Bibingkang Cassava (Cassava Cake) (2024)

Cookbooks

By Marvin Gapultos

4.3

(9)

Bibingkang Cassava (Cassava Cake) (1)

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton

    The term bibingka usually refers to a certain variety of sweet Filipino cakes made from rice flour, though cassava (yuca) root can also be used to make a sweet and rich bibingka as well. In the United States, fresh cassava root can easily be found in Asian or Latin markets and sometimes in larger grocery stores. However, to save time and effort, I do prefer to use frozen grated cassava. Don’t be alarmed by the absence of flour in this cake recipe. Because of the high starch content in cassava, it alone will be able to absorb the liquid and transform into a sweet and soft cake that may be the easiest dessert you’ll ever make.

    Ingredients

    For the cake:

    4 egg yolks, beaten

    One 1-lb (500 g) package frozen grated cassava, thawed

    1 cup (250 g) jarred macapuno coconut strings, or sweetened shredded coconut

    1½ cups (375 ml) canned unsweetened coconut milk

    ½ cup (125 ml) sweetened condensed milk

    For the topping:

    4 egg whites

    ¼ cup (65 ml) sweetened condensed milk

    Preparation

    1. Step 1

      Preheat the oven to 350°F.

      Step 2

      To make the cake, combine the egg yolks, cassava, macapuno (or shredded coconut, if using), coconut milk and the ½ cup sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl and mix well.

      Step 3

      Pour the cake batter into a greased 8 x 8-in (20 x 20-cm) cake pan. The cake batter will appear to be very loose and wet at this point, but don’t worry, the cassava will absorb most of the liquid during baking. Place the cake pan into the oven and bake until the top of the cake appears dry and no liquid is floating on the surface, 45–60 minutes.

      Step 4

      Meanwhile, to make the topping, whisk together the egg whites and the ¼ cup (65 ml) sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl until very well incorporated. Although you are using egg whites, don’t be concerned with making a foam or a meringue, just mix until combined.

      Step 5

      Remove the cake from the oven and evenly pour the topping onto the cake. Return the cake to the oven and bake until the topping sets, about 10 minutes more.

      Step 6

      Remove the cake from the oven and rest the cake in its pan on a cooling rack. Cool the cake completely before cutting it into squares. The cassava cake can be served at room temperature, or cold out of the refrigerator.

    Bibingkang Cassava (Cassava Cake) (2)

    From The Adobo Road Cookbook: A Filipino Food Journey by Marvin Gapultos, copyright © 2013. Reprinted with permission from Tuttle Publishing.Buy the full book from Amazon.

    TagsCakeDessertFilipinoSoutheast AsianAsianCoconutFruitCoconut MilkDinnerDairy FreeGluten FreeVegetarianEasyBakingCookbooks

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    Reviews (9)

    Back to TopTriangle
    • Excellent recipe, tastes exactly like how my Filipino relatives made it, even though it doesn't use rice flour. I rather liked how easy it was to make (just put ingredients into a bowl, mix, and put into oven). The only critique my mom had was that she was used to the top being brown after coming out of the oven, likely due to some caramelization, but I've seen it both white-topped and brown-topped.To clarify, this is similar to a cheese"cake" and an ice cream "cake" that it doesn't have the consistency of a traditional cake. As the previous user mentioned it has a texture more similar to a heavy custard rather than a pastry cake, which is how it's intended to be, similar to a cheesecake. I'd vaguely compare the taste to a coconut custard pie, but thicker.

      • JayDee

      • 9/19/2021

    • I made this recipe exactly as written. It is pleasantly coconutty, but the texture is more like thick custard than cake. I would not make it again.

      • coester

      • Bremerton, WA

      • 6/14/2021

    • Don't pay attention to HIMMTER's low rating. He/she obviously didn't make the recipe. This recipe is very similar to my family's recipe. It's a hit at parties. I always get rave reviews and repeated requests to make this dessert from my non-Filipino friends.

      • Anonymous

      • 3/27/2021

    • We have the same cake in Brazil (bolo de aipim), except that sometimes we add grated cheese to the batter and we usually top it with caramel, like a flan. I'm excited to try the Filipino version.

      • deborahlou

      • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

      • 8/17/2020

    • HIMTER6220 - why leave lowly rated review just to make a suggestion? Did you even make this recipe?

      • Anonymous

      • Boston, MA

      • 8/12/2020

    • Using fresh cassava is always better. Frozen grated cassava develops a rubbery cake and should only be used as a last resort. Made lots of cassava cake and intend to do more!

