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If you’ve been eating Easter European cakes, you will notice that layered cakes are quite popular. I love eating cakes with very thin layers because they come more creamy.

Chocolate Layer Cake (aka Spartak Cake) slice on a plate

This cake has extra thin layers, with a good balance of cream in between. Yes, the cake does take a little more effort and the steps may seem never-ending, but it’s pretty simple if you follow the steps. I would say that even if you’re not a typical baker, you should be able to nail this one.

This recipe is a very original traditional recipe for a Russian cake, called Spartak. If you grew up in a Slavic community, you’ve probably had this cake more than once.

Other Russian Cake Recipes

Recipe

Chocolate Layer Cake (aka Spartak Cake) slice on a plate

Chocolate Layer Cake (aka Spartak Cake)

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Servings
14 Servings
Prep Time 50 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

Cake Layers

Spartak Cake Cream

Instructions

Spartak Cake Layers

  • Prepare ingredients for the cake layers.
    7 bowls on the table including one with flour, one with sugar, one with cocoa, one with milk, one with butter, one with baking soda and one with honey also an egg on the table
  • This cake dough is made on a steam bath. Preheat water and place a bowl on top of the boiling water, making sure that the bowl doesn't melt. Combine together sugar, egg, butter, honey and milk. Cook until ingredients double in volume.
    A steam bath with milk, honey, sugar, egg, and butter in the bowl
  • Stir in cacao slowly, followed by baking soda.
    Baking soda mixed into the mixture on the steam bath
  • In small parts keep on adding flour to the mixture. At first use a whisk and as the dough becomes thicker, use a spatula. At first, dough may still be soft, but as it gets colder, it will get harder.
    Flour being mixed into the mixture in a bowl
  • Divide dough into 11 equal in size pieces.
    Dough being cut into small pieces
  • On a floured surface, roll out each piece into your preferred size. Measure it using a plate or a lid, to make it a consistent size. Don't cut the dough yet, wait until it bakes.
    A chocolate cake layer on the table
  • Chocolate Layer Cake layer with a pot lid being used to cut out the cake layer
  • Bake at 350F for about 5-8 minutes, depending on your oven. Remove from the oven, place your measuring circle on top and cut out the edges. Remove it form the sheet onto a cooling rack. Repeat the steps until you are all done with the dough.
    Chocolate Layer Cake layers stacked on top of each other on a cutting board
  • Chocolate Layer Cake layers on a baking pan lined with a silicon mat

Spartak Cake Cream

  • Whisk together eggs with flour until all lumps are gone.
    eggs and flour whisked together
  • Pour milk into a heavy sauce-pot, add in egg mixture, vanilla and sugar. Cook on low-medium heat, stirring/whisking entire time until the mixture resembles condensed milk in texture. Don't forget to stir/whisk, otherwise the cream can burn. Remove from heat, letting it completely cool to a room temperature.
    Into a pot with milk egg mixture, vanilla extract and sugar added in
  • Whisk the room temperature butter, until it's smooth in texture. In small parts, add in cooked cream. Continue whisking until all mixture is combined together.
    Cream mixture in a mixing bowl

Cake Assembly

  • Using 80% of the cream, distribute it evenly between all cake layers. Spread cream evenly and stack them on top of each other. Use the remainder of the cream to cover the top of the cake.
    Cream placed onto each cake layer
  • Decorate as you wish. I used ganache to decorate the cake. You can use the leftover crumbs to decorate the cake as well.
    Chocolate Layer Cake (aka Spartak Cake) slice on a plate
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Layer Cake (aka Spartak Cake)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 491 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Fat 33g51%
Saturated Fat 20g100%
Cholesterol 129mg43%
Sodium 129mg5%
Potassium 94mg3%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 31g34%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 1040IU21%
Calcium 61mg6%
Iron 1.1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted August 19, 2015

About Author

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.