Steamed Indonesian cake (roti kukus)
This delicious Indonesian steamed cake is not difficult to make and worth a try. Roti kukus (also called bolu kukus) is the official name for this steamed delicacy.
Roti kukus recipe
The very first time I made a steamed cake it kind of failed completely. Steaming a cake is really very different from baking a cake. This roti kukus is more like an Indonesian steamed bread than a cake really. It does have a lot of sugar in it, but no butter or anything. Eating it warm out of the steamer with some butter is delicious and perfect for your lunch break.
Making the roti kukus
Making the roti kukus recipe is not complicated but it requires a bit of a different method than you might be used to for a regular cake. I made this roti kukus with my Indonesian friend as I had not ever heard from this particular bread or cake before.
You first start by making the white batter by mixing the eggs with the sugar and the salt. You can do that on the highest speed of your stand mixer or regular mixer. You than add the 7-up or you can use regular soda water. Make sure to cover your steamer with parchment paper both at the bottom and on the sides. The batter consistency is somewhere a bit firmer than pancake batter but still quite runny.
Now you place the biggest part of the batter into the pan and add the rest to a small bowl. The rest of the batter is mixed with the cocoa powder and blended together. Add the chocolate batter on top of the batter already in the pan and use a fork or a spatula to create a marbled effect on the cake. The fun part is that you can create different flavors with the batter. Green with pandan or brown with cocoa powder or any other flavor your like.
Cover the lid of your steamer with a clean tea towel. This will prevent water dripping in. Now fill the bottom part of your pan with a bit of water and bring to the boil. Add the batter containing part to it and cover with the lid that is wrapped in the tea towel. Leave to simmer and steam on medium heat. Do make sure that the pan doesn’t go dry in between so make sure there is enough water in the pan.
it should steam somewhere around 30 minutes depending on the size of your roti kukus. If you make little roti kukus (using a cupcake liner for instance) the time is different so check if the cake is cooked.
If you check online you will find various versions of the roti kukus. Big or small and some separate the eggs and whisk the egg whites and the egg yolks separately. That might make things fluffier, but I haven’t tried this myself. We used self rising flour but you can also use all purpose flour with a bit of baking powder.
Which steamer
You can either use a bamboo steamer or a more modern kind of steamer. Both work fine. Let the Indonesian steamed sponge cake come to room temperature and eat with a bit of butter or anything else you like.
Also check this steamed kue lapis cake.
roti kukus
Equipment
- Steamer
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 200 gr sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla sugar
- 100 ml 7-up or soda water
- 250 gr self rising flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- Mix the eggs with the sugar and the salt. Add the 7-up and last the self rising flour. Mix everything well and make sure it is smooth and lump free. Cover your steamer with baking paper and make sure it covers both the bottom as well as the sides.
- Put the biggest part of your batter into the pan. Mix the rest of the batter with the cocoa powder. Add this into the pan as well and use a fork or a spatula to make a marbled pattern
- Cover the lid of the pan with a teatowel (to prevent water dripping in)
- Fill the bottom part of your pan with water and bring to the boil. Put the part with the batter on top and cover with the lid wrapped in the teatowel. leave to simmer and steam on medium fire and make sure it does not boil dry.
- Serve the cake warm with a bit of butter.
Nutrition Information per portion
Disclaimer
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
Like you I try to read through all my favorite blogs and leave comments. I do not get around to doing this as often as I would like to I admit and try to keep a routine 15 minutes in the morning 15 minutes in the afternoon and 15 minutes in the evening. It does not always work though. I leave comments when a post has moved me or that I find evoking or when the images / recipe is great. Sometimes I leave comments as encouragement especially to the new bloggers out there.
This is a good question that I have asked myself too – so keen on reading what people have to say.
Interesting looking cake!
xo
Thanks Meeta. It is a challenge with so many wonderful blogs out there to keep up to date and to involve yourself into those blogs too, but I do try and keep it up as best I can. Some days better than others!
I usually always comment, unless if it’s a blog from a very big blogger who already has 120 comments, or a blog with many comments but when you see the blogger doesn’t ever come back to those comments I feel it is no use.
I like to answer my comments, it”s a community thing. You can’t really answer a comment saying ‘oh that’s great’ but when it is more personal I always answer.
That said, I really don’t read enough blogs! I should make time really. Still owe you an email too!
Ha. Yes I have the same when I want to comment and than scroll down only to see that the blogger in question already has a gazillion comments. It would just not make sense to repeat what has probably already been said. And I do like to answer to the comments to as I think it is just a nice thing to do. I remember way in the beginning when I had no clue how it was supposed to work, I never replied back to anyone! So rude really… And yes you do! 😉
I try to leave as many comments as I can but some days are just busier than others. I think if someone visits my blog I should return the favour and if I visit a blog and read through the post, it’s only courtesy to let them know I’ve been there.
I’m not swooning over this cake. If you have to butter it after you cut it in order to enjoy it, I’d rather have a real cake. 🙂
I’m always amazed at how well you are in commenting Maureen. You’re one of my most faithfull commenters really! I do also try and return the favor whenever I can to all my commenters. and yes I think I gotta agree on the cake!