      • himter6220

      • toronto canada

      • 8/11/2020

    • Tasty

      • Vicky

      • 11/4/2022

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    Bibingkang Cassava (Cassava Cake) (2024)

    FAQs

    How long does cassava cake last? ›

    Store cassava cake in its cake pan, tightly covered in plastic wrap, for up to 1 day at room temperature. After that, slice the cassava cake into squares and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 more days.

    Is it safe to eat cassava cake while pregnant? ›

    Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's POSSIBLY UNSAFE to eat cassava regularly as part of the diet if you are pregnant. It might cause birth defects.

    Do you have to boil cassava before baking? ›

    Whether fresh (peeled) or frozen, most recipes require yuca to be cut into 3-4 pieces and then boiled for 15-30 minutes, depending on how one plans to use it.

    Why is cassava cake famous? ›

    Cassava cake is a traditional Filipino moist cake made from grated cassava, coconut milk, and condensed milk with a custard layer on top. It is a very popular dish in the Philippines, where it is commonly eaten for merienda. It is also served during gatherings and special occasions.

    What are the symptoms of cassava poisoning? ›

    Manifestations of cassava poisoning

    Patient feels headache, dizziness, nausea. Then there are manifestations of neurological disorders, the patient feels fear, convulsions, muscle spasms like a tetanus, dilated pupils, slow breathing, cyanosis.

    When has cassava gone bad? ›

    Avoid roots with cracks, mold, soft spots, or sour smell. The flesh will have black specks, lines, or discoloration. If you do buy cassava with some black streaks hiding within the flesh, you can cut them out and use what remains.

    Who should not eat cassava? ›

    Nutrition of Cassava

    However, it's a good source of potassium, folate, vitamin C, and several other nutrients. Though this doesn't make cassava unhealthy, people following low-carb diets and people with blood sugar regulation issues, such as those with type 2 diabetes, should avoid consuming large amounts of cassava.

    Is cassava cake good for kidneys? ›

    Yes, cassava is good for the kidney as it repairs kidney damage and failure. In addition, clinical analysis shows that consuming cassava brings down kidney-harming creatinine levels. However, it may not be an ideal diet option for renal dysfunction since cassava raises urea content.

    Can I eat cassava every day? ›

    Its high calorie content is what makes it such an important staple crop in many countries. However, keep in mind that consuming more calories than you burn can contribute to weight gain over time ( 18 ). For this reason, it's best to enjoy cassava in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

    How do you remove poison from cassava? ›

    Drying is the most ubiquitous processing operation in many tropical countries. Sun drying eliminates more cyanide than oven drying because of the prolonged contact time between linamarase and the glucosides in sun drying. Soaking followed by boiling is better than soaking or boiling alone in removing cyanide.

    How long to cook cassava to remove cyanide? ›

    Boiling/Cooking

    As with soaking, the free cyanide of cassava chips is rapidly lost in boiling water. About 90% of free cyanide is removed within 15 minutes of boiling fresh cassava chips, compared to a 55% reduction in bound cyanide after 25 minutes (Cooke and Maduagwu, 1978).

    How to prevent cassava poisoning? ›

    Prepare cyanogenic plants such as cassava and bamboo shoot properly before consumption. Cyanogenic plants should be cut into smaller pieces, soaked in water and cooked thoroughly in boiling water. Maintain a balanced diet to avoid excessive exposure to harmful chemicals from a small range of food items.

    What country eats the most cassava? ›

    - Nigeria and Thailand are top countries for cassava consumption. - Nigeria is the largest cassava producer globally.

    Which country has the best cassava? ›

    Cassava (Manihot esculenta) production is vital to the economy of Nigeria as the country is the world's largest producer of the commodity. The crop is produced in 24 of the country's 36 states.

    Why do Africans eat cassava? ›

    Cassava has historically played an important famine-prevention role in Eastern and Southern Africa where maize is the preferred food staple and drought is a recurrent problem.

    How long does cassava take to go bad? ›

    If left unprocessed, cassava spoils in 24-72 hours after harvest due to a process referred to as post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD)1.

    How long before angel food cake goes bad? ›

    Angel food cake will stay fresh for 1-2 days at room temperature. Or it may be stored for up to one week in the refrigerator. Angel food cake also freezes very well. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, no matter where you decide to keep it.

    Can you eat 8 day old cake? ›

    “You'll want to store a cake in the fridge with plastic wrap against the cut part (of the cake) to prevent the cake from drying out,” says Edwards, adding that store-bought cakes may last longer in the fridge, but homemade cakes should typically be consumed in five to seven days.

    Does cassava bread go bad? ›

    Cassava bread is very filling, served as a meal on its own, or used with other food items. Additionally, there are many great benefits of cassava bread. This bread is fat-free and rich in fiber. It has a long shelf life of up to 8 months and a great option for wheat.

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