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
Joy
That picture says it all, I can taste it from here! A proper cake! Yum!
Maria
I've never heard of this cake ... it looks divine! So moist and flavorful. Will definitely have to try it some time.
Kim
What a lovely and delicate cake. I love the flavor of orange in my cakes and this sounds perfect! I think this would be great for the upcoming spring holidays like Easter and Mother's Day!
Doña Masita
This looks so delicious! It made me really hungry! Looking forward to prepare it!
Abrazos,
Doña Masita
Baking is my Zen
Looks nice and moist. I'm not a fan of orange marmalade...so I may switch to peach.
Rachana Kothari
Thats such a moist, soft and a beautiful looking Cake... Would love to have a bite:)
Sandra G
This cake looks so moist and yummy, can't wait to make it!
5 Star Foodie
This cake looks wonderful, I like the orange marmalade filing!
Erica
Pilar- Thank you! I will try it with arequipe next time 🙂
Pilar
Maria Luisa's are also filled with arequipe (Colombian name for Dulce de Leche).
Erica
Thank you guys 😉
Ben
I had never heard of that torta before, but it sounds very easy and delicious. And I didn't know in Colombia they called cakes tortas, for us in Mexico that word means something completely different 🙂
Laura Tolton
Absolutely delicious
Lyndsey
Thanks for sharing such great traditional Colombian recipes! It looks so moist and delicious!
tasteofbeirut
Sounds like a wonderful rendition of a sponge cake, with the marmalade addition it is perfect.
Tangled Noodle
It looks so moist and I love the citrus flavors! Sprinkling it with powdered sugar is perfect - it seems too delicate to cover with frosting.
Divina
Sounds wonderful. That's a very nice, moist and flavorful cake.