I leave a comment when I am moved by the recipe, the style of the blogger, the content of the post or anything that spoke to me. I do it often to encourage new blogger like myself. It has been a year I have my blog and I did not get lots of comments. It saddens me as I put so much love in my blog and as you must know it takes lots of work to prepare a post. Please visit my blog and let me know what you think. I would ‘love your input. I have been a followers of your blog for four years now. I like the new changes you did on your blog. Very cool features. I have to change from Google Blogger to another blogging program as it is not that friendly for users. Any suggestions? Here is the link http://www.aromasoftime.com
Thanks Simone.
Thanks so much Karine! And I can highly recommend you move to Wordpress although I have a few friends who love the blogger features too, so I guess it depends on what you really need. I’ll browse around your blog a little later (almost dinner time here!) Thanks for your thoughts!
I agree with both Meeta and Maureen. I leave comments when a story moves me and I cannot keep myself from sharing my opinion and feelings. I am fairly new to blogging and I do not have many visitors to comment back but I try to visit as many blogs as humanly possible during the day and comment.
It’s weird really how it works with the commenting thing. I so remember in the beginning when I would get entirely frustrated when I visited blog with 100 comments on all posts and I would get zero… I don’t know when it started but I do think that involving yourself into the whole blogging and visiting blogs helps immensely!
And I’m sure that will eventually lead to more people commenting on your site.. It just takes time! And patience…:)
Hey Simone,
Kudos to you for leaving a comment on every site you visit!
This is something I have been trying to understand as well. And, you know, funnily, your asking the question made me realize that people visiting my blog are probably mimicking my behavior which is being sporadic on commenting! duh!
So, I typically comment, if there is a direct question in the post, like this one. Or, if the i related to something in the writing. Rarely, i comment on the recipe because it is harder to make a connection through something that is either new or not blow-your-socks-off different. That doesn’t mean the recipe isn;t interesting. It can be but I don’t like saying “interesting recipe”. Saying that would make me feel insipid.
I wonder if I get the same reaction on my site! 🙂
People do tend to do the mimicking thing I suppose… 🙂 And you’re right it is hard to comment on the 20th version of chocolate chip cookies (to name just something you can find everywhere…) but if I really cannot think of anything to say I will not say anything. I’m not gonna go for the interesting recipe route… I’d rather not say anything in that case…
Also, just realized I haven;t received any of your latest posts in my feed and missed them! I think I may have to refresh the RSS link. will do that.
Also, wanted to say, I am glad you are bringing your “how I shot that” series here. I need to learn more about outdoor and low-light photography. So, great to have that!
My English feed is a bit of a tricky one. The correct URL for the feed is under the RSS button in the sidebar. The bloglovin one works correct too!
The comment dance is a difficult one to master! I read hundreds of blogs but comment on almost none. I just don’t have many thoughts to share and would rather enjoy the articles silently. I read most of them at morning, with breakfast like you, but am more likely to comment in the evening when I have more spare time. Even then, I tend to only exchange comments with bloggers who comment on my stuff as well. 😉
Yes and it’s fine to just read an not comment too… I was just wondering what triggers people to leave a comment or not.. And I do always appreciate your comments!
I try to read most of your posts, and I always comment on the ones I read. But I definitely miss a few! That is an interesting cake, but like you, I find it odd to omit the butter then add it when the cake is baked! Fun recipe, though.
Thanks John! And I’m pretty sure it’s hard to keep up sometimes with my posts so no wonder you miss a few sometimes… 😉
If I have a personal connection to the post, I comment. I comment a lot less now though than I used to. For me it’s important to see that the blogger replies/acknowledges the comments, else I feel like my comment will just hang in space. But when it comes to particular posts, something needs to resonate with me, or if I have questions about a recipe, or if I made it and want to tell the person how it came out, etc. etc.
Thanks Jenn, I agree on the replying part… Although if you don’t get a notification it’s hard to find out if someone replied to your comment. If it’s a question I asked I might go back to the blog to check if there is an answer but it’s sometimes hard to remember which blog it was!
Hi Simone,
I don’t use egg. So, can I make it without egg or what else I can use instead of egg?
He Raushan,
Ah that is a tricky question. I’m pretty sure you would be able to make this without the egg but that would involve quite a bit of testing. There is a vegan ‘egg’ version which works fairly similar to the normal egg. Or you could try and use flaxseed as the binding agent here, but like I said it would need to be tested for sure!
Nice recipe. my husband liked it. thank you
Hi Simone,
I’m big fan of “ROTI KUKUS” and i often make this recipe in my home. But I don’t use egg.
I think the egg will make my recipe more delicious. I’m waiting for your next recipe post. Thanks a lot
Hello Simone,
I really like “ROTI KUKUS” and I make it at home often. I don’t use eggs, but I think adding an egg could make the recipe even tastier. I’m excited for your upcoming recipe posts. Thank you so much!