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Guatemalan Sweet Cakes

4.3

(5)

In Mexico, a quesadilla is more like what we think of as a grilled cheese sandwich, but with tortillas instead of bread. In Guatemala, these sweet little cheese things are like buttery cupcakes, and they are baked as special-occasion treats for children who've had a good report card or lost a tooth.

Cooks' notes:

· Cakes are best eaten the day they are made. · Cakes can also be baked in lined mini-muffin pans for 30 minutes; recipe yields 30 mini muffins.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 1/4 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 9 (snack or dessert) muffins

Ingredients

3/4 cup rice flour (not Asian)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup farmer cheese at room temperature
Equipment: a muffin pan with 12 (1/2-cup) cups; paper liners

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Line muffin cups.

    Step 2

    Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

    Step 3

    Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in cheese. Mix in flour mixture at low speed until just combined.

    Step 4

    Divide among nine muffin cups (a slightly rounded 1/4-cup batter each). Bake until pale golden and a wooden pick inserted in center of a cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on a rack 15 minutes, then turn out onto rack and cool to warm.

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