Kue Lapis (Indonesian Layered Steamed Cake)
A bouncy, chewy steamed cake of thin green and white layers, scented with pandan and coconut. Easy once you get into the rhythm.
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.27 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Whisk the rice flour, tapioca flour and cornflour in a bowl. Warm the coconut milk, water, sugar and salt in a pan until the sugar dissolves. Do not boil.
- 2
Slowly pour the warm liquid into the flours, whisking until completely smooth. Strain into a jug.
- 3
Divide the batter equally between two bowls. Stir the pandan extract into one so it turns green and leave the other plain.
- 4
Grease an 18 cm square tin and line the base with baking paper. Set a steamer over a pan of simmering water and heat the empty tin in it for 5 minutes.
- 5
Pour a thin layer of the white batter, about 90 ml, into the hot tin. Cover and steam for 5 minutes until just set. Repeat with a green layer, then keep alternating, steaming each layer for 5 minutes, until all the batter is used.
5 min - 6
Steam the final layer for 10 minutes. Cool completely in the tin, about 1 hour, then oil a knife and cut into squares. It should feel springy and look glossy.
10 min
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
