There is a little twist of deliciousness in this Finnish cake. Finnish tiger cake is a blend of vanilla and chocolate all wrapped up into a fabulous coffee cake. Tiikeri kakku ( tiger cake ) gets its name from its looks, the swirls of vanilla and chocolate look like a tigers coat.
This Finnish tiger cake has a crunchy outside and a perfect textured coffee cake middle. Adding the chocolate chips, tips this one over the top!
directions for making the cake
Add sugar and room temperature butter to a large bowl. Beat until light and airy.
In a separate bowl add the eggs. Using a mixer, beat the eggs until they are light colored and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat well. Slowly pour the beaten eggs into the butter mixture. Blend on medium speed until combined.
Using an additional bowl, add the flour and baking powder. Stir together. Mixing continuously, slowly add the flour to the butter mixture. Continue mixing on medium speed until completely combined. Add milk and stir until combined.
Divide the batter evenly into 2 bowls. In one of the bowls add the 1/3 cup of cocoa. Mix well.
Grease the bundt pan. Sprinkle the 1 tablespoon of sugar into the bundt pan. Shake to coat.
Pour the chocolate chips into the bottom of the bundt pan. Shake until evenly distributed.
Add half of the vanilla batter to the pan. Using the back of a spoon, press the batter into the chocolate chips.
Top the vanilla batter with half of the chocolate and repeat until batter is all used. Using a sharp knife and make swirls in the batter. Make sure you reach to the bottom of the pan. Do this gently, careful not to fully mix the batter.
Gently tap the pan on the counter.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes. Poke the cake with a toothpick. If needed bake for another 5-8 minutes. Check again to make sure the toothpick comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes on a cooling rack. With a blunt knife, gently loosen the cake from the side of the pan. Turn over onto the cooling rack and lightly tap the top of the pan. The cake should fall out easily.
Cool completely then sprinkle with powder sugar.
Finnish cake recipe
Finnish Tiger Cake
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1 1/2 +1 tbsp cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp pure vanilla
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 1 cup chocolate chips your choice ( milk, semi sweet etc)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.Put the sugar and butter in a large bowl. Using a mixer, (hand held or stand mixer )beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until combined. Turn the mixer to high and continue beating until light yellow and airy. In a separate bowl add the eggs. Beat on high until light and fluffy.. add the vanilla, mix well. Slowly pour the eggs into the butter mixture. Mix well.In a separate bowl, measure the flour and baking powder and add to the bowl. Mix. Slowly add this mixture to the egg mixture. Mix well. Add milk. Mix wellDivide the mixture into 2 bowls. Add the cocoa powder to one of the bowls and mix until combined. Grease your bundt pan well. Sprinkle the 1 tbsp sugar in the pan and shake it around.Pour the chocolate chips into the bundt pan. Shake so they are evenly distributed.Add 1/2 of the vanilla batter to the bottom of the pan. Using the back of a large spoon, press the batter into the chocolate chips in the pan. Add 1/2 the chocolate batter on top of the vanilla. Repeat until the batter is used up. Using a knife, swirl the chocolate and vanilla batter in the pan. Make sure your knife gets to the bottom of the pan. Do not fully mix. Just do this lightly around the pan.Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.Cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Using a blunt knife, gently loosen between the cake and the pan. Wearing oven mitts, carefully turn over the cake. Lightly tap on the top of the pan. Let cool. Sprinkle with powder sugar if desired.
my coffe cake is dry
Dry coffee cake may be from caused from overbaking. Near the end of your baking time, poke the cake with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean the cake is finished baking. Another cause for dry coffee cake may be that the batter was not mixed thoroughly.
Why is it called tiger cake?
It is called tiger cake because the chocolate and vanilla swirls in the cake resemble a tigers coat.
how long does tiger cake stay fresh
The best thing about this recipe is that it lasts up to a week on your counter!!! It is so good fresh out of the oven and with a cup of coffee on day 5 or 6!!
can you freeze tiikeri kakku?
Yes, yes and yes!! Wrap the cake in plastic wrap several time. Put this inside a plastic freezer bag. The Finnish tiger cake will be good for 6 mo.
do you have other finnish recipes?
I have several delicious traditional Finnish recipes.
Finnish cardamom bread also called pulla or nisu is sweet coffee bread. This bread is great spread with butter, toasted or all alone.
Finnish filled cake is one of my favorites. The light airy cake is filled with whipped cream and fruit! So delicious.
All of these recipes bring me back to my childhood. I loved walking into my Mamma’s house and being treated to the scent of fresh baked goods.
