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Salvadoran Quesadilla Cake

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A traditional Salvadoran sweet cheese cake with a moist, tender corn cake interior and a golden, slightly crispy sweet cheese crust. Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (about 150 g) queso fresco or farmer’s cheese, crumbled
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for the crust)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until frothy. Add milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract if using; mix gently until smooth.
  4. Slowly pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring just until combined to form a thick, smooth batter.
  5. In a small bowl, mix crumbled cheese with sugar and cinnamon if using.
  6. Fold half of the cheese mixture gently into the batter, reserving the rest for the top.
  7. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle remaining cheese mixture on top, pressing lightly to adhere.
  8. Bake for 40–45 minutes until the top is golden brown, edges pull away slightly, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  9. Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense cake. Use fresh, moist queso fresco or farmer’s cheese for the best crust texture. Tent the cake with foil if the crust browns too quickly. Room temperature ingredients help create a lighter batter. The cake can be made gluten-free by substituting almond flour and dairy-free by using coconut milk and vegan butter with vegan cheese alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: Salvadoran quesadilla cake, sweet cheese cake, queso fresco cake, traditional Salvadoran dessert, easy cake recipe

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/salvadoran-quesadilla-cake-recipe-easy-homemade-sweet-cheese-crust-delight/