powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of 2 nonstick, round baking pans. Set aside.
- In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder and orange peel. Mix for 20 seconds at low speed until the zest is incorporated. Add the orange juice, eggs, sugar and butter.
- Blend at low speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and mix for about 2 minutes, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula, as needed.
- Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into the center of the cakes come out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely, about 1 hour.
- To assemble the cake: Arrange 1 cake layer, flat side up, on a cake stand. Using a spatula, spread the marmalade on top leaving a ½-inch border. Place the other cake layer on top of the existing layer then sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut the cake into wedges with a slightly wet knife and serve.
Nutrition
If you are looking for the perfect cake for your next birthday, holiday or special event this Maria Luisa Cake is perfect for you.
Tips to Make this Recipe
*Don't over mix the batter or you’ll have a tough cake. Mix everything until just combined.
*The best way to let your butter come to room temperature is to take it out of the fridge 2 to 3 hours before using and let it sit on your kitchen counter.
*Make sure you allow the cake to cool fully before you add the jam. I like using strawberry jam, but you can use your favorite flavor, such as orange, guava, raspberry, blueberry or blackberry jam. I recommend using a good quality jam or make it at home.
More Cake Recipes to Try
T.
I made it the other day! with blackcurrant jam. My kids are the best critics and they loved it! 🙂 Me too also because its quick and easy!. I will do again! I did not use a 20 cm diameter round form but shaped as a heart. Lol. tastes the same I guess.
Jennifer C.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
I made this for Easter dessert and it was a hit. I used seedless raspberry jam and it really complemented the orange. A slice of this cake goes perfect with a cup of coffee! 🙂
Ghislaine
Veo que el azucar es muy barato en Colombia!
Podemos reducir la cantidad del azucar para nuestro salud?
Salud!
Anonymous
I think a lot of people were confused by the orange juice in the cake.. Its actually just in the cake. The post said to use a "berry marmalade". But I dont see any place where it says to use orange marmalade..
grace
this cake looks SUPER moist! and that layer of marmalade in the middle is quite a blast of color!
alvaron
Era la torta favorita en la casa de mis abuelos!Mi abuela siempre tenía una sobre la refrigeradora que desaparecía en un santiamén! Gracias Erica!
Claudia
Hice la receta pero la torta no me crecio casi y por supuesto Tampoco quedo esponjosa. Sugerencias?
Betzie
me pueden poner la receta en español gracias
Ana C
Gracias Erica.... Hice la Maria Luisa siguiendo tus indicaciones y quedo "DE ATAQUE" como dijo alguna otra paisa en uno de sus comentarios... Bien por tu iniciativa de dar a conocer nuestro pais desde otro ambito que no sea el de la violencia y el delito... Vivo como tu, en USA y saborear estas delicias de nuestra tierra es maravilloso!!! Mi esposo, que tambien es colombiano, ya pidio esta receta para su cumpleanhos....
Anonymous
I have made this several times. Always great and always requested for special occasions. The key is to have everything at room temperature. Enjoy!
Isabel
Erica,
Tu sabes como hacer torta negra Colombiana?
Bendiciones en este tiempo de tu vida y tu bebe!
Sandra
Hola , soy fan de la Maria Luisa ,pero me temo que la receta en Medellin es un poco diferente pues lleva maicena que la hace arenosita , aqui se las dejo por si la quieren intentar.
-1 barra de mantequilla o 250g
-1 t de azucar
-1 1/2 t de harina
-1 1/2 t de maicena
-4 huevos
-2/3 de t de leche
-3 cucharadas de P-H
-1/2 c sal
-ralladura de limon.
La Torta maria luisa se ha ido modificando con el tiempo, pero la original era con mermelada de mora .
se divide la mezcla en dos moldes,luego cuando esten se juntan con mermelada de mora en el centro y se le rocia azucar.
Erica
Hola sandra,
Gracias por la receta. Cuando la vuelva hacer...la hago con tu receta. Suene muy rica tambien